Steuben County Legislator Letter March 24, 2008 by Judith Hall

March 24, 2008

Steuben County Legislators,

At the Cohocton Town Board meeting on 3/18/08 Mr. McAllister a member of this legislature reported to the town that NYS is passing on budget cuts that will probably force the county to raise taxes to its residents. Yet last month this board had no problem with the SCIDA approving yet more tax breaks for foreign companies. One of the reasons the IDA’s were formed and are still in existence is that these tax breaks are to bring jobs to NY and their various counties. Yet SCIDA continually approves tax breaks for projects in which they know there is no job creation. SCIDA has in recent months approved several wind projects in the county. Construction is being done by out of state companies, which have continually broken NYS laws, and started without the proper permits. Taxing jurisdictions have not been properly or timely informed of the PILOTS and are now forced to hire legal counsel at even more expense to the taxpayers.

SCIDA is taking possession of the UPC project in Cohocton after construction was started without proper permits in place. There were no building permits, road permits or DEC permits. This is well documented. The construction crews are continually ticketed by the police for violations. There have been numerous construction accidents in which EMT services have been called upon. There is still no proper bonding in place. I ask you who is looking out for the taxpayers of Steuben County? What liability is there to the County and Town of Cohocton if a project already well into construction with little oversight, if any, by independent inspectors is taken over by SCIDA?

Mr. McAllister also sat in a meeting in which Jack Zigenfus, town supervisor of Cohocton asked the Public works committee to allow a 4-5 year repayment of $80,000 for a road project already completed when the town received $725,000 dollars for a host payment and has a huge surplus for the current budget year. The taxpayers are again asked to foot the bill. Why would Mr. McAllister not have informed the committee that Cohocton could well afford the payment for the road work that was scheduled years in advance and should have already been budgeted for? It appears to many of the taxpaying public that no one in Steuben County is looking out for us, your bosses. The folly of tax money give away by the SCIDA may have at least awakened the dragon and many of you will no longer run unopposed in subsequent elections.

I would also like to leave you with a current estimate for decommissioning a 3MW turbine in France. Since SCIDA and the town of Cohocton are not obtaining the proper bonding to cover costs, Cohocton has a letter of credit from a foreign bank for $1,087,000, and SCIDA is allowing a similar amount in Prattsburgh from UPC, it would once again seem the taxpayer will be left holding the bag. Please do you job and use proper vigilance for the residents and taxpayers who vote for you.

Judith Hall