Times Herrold Olean New York

DiNapoli wants IDAs to improve their reporting

ELLICOTTVILLE — New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued his annual report Tuesday on industrial development agencies across the state showing the IDAs supported 4,577 projects in 2009 worth an estimated $500 million in tax exemptions that will help create 204,000 jobs over the life of the projects.

The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency assisted 20 companies or agencies to the tune of $186 million in 2009 — including refinancing of earlier projects, the comptroller’s report shows. The companies reported 521 new jobs were created as a result of the tax breaks.

The 115 IDAs across the state granted $1.2 million in tax exemptions in 2009, offset by revenue from about $700 million in PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes). The state comptroller continues to push the IDAs to improve their reporting.

“Shortfalls on the job data continue to impede the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of these economic development agencies,” he said.

Cattaraugus County IDA Director Corey Wiktor, in response to the state comptroller’s report, said, “This agency has never been submitted to an audit by the state or investigated, or questioned by any state authority. To be honest, the comptroller could help IDAs. Some are doing questionable things. What we’ve said all along is to correct what is needed, don’t punish every IDA.

“We’ve had clean audits,” Mr. Wiktor continued. “Our paperwork has been filed on time. Everything is very transparent and open. We have nothing to hide.”

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