Skoufis announces $200K to offset SUNY tax exemption

Posted 11/24/21

Senator James Skoufis joined City of Newburgh officials to announce $200,000 in state budget funding that will offset lost revenue from the tax-exempt SUNY Orange campus. The announcement comes in …

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Skoufis announces $200K to offset SUNY tax exemption

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Senator James Skoufis joined City of Newburgh officials to announce $200,000 in state budget funding that will offset lost revenue from the tax-exempt SUNY Orange campus. The announcement comes in advance of Newburgh’s 2022 budget vote next week and will provide direct funding to the city’s emergency services.

Like other municipalities, the City of Newburgh is home to many properties that are off the tax rolls, including health, education, and religious non-profits which offer a variety of services for local residents. Lost tax revenue from these vital organizations can hinder the city’s ability to fund municipal operations. With that in mind, this $200,000 can be used to enhance emergency services in the city and will completely offset the costs associated with providing police and fire protection to the SUNY Orange campus.

“I fought tooth and nail this year to return this lost revenue to the City,” said Senator Skoufis. “This special funding stream is modeled after a similar program that was previously in place in New Paltz, where the SUNY tax exemption, paired with fluctuations in student population utilizing police and fire departments, made providing municipal services a challenge. I am proud to bring these taxpayer dollars right back home to offset SUNY Orange’s exemption and support the city’s needs.”

“On behalf of the City of Newburgh, I want to thank Senator Skoufis for securing this funding,” added City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey. “Our departments work tirelessly each day to serve local residents and keep the city moving forward, and this important state funding helps fill a gap left by the college’s property tax exemption. We appreciate this collaborative support.”