Orange County IDA under fire for $100K lobbying contract
Originally published in
Mid Hudson Times
on
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The Orange County Industrial Development Agency faces mounting criticism after hiring a $100,000 lobbyist while allegedly violating state law by excluding its state-appointed monitor from a board meeting, according to a formal complaint and statements from local legislators.
State monitor Brian Sanvidge notified New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang on Sept. 30 of possible statutory violations by the IDA, which grants selective property tax breaks to corporations. The complaint centers on a Sept. 25 board meeting where directors entered executive session and barred Sanvidge from attending, then voted to retain Albany-based Brown and Weinraub Advisors as the agency's lobbying firm.
"The IDA is spending $100,000 in public funds to do away with oversight because they want to operate like the Wild West," said state Sen. James Skoufis. (“D-Cornwall) They want zero accountability to taxpayers and want to line the pockets of every corporation that walks through their doors."