WHAT WOULD THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS BE FOR THE TOWNS OF COXSACKIE & ATHENS?
As with most commercial development in our area, Flint Mine Solar is hoping to negotiate a PILOT (which stands for Payment In Lieu Of Taxes). Typically the Greene County IDA works with business owners and developers to come up with a package that streamlines and reduces tax payments for a period of time to encourage those businesses to located in Greene County. The Greene IDA has worked with local and national businesses such as Field Goods, Ferguson, Serta and Sfoglini Pasta to locate facilities in Athens and Coxsackie.
Flint Mine Solar floated a PILOT of at least $10 million over the life of the project that would go to the Greene County, the Coxsackie-Athens School District and the Towns of Coxsackie and Athens. PILOTS are typically shared among the taxing jurisdictions in the same ratio as property and school taxes.
It is up to us - members of the community - to tell our town boards how we want them to use this money.