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RFH 2010, Opinion

Colgate Helps Bail Out HCS

Wed, Apr 13, 2011

Colgate's generosity helps keep HCS financially healthy.

Colgate Helps Bail Out HCS

Thanks, Colgate!

We hope that the university, its President Jeffrey Herbst and his senior administrators hear that a lot in the next couple of months. They deserve it for stepping up to help HCS weather a deepening financial storm.

Colgate has agreed to donate $300,000 more this and next year to help the school district avoid decimating its educational programs. That could double over two more years if the need remains.

Make no mistake, Colgate was under no legal obligation to give HCS a dime. No college or university is. They are, by law, tax exempt and ought to be. 

And, institutions like Colgate are not required to enter into payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements. That is the law.

But, Colgate's increased support of HCS is not about what is legal. It is about helping out.

When Herbst was inaugurated Colgate's 16th president, he concluded his speech by saying he wanted Colgate to be a good neighbor to the village and its people. He made good on that promise in a very visible, very public and very important way by showing Colgate's willingness to invest in HCS, the community and our children.

For too long, Colgate has been an easy target. It has a huge campus, most of which is off the tax rolls, and whenever money was needed it was assumed the university would and should give. The list of its contributions to the community is long and deep. 

And, it is easy to forget how generous the university is through the Upstate Institute, the fundraising its sports teams and Greek organizations do for a slew of charities and the quiet contributions it makes. Of equal importance are the many well paying jobs Colgate creates, its purchases of goods and services locally and how it grants the community access to many of its facilities.

Yes, Colgate has a vested interest in seeing a fiscally healthy HCS. But, then, don't we all?

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Comments(1):

  1. Colgate Financial Assistance to HCS

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Harry

    I agree completely with Mr. Hollis. I have been affiliated personally and through my sons with a number of colleges and universities and Colgate's commitment to the quality of life in Hamilton is absolutely unparallelled in other communities with colleges and universities. Most colleges keep their facilities strictly reserved and separated from their host communities. Colgate makes its athletic facilities available to a remarkable degree. Without the use of Colgate's pool, tennis courts, and skating rink, our summer recreation program and winter activities programs would be impossible. Those facilities are also available, often free and otherwise at well below market rates, to the community on numerous occasions. Likewise, Colgate (and student volunteers) helps to sustain our nursery school, the vitality of our business center, our fire and ambulance services and our hospital. Anyone who is familiar with the often strained town-gown relationships in many communities, including many of our neighbors, knows how lucky we are. That said, Colgate's commitment to HCS and our children's future, at a time when our state and national governments are showing a tragic lack of vision, is most welcome, but hardly surprising. Thank you.