Payment in Lieu of Taxes

PILOT tax relief is a program designed to lure businesses to build in your town. Businesses mean jobs.  Jobs are good. Businesses are tax paying entities. The larger the tax base, the more money goes to the town to pay for everything. That sounds good too. Of course, commerce means more traffic, noise and pollution, but we all agree that the offset is worth it. But, what if it's not?  

When your town allows a PILOT tax program, they are saying that they will take a fraction of the full tax that would normally be paid. These programs can be negotiated, but they usually start low and gradually increase each year until they are paying their full share of taxes. PILOT tax programs began sometime in the 1980's. They were a way to attract businesses to the Lower Hudson Valley. However, they weren't anything like we see today. What was a little off the tax bill for 5 years has been grossly abused and stretched.  Companies now expect 80% off and a 30 year term! 30 years. I'll be dead before these businesses are paying their full share. Until then, I'm paying full taxes and so are you. Enough already. Everyone pays their way. It's only fair.

New businesses mean more jobs. I can get behind that! But, where are the jobs for a solar field? Do you know anyone who works a solar field? Me neither. So, how is Goshen allowing Solar companies to build acres and acres of solar farms and not pay their share of taxes? Remember, the idea behind a PILOT program is to bring smart growth to our economy. That means jobs. These companies sit back and let the sun do the work. It's a brilliant business model. Can we at least get our fair share of taxes from the deal? While I'm on the solar farm rant, there's a reason they all want to be in Goshen. Take a look at Google Earth. Notice the light green color of the map in our town? That's open farm land. Notice the dark green to the north and south? That's forest. Of course they all want land in Goshen! Half the work is already done. Any idea what it costs to clear cut a forest? It ain't cheap! Again, they want to be here. We don't need to discount the taxes at all. Let's get paid!

Automation has made our country great.  Can't deny the role machines have played in our history.  But, let's call it like it is.  Replacing human workers with machines hurts working men and women.  Great for the business owner though.  I don't even mind this.  If you build a better mouse trap, you should reap the rewards.  Asking me to subsidize your business by giving you a huge discount on your taxes just pisses me off.  The current warehouse model is based on automation.  They actually brag about it!  Then they ask for a PILOT tax break as they pay less than ever to run their company.  Watch out for the lies! They will tout 100's of jobs per warehouse knowing there is absolutely no way for anyone to hold them to it. It's just a part of their marketing plan. It's a lie and I'm not falling for it.  

As with any growth, we are bound to feel some pain.  Any new business means traffic.  In the case of warehouses, it's a LOT of traffic.  70 foot long tractor trailers spewing diesel exhaust as they slow roll through our town, clogging up our roads and adding time to every trip we make is a lot of misery. And for what? Your tax bill won't change, they aren't adding to the fund. They want their tax break. I say NO.  

Solar farms started small and hidden about ten years ago. Now they build them huge and right up to the road. We are losing our beautiful rolling green hills and farms. They call it progress. Sigh. I might be able to look past the eyesore of it all, if only we were getting something out of it. They all get tax breaks and it has to stop.

The land is a town's lifeblood. Taxes are how we pay for our roads, our police, and every municipal program. You can't keep taking out and not put back in. That means as PILOT programs are doled out like candy to greedy corporations, you and I have to kick in more to make up the difference. A town must grow it's economy. Not all growth is good. Smart growth is good. We need to get smart real quick. We're doomed if we don't.