Dutchess County does away with property tax exemptions for developers

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POUGHKEEPSIE – A property tax exemption exclusive to mixed-use property renovations in the City of Poughkeepsie has been repealed by the Dutchess County Legislature.

In 2012, at the request of Poughkeepsie, the county opted into the state’s established 485-a real property tax exemption to encourage mixed-use property rehabilitation and development.

That state exemption requires a city or town to opt-in before the county may offer the same exemption in that municipality.

Since then, the City of Poughkeepsie and its school board have repealed their local exemptions.

County Legislator Randall Johnson, Sr. sponsored the repeal resolution.

“What we wanted to do is just close the loopholes where Dutchess County can now collect their share of taxes. I believe the City of Poughkeepsie Industrial Development Agency should be the only entity granting payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to developers because the industrial development agency understands what type of development is needed in the City of Poughkeepsie and who really needs financial assistance with their project,” Johnson said.

Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver said developers “should not be given blank checks when it comes to property tax credits. The county and City of Poughkeepsie IDAs are there for a reason, to properly vet and grant reduced assessments to projects which need viability assistance.”




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