BY GARY MCCARTHY For The Daily Gazette Gary McCarthy is the mayor of the city of Schenectady.
I appreciate The Daily Gazette providing me the chance to respond to recent submissions related to a host benefit agreement for the Rivers Casino and Resort at Mohawk Harbor.
It is ironic to see some of the biggest critics of the casino project now calling for Schenectady to get even more benefits from this exciting $480 million riverfront project.
These are the same critics who wanted Schenectady to fail in its efforts to land the new casino, resulting in no new revenue at all for the city to spend on tax relief. Now these same critics want more revenue. It’s funny how things change. Maybe these critics are coming around now that they are calling for more benefi ts, not less.
In any case, the anti-casino crusaders have taken up a new cause, namely that Schenectady should have a host benefits agreement similar to an agreement signed by another community in New York state that was also awarded a casino. This project is located in the town of Tyre in Seneca County.
The critics of the Schenectady casino are pointing to the Tyre agreement as one that Schenectady should follow. They need to do their homework before making this claim.
The big difference between the Tyre and Schenectady projects is that in Tyre, the Seneca County IDA awarded the project generous incentives. These included a $16 million exemption from sales taxes, an exemption from mortgage recording tax worth another $3.35 million, and property tax savings worth about $10 million for a total of almost $30 million.
Some critics of the Schenectady casino are pointing to Seneca County as a model for Schenectady. Sorry, but the numbers in Seneca don’t stack up to Schenectady.
The host benefit agreement in the town of Tyre provides for payments to buy land and to equip and train an ambulance and fire company that add up to about $200,000 per year. The land purchase deal lasts six years. The new fire and ambulance equipment get purchased, and that is it.
At most, these benefits add up to a few million dollars.
The balance of the host benefi t agreement paid to the town of Tyre will be paid from the existing host benefit fee paid to the town and county under the state casino law. This is not new money, merely a redirection of the funding that the town and county are already entitled to.
Let’s compare this to our deal here.
The new casino in Schenectady does not include any IDA benefi ts. The Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady is paying 100 percent of sales tax, 100 percent of mortgage recording tax and 100 percent of property tax. The direct payment to the host community is expected to generate over $8.2 million each year, with $4.1 million going to the city of Schenectady and $4.1 million going to Schenectady County, according to the formula established by state law.
In addition, Schenectady stands to benefit from approximately $6.7 million in taxes each year from property tax, hotel tax (also known as bed tax) and sales tax.
The annual estimated total tax payment to the city of Schenectady/Schenectady County is $14,900,000. This figure does not include tax payments from the adjacent Mohawk Harbor development.
The new casino in Seneca County is expected to pay $2.265 million in taxes each year under the PILOT and $3.9 million to the town of Tyre and Seneca County, for a total of $10,065,000.
Don’t let the critics fool you. The same critics who wanted us to get $0 because they stood fi rmly against this project are now saying we need a host benefit agreement like the one in Senenca County.
The Schenectady deal is a much better deal. Don’t let a few payments toward ambulances and fi re trucks fool you. In Schenectady, we have a fully staffed and equipped fi re department. We need the money, thank you — not token payments for new fi re trucks and ambulances.
The Schenectady deal is a much better deal for the community than the deal in Tyre/Seneca County.
"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,"
Where to begin......Remember....it's an election year, so be ready to hear this bullsh!t!!!!
Quoted Text
The new casino in Schenectady does not include any IDA benefi ts. The Rivers Casino and Resort in Schenectady is paying 100 percent of sales tax, 100 percent of mortgage recording tax and 100 percent of property tax. The direct payment to the host community is expected to generate over $8.2 million each year, with $4.1 million going to the city of Schenectady and $4.1 million going to Schenectady County, according to the formula established by state law. You pay taxes on Brownfields??
In addition, Schenectady stands to benefit from approximately $6.7 million in taxes each year from property tax, hotel tax (also known as bed tax) and sales tax. We've been hearing this for over a decade....and taxes have done nothing but increased!
The annual estimated total tax payment to the city of Schenectady/Schenectady County is $14,900,000. This figure does not include tax payments from the adjacent Mohawk Harbor development. More money to fund the 'friends and family club'.
Don’t let the critics fool you. The same critics who wanted us to get $0 because they stood fi rmly against this project are now saying we need a host benefit agreement like the one in Senenca County. Really? Names please!
The Schenectady deal is a much better deal. Don’t let a few payments toward ambulances and fi re trucks fool you. In Schenectady, we have a fully staffed and equipped fi re department. We need the money, thank you — not token payments for new fi re trucks and ambulances. REALLY???? Has anyone talked to the ALL public safety folks? They say JUST THE OPPOSITE!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Let's all believe McMayor....right? The design has ALREADY changed....so will everything else.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
In addition, Schenectady stands to benefit from approximately $6.7 million in taxes each year from property tax, hotel tax (also known as bed tax) and sales tax.
Same line they have been using since the Rotterdam Square Mall was built.
If I am not mistaken at one time didn't the Rotterdam Mall ask to have it's taxes reduced? So.. if the casino is not doing well and there are no tenants in those high priced condos won't all of them request a reduction in the taxes they pay. It's a given. It has happened so many times before.
They are counting their chickens before they hatch.
Same line they have been using since the Rotterdam Square Mall was built.
Which never lowered taxes either.
Sure it lowered taxes - for downtown tax exempt businesses. They didn't say it would lower taxes across the board. They chose to selectively lower taxes for their generous donors.
Sure it lowered taxes - for downtown tax exempt businesses. They didn't say it would lower taxes across the board. They chose to selectively lower taxes for their generous donors.
And yet the dumbed down electorate continues to vote the same way election after election! Hence Bumble's statements: "They get what they deserve!"
Rotterdam Square had its taxes lowered a few years after it opened. Someone who worked in the shopping mall field had told me, before the mall was approved, that malls always give a high number for how much taxes they are going to pay, in the approval stage, and WITHIN FIVE YEARS of opening, have that figure reduced substantially. I wonder who wrote that letter with Gary McCarthy's name on it. I seem to recall a local Democrat running for a council seat, because he was concerned about so many unanswered questions about revenue and how it would be distributed. He wasn't a negative critic, far from it. This project, btw, has nothing to do with Gary McCarthy and his genius planning types, it was just dropped into his lap by Cuomo, it is not for Schenectady but for the whole region, and he probably doesn't know all that much about it either.
It is ironic to see some of the biggest critics of the casino project now calling for Schenectady to get even more benefits from this exciting $480 million riverfront project.
You're trying to tell that a 'big box' style building and a "harbor" is going to cost 1/2 billion dollars?
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
they are clearly using it as an excuse to 'cheapin' the deal saying it would be a 'better fit'.
but in the end...or they already know......will sts steel get a dream deal to move?
sts steel related to the casino folks?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
If I am not mistaken at one time didn't the Rotterdam Mall ask to have it's taxes reduced? So.. if the casino is not doing well and there are no tenants in those high priced condos won't all of them request a reduction in the taxes they pay. It's a given. It has happened so many times before.
They are counting their chickens before they hatch.
Half of the newest casinos reported lower than expected revenues and asked for tax reductions.
They have the nerve to make the statement that the market is over saturated.
Businesses given tax breaks, and given protection from competition by granting exclusive licenses to host gambling, and they still complain of competition.
Dump the casinos. Just allow gambling for actual people, not just out of state corporations that will funnel millions more out of Schenectady.
Crime and poverty is sooooooooooooo high in Schenectady.....that the casino will NOT be the proposed success it promises.
the first few months may be busy....only because it is common knowledge that all gambling houses are easy in the beginning when they first open to win $$$.
same thing happened at the casino in Saratoga.
what a joke!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
This casino has a very big chance of being different
1. The casino is separated by rif raf by Eire Blvd and the river on the other side. 2. This casino will not compete with the Saratoga Raceway like many think but will probably compliment it. Many that go to the casino will try the raceway and many that go to the raceway will try the casino. It is called Economic Alchemy. 3. The Mohawk and connecting waterways, Howes Caverns, the Aquarium and the railway among many other things we take for granted will make this casino a drawing destination.
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
TIP TO NEW VISITORS TO THIS FORUM - To improve your blogging pleasure it is recommended to ignore (Through editing your prefere) the posts of the following bloggers - DemocraticVoiceofReason, Scotsgod08 and Smoking Bananas. They continually go off topic, do not provide facts and make irrational remarks. If you do not believe me, this can be proven by their reputation scores or by a sampling of their posts.
This casino has a very big chance of being different
1. The casino is separated by rif raf by Eire Blvd and the river on the other side.
that's what the glenville folks thought when walmart was moving in. it didn't take but 1 month and the rif raf was bused and cabbed in. rivers with bridges......
it will draw drug dealers, prostitution and illegal gambling. illegal gambling is BIG business in Vegas!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
