GOSHEN – State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall), a frequent critic of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, blasted the agency on Tuesday for its anticipated consideration of financial incentives for housing developments.
In a joint statement with Jeff Pearlman, director of the State Authorities Budget Office, called that a “flagrant, continued disregard for taxpayers,” and the reason he secured state approval for a monitor to oversee all activities of the IDA.
“If this precedent is set after 50 years of not providing incentives – property tax breaks for housing developments, if this new precedent is set, every single housing developer forever, perpetuity, is going to come to the Orange County IDA and ask for property tax breaks,” the senator said. “This door is either open or closed. This is a pivotal moment for the Orange County IDA and there is absolutely no argument on the merits to open this door.”
The two state officials said the “I” in IDA stands for ‘industrial,’ and there is nothing industrial about housing.
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