Cortlandt officials don’t want closure
to become a dome of doom for the town
CORTLANDT – The two Indian Point nuclear reactors are to be shut down in 2020 and 2021 and that will mean the loss of over 1,000 jobs and $800,000 in taxes per year to the Town of Cortlandt.
Local officials are taking the bull by the horns to protect jobs and replace the lost tax revenue, which comprises two percent of the town’s annual $42 million budget.
Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi said the town has hired an economic development consultant to assist in marketing the town for new business.
“They are looking at various parcels that are available, some owned by the town, some owned privately, and they would be talking to the private owners to see if there is any reuse of the properties, and on the properties that we do own, that is our priority,” Puglisi said. “A lot of the property we own is down by the Hudson River so it could be some commercial or some corporate parks or some industries down in that vicinity.”
The town is also setting aside $100,000 from the budget each year as a cessation reserve fund to offset the tax loss.
Puglisi said a new shopping center on Route 6, opening in November, will help by providing some jobs and revenue, as well as sales tax.
The town is also working with a state-created task force seeking to attract new businesses and jobs to the town
