I’m a senior citizen who is not eligible for the Enhanced STAR, and as a recently retired educator, know the waste that goes on in schools. When will we stop giving and giving?
When we stop crying to the politicians and the politicians get the union's body parts out of the 'places'......
SHOW ME THE MONEY TRAIL----IN NYS WHO CAN WE ASK???
Rotterdam supervisor praises SI Group tax break Posted on: 03/05/08
Ross Marvin, Spotlight Staff email: marvinr@spotlightnews.com
Rotterdam Supervisor Steven Tommasone called the Rotterdam Industrial Development Authority’s (RIDA) 15-year property in lieu of tax agreement (PILOT) with the SI Group a good example of how the town does “everything we can to create and keep jobs.”
Tommasone, a Republican, responded to the concerns of former Democratic board member Robert Godlewski, at the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Godlewski raised concerns that the public was not afforded a chance to read the RIDA’s agreement with the SI Group, which requires the company to pay approximately $10 million over 15 years to the town, Schenectady County and the Schalmont School District.
As part of the agreement the SI Group no longer pays property taxes, saving the company about $1.5 million over the term of the agreement.
“Rotterdam has to come up with the shortfall on town taxes,” said Godlewski, identifying himself as a longtime taxpayer. “Everyone, the town and the county are tightening the belt.”
Godlewski was also concerned that the agreement with the SI Group could send a message to other area businesses that are unhappy with their tax rates.
“There are three or four other big businesses in this town, including GE,” said Godlewski. “They could see this as an opportunity to get out of their certiorari.”
Several businesses have filed tax certiorari litigation with the town. Real estate tax certiorari is the legal process by which a property owner can challenge the real estate tax assessment on a given property in attempt to reduce the property’s assessment. Tommasone said that the goal of the agreement with the SI Group wasn’t to set a precedent.
“I understand there’s always a concern with setting precedents, but the issue is that this agreement is unique,” said Tommasone. It affords something for the SI Group, for the town, the schools and the county.”
As part of the tax agreement, the SI Group will create five to seven new jobs at their Rotterdam Junction plant in conjunction with the installation of a biomass boiler. The SI Group will also provide land to the town for the erection of a $1.2 million water tower.
The SI Group will also pay an additional $30,000 annually to the Schalmont School District.
The board’s lone Democratic member, John Silva said he hadn’t received a copy of the PILOT.
“We the town board are the taxing authority,” said Silva. “It seems to me we should ask our town council to do an analysis of the PILOT.”
Silva said a formal review could answer residents’ questions about the potential effects the PILOT has on the tax levy and on the town budget. Because the members of the RIDA are appointed by the town board, Tommasone said he would defer to that board’s decision.
“These agreements put us in a position where we have to accept what they tell us,” said Tommasone. “Just as we appoint a member to the Metroplex board, we appoint members to the RIDA board.” You can contact marvinr@spotlightnews.com with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below.
Re Mar. 1 letter, “Rotterdam IDA deal with SI Group a bad one for taxpayers,” by Woodlawn Democratic Committee President Robert Sanders: Once again, as with his recent letter on Assemblyman George Amedore, Sanders misstates the facts to achieve his goal of criticizing Republican officials. Here are the facts of the PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] agreement between SI [Schenectady International] Group Inc. and the Rotterdam Industrial Development Agency. SI Group was scheduled to pay about $13.5 million in taxes over the next 15 years. This was based on an inflated assessment due to an extremely low equalization rate which pushed their assessment to about $31 million after a court ordered their assessment at only $18 million in 2002. SI Group stood to receive $1 million to $2 million in refunds if their litigation went to trial, and would have cost the town about $150,000 in legal fees. It was likely that a court would have determined their tax payments to be about $11.5 million over 15 years. The PILOT calls for $10 million over 15 years, plus an extra $450,000 to the Schalmont School District. SI Group also waived rights to refunds from its pending litigation and will also provide a site for a new, badly needed water tower in Rotterdam Junction. As a result, this PILOT essentially has no cost to the taxpayers. The PILOT not only helps preserve 182 jobs and create new ones, it also provides 15 years of stability for all taxing jurisdictions and an excellent corporate citizen, who will remain active in Rotterdam, rather than moving operations to another state, country or continent. ANGELO SANTABARBARA Rotterdam The writer is Rotterdam IDA chairman.
Thank you Mr. Santabarbara for telling us the facts since the Gazette can't quite get their facts straight!
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
Thank you Mr. Santabarbara for telling us the facts since the Gazette can't quite get their facts straight!
While I too appreciate Mr. Santabarbara's explanation, I have one question for you...or anyone else. Did you attend the public hearing on this matter?
If you are going to rely on what the media reports to you instead of taking an active part (and I don't agree the Gazette's facts are screwy) than you get what you deserve. If you want to be assured by Mr. Tommasone's remarks that they appointed the IDA and so they let them decide, then fine...but he doesn't necessarily hold that view all the time...ask the Rotterdam Conservation Board or the Planning Commission when they issue reccommendations on certain matters.
Either way, this was a complicated decision with a lot of moving parts. I'm surprised and concerned, if true, that Mr. Silva never saw the proposed agreement. But if you were at the IDA meeting you'd know that a serious negotiation took place behind closed doors during Executive Session. I think Mr. Godlewski's remarks about the public getting to see that agreement is valid.
While I don't know much about this situation, can I ask one question? Since Mr. Silva is sitting on the board, isn't his job to look over these things? And shouldn't they be passed on to him in the same manner that they are being passed on to the rest of the board? I don't think it would benefit the Republicans who are sitting on the town board (at a 4-1 majority at this time) to make sure that he didn't look at it. Fact is, the only thing it could do is to hurt them when the next election comes up by keeping him out of the loop.
Here's what we COULD BE hearing in October 2009 when elections are coming up for town board again. "The Republicans who were sitting on the board for the last 2 years didn't want to nor find it necessary to share any information with the sole Democrat on the board."
Remember, the Democrats who run around here don't have a stance on things, they just like to point out how bad the current sitting members are doing.
Although Mr. Silva should have been included in the talks, it does appears to be a sound decision made by the IDA board. I agree with it.
And as far as attending the meetings, not all of us can. And the ones that do, I would hope they would state their findings here for us to read. Also the reporters for media outlets are all we have. The majority are incompetent at best but there are a few that are excellent investigative reporters. It is just too bad that they are a liberal media and show that in their reporting.
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
I say fight them in court. The Town won the GE lawsuit. That decision was precedent setting. Maybe if the town attorneys were worth the money we pay them $95, 000+ a year the taxpayer's best interests would be served. But then aagin Mr. Buchanan's law firm was the law firm that represented General Electric. No wonder the Republicans didn't want to see a re-val. Buchanan's law firm stood to lose a big cash cow which they did. And the residents are supposed to trust these lawyers, (buchanan, parisi and saccocio?) Wake up Rotterdam residents they are housing us! The quid pro quo is more than land for water tank my friends. LOL
As far as moving to China, poppycock. They are not moving because of high taxes. Stand for nothing fall for anything. Business as usual under the Tommasone administration! Set a precedent for Rotterdam Square, Golub, GE, and all the other big commercials. Wake up people of Rotterdam!!! Its our tax dollars. Mr. DellaVilla sold out the Schalmont school district for a wink and a nod from his patron saint, Steve Tomassone...
SI Group sued over chemical plant sale BY JAMES SCHLETT Gazette Reporter
A German company is accusing the SI Group of concealing tax liabilities and intentionally mislabeling toxic materials at a chemical plant it sold two years ago. Minatec Finance S.a.r.l. last month sued the Niskayuna-based SI and its Luxembourg subsidiary in a Frankfort court. On Monday, Minatec asked a federal judge in Albany to force SI to turn over certain documents and make executives available for dispositions for the German suit. The German suit stems from SI’s sale of Chemtec Leuna Gesellschaft Fur Chemic & Technologic GmbH plant to the Minatec for 11.3 million euros ($17.3 million US). After closing on the plant in Leuna, Minatec discovered SI allegedly concealed information about the likelihood of a large post-closing tax liability, according to court documents. The Luxembourg-based Minatec also learned that SI allegedly mislabeled a highly toxic product called “Dibloc” as the less hazardous designation “Xn.” Minatec claims those materials should have been labelled “vert toxic T+,” according to court documents. The alleged mislabelling resulted in improper handling and storage of the Dibloc. Minatec claims SI mislabelled the Dibloc throughout Europe, but not in the United States. “This mislabeling resulted in the evasion of numerous mandatory, critical safety requirements and may have caused serious harm to Chemtec employees, customers and others who came in contact with the mislabelled toxic material,” states the suit filed in U.S. District Court. In 2000, SI agreed to purchase Chemtec, which supplied chemicals for pharmaceutical and industrial uses. It also supplied specialty natural waxes for agricultural and cosmetic applications. SI has asked the Frankfort court to deem the company not liable to Minatec. Messages seeking comment left on SI Vice President William Scheffer’s office and cell phones were not immediately returned Monday. Company spokeswoman Renee Michalisin also did not immediately return a call Monday.
I say fight them in court. The Town won the GE lawsuit. That decision was precedent setting. Maybe if the town attorneys were worth the money we pay them $95, 000+ a year the taxpayer's best interests would be served. But then again Mr. Buchanan's law firm was the law firm that represented General Electric. No wonder the Republicans didn't want to see a re-val. Buchanan's law firm stood to lose a big cash cow which they did. And the residents are supposed to trust these lawyers, (buchanan, parisi and saccocio?) Wake up Rotterdam residents they are housing us! The quid pro quo is more than land for water tank my friends. LOL
As far as moving to China, poppycock. They are not moving because of high taxes. Stand for nothing fall for anything. Business as usual under the Tommasone administration! Set a precedent for Rotterdam Square, Golub, GE, and all the other big commercials. Wake up people of Rotterdam!!! Its our tax dollars. Mr. DellaVilla sold out the Schalmont school district for a wink and a nod from his patron saint, Steve Tomassone...
PDQ, what a great democratic supporter you are! First of all, the SI Group WILL close up shop in Rotterdam if they don't receive some tax relief, whether you believe that or not. And before you go throwing stones, you best check the past and present performance of your fellow democrats. The Rotterdam dems have damaged this town more than any other party. Politics is inherently power driven with their own agenda. And both major parties need to be watched closely.
So don't just be a partisan hack and shoot from the hip. You are sounding very foolish and clearly not credible. And do tell us how wonderful Cervera and Quail are while you are attempting to bash Buchannan. And while you are at it, tell us how much better Cooke would have been as a supervisor as opposed to Tommasone.
Your partisan self can spout out anything you want, but remember that the people have spoken and they clearly voted in favor of change. They have spoken against the democratic regime that has caused this town to left in the shambles that it is in today. If I remember correctly, Tommasone had no problem winning this last election.
The days of kickbacks, favors, union rule and child molesting are over. Wake up and smell the coffee.
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
The lowest voter turnout in the history of Rotterdam politics. Poor voter turnouts equate to a uninformed electorate because of the lack of credible candidates from both parties. Need we remind you the Republicans resorted to supporting a Democrat for the council because of the lack of credible candidates. I also ask at what cost to the party and taxpayers was the price for Jack Denny's endorsement? Hmmmmm We shall see in the next town elections Bumble. My guess is the Democrats will regroup just as they did the last time the Republicans had a two-term Supervisor run for re-election.
Joe Signore couldn't survive a third term as Supervisor and I doubt Stevie (Wonder) Tomassone will either. John Mertz is DOA and Joe Signore has sold out the "reformer" candidate label for nepotism, 50% pay raises and patronage for members of his FBI tainted administration. Tomassone will blame any subseguent tax increases on the re-val but the voters are not that stupid. Buckle in Rotterdam Republicans there is new crop of independent voters out there that been have awakened! And just to think we haven't tapped into the Schalmont Teachers Association who don't have the highest regard for DellaVilla and his patron saint, Steve Tomassone.
First the reval was Paolino's baby. And yes the reval was not fair. There are tons of people in Rotterdam who went to Macjecka for help...and were just brushed off. IF the town did not accept this reval, Rotterdam would have been out $700+k that Paolino paid out to Gar Assoc. Not to mention the million or so to dispute it. Sure...the reval was a dem thing that screwed the people.
And in case you forgot there PDQ, (aka dem hack), Mr. Della Villa is representing the tax payers in Rotterdam. And if the teachers think that they will jump on the RPD wagon and try to influence an election...it just don't work anymore. People are too smart for that one! Again, the days of the union rule are OVER!!! The majority of the taxpayers are tired of hearing the teacher pi** and moan about their stupid contract. The taxpayers are tired of their children being subject to the teachers wearing pins in a classroom on an issue that these children should NOT be concerned or exposed to.
As far a Jack Denny being endorsed by the reps, well that was a mind boggler for many of us as well. I'll give ya that one. But in the end HE (a dem) LOST miserably!! So what does that say to you?
There is clearly enough blame to go around in every political party. But I see people smartening up and choosing the best party that will represent them and their ideology. And right now it is the reps because the dems just aren't cutting it!!
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
The lowest voter turnout in the history of Rotterdam politics.
What's that tell ya?? The electorate is content with their Republican majority. So much so, they chose to increase it by 1 seat. The police commission, officer Denny and the gun handles scandal, the empty charges of nepotism..... None of it stuck. Result.........Landslide for Republicans. Now it's the Schalmont teacher, independent voters, and the proposed raise for board members which members of both party's are in favor of. That's the problem with the Rotterdam Democrats. No new ideas and solutions, just obstruction and agitation. Trying to polarize the town and pit resident against resident. I believe that strategy will continue to fail.
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