February 7, 2008
Naples School District
136 N Main St
Naples, NY 14512
Dear Naples School District,
Re: SCIDA – PILOT – Naples S.D.
I am aware that the Steuben County IDA is attempting to cheat the Naples School District out of taxes for 3 wind turbines currently being installed in Steuben County within the Naples school district. Ive learned that the SCIDA group is providing a PILOT for the wind energy developer that will only provide a tax pittance for the Naples school district. This all reeks of collusion and corruption within SCIDA and should be investigated by the NYS Attorney General!
I am complaining because I own property within the Naples school district in the town of S. Bristol and I have to pay my fair share of Naples school district taxes at 100% valuation and I expect any other property owners will be required to do the same on the full value of their property - this includes wind energy developers and the full value of wind turbines and their related infrastructure. The wind turbines should be taxed for school taxes at full assessed value and nothing less.
These questions need answers:
Can it be legal for SCIDA to agree to a PILOT with the wind developer for property inside Steuben County that influences school taxes in an adjacent county outside Steuben County? How can SCIDA dictate what the Naples school district will receive when voters in the school district have nothing to say (vote) about the issues in Steuben County. This is kind of a reverse taxation without representation.
Would it be illegal for the Naples school district to accept anything less than full assessed value for taxing purposes when considering the value of the wind turbines within the Naples school district?
Can the Naples school district assess the wind turbines and infrastructure at full tax value anyway and bring the matter into the courts if the wind developer (or property owner) doesn't pay the full school tax bill based on a normal full value assessment – just like that which would happen in the case of a private home owner?
SCIDA executive director Sherron is quoted as having said:
Sherron said that PILOT negotiations with developers began “three or four years ago” and that the IDA committed to the amounts included in the adopted payment schedule back then. Though taxing authorities could have earned more revenue by taxing turbines at their full assessed value — “whether (the developers) could afford to come in and pay that kind of money was questionable,” Sherron said. “If there was not a PILOT, they would not have come here — they would have gone elsewhere.”
UPC wind had offered earlier to pay a PILOT of $4.4 million each year. In light of that offer, members of the community objected at a hearing earlier this month to the much lower PILOT pay schedule that was eventually adopted. Sherron explained, however, that the $4.4 million was proposed back when UPC thought it would be receiving state aid in the form of Empire Zone benefits. When UPC realized that those benefits would not be available, the developer was no longer able to afford the higher payments, Sherron said.
Can you demand that Sherron prove, in writing, the above statements?
I cannot find anything within the NYS Department of Taxation and Financial Empire Zone program tax benefits that lowers or excuses school district taxes much less the same in an adjoining county where a school district overlaps a county that has a PILOT agreement.
The Naples school district (and Steuben County too) is falling victim to yet another scam by wind developers and SCIDA (payoffs maybe?) who time and again betray trusting rural communities in issues like this.
Per the NYS Comptroller's Office - I the PILOT applies to the area where the project is located -and I believe this can only apply to Steuben County – exactly where the turbines are located.
Please note that the Naples Library may also be affected by the SCIDA PILOT and this should be investigated as well.
I believe the Naples school district should vigorously pursue this matter within the court system against the SCIDA and wind developer as soon as possible. Maybe when Steuben County realizes the wrongs committed by their SCIDA and legal expenses involved - they will correct the situation and the Naples school district will receive what they are justly due.
Once again – my feeling is that the Naples S.D. should accept nothing less than taxes based on 100% assessed value for turbines in Steuben County within the Naples S.D.
Sincerely,
Alan Isselhard
8135 North Huron Rd.
Wolcott, NY 14590
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