ALBANY – The term of the state-appointed monitor to oversee decisions of the Orange County Industrial Agency expires in May and State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall), who pushed for the overseer three years ago, says he has the support in Albany to re-up him for another three years.
Skoufis, who is not a fan of the financial incentives that IDAs provide for local development, said there has been little to no movement by the current IDA board to correct the ways of the former board.
“The IDA unfortunately has demonstrated no interest in changing its ways (and) has demonstrated no interest in protecting taxpayer interests,” he said.
Maintaining the position of monitor will be included in the state budget that must be approved by March 31, just as it was in the state fiscal plan three years ago.
Meanwhile, IDA Executive Director Bill Fioravanti said it is premature for Skoufis to declare victory on this. “But nothing would shock me, as he wheels and deals every day for political gain, while the lDA is focused on our mission to grow Orange County’s economy.”
Fioravanti said, “The facts are that almost two years in with this monitor, he hasn’t identified a single thing we’ve done wrong, including the Amazon project. It would be perplexing if our elected officials continue to give the senator veto power over the IDA, at a cost of $250,000 a year to Orange County taxpayers.”
He said that “anyone who supports economic development in Orange County opposes this measure, including the local building trades.”
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