State Sen. James Skoufis announces plan for Orange County IDA monitor

That monitor will be able to veto tax breaks if they do not create enough high paying jobs, have enough support from the public, or if too much money is being withheld from local school district tax levies.

News 12 Staff

May 1, 2023, 7:09 PM

Updated 495 days ago

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State Sen. James Skoufis announced during a press conference at his Cornwall office that the new state budget will designate a monitor to the Orange County Industrial Development Authority.
That monitor will be able to veto tax breaks if they do not create enough high paying jobs, have enough support from the public, or if too much money is being withheld from local school district tax levies.
IDA tax breaks are intended to being in projects that provide public benefits like quality jobs to the community.
Skoufis stated at the conference that the IDA has been abusing its power and listed a few examples of what he says are unnecessary and undeserved tax breaks.  
He recently attacked the IDA for giving $2.5 million in tax relief to Milmar Food Group to expand operations in Goshen even though the company indicated on its application that they did not need the tax relief.
"So many examples of the Orange County IDA flying off the rails, disrespecting taxpayers over the past decade. I'm here to announce proudly that after this decade or so of battles and fights, the taxpayers have won the war,” he said.
IDA's CEO Bill Fioravanti told News 12 that the board is “assessing their options.”
"We follow every process we're supposed to. We are completely transparent. The public can look at everything we do already. I respond to anyone who inquires -- group or individual. Frankly this is more of a political effort to root out IDAs, if you ask me."