Almost immediately after assuming my role as Chair of the State Senate’s investigations committee, I worked to uncover the excessive spending habits of New York State’s Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs). Through this process, I discovered a myriad of troubling issues within the IDA here in Orange County, and it became clear that the IDA’s actions disadvantaged taxpayers while offering unwarranted, unnecessary property tax breaks to corporations and businesses.
Orange County residents have not been blind to the negative impact the OC IDA’s actions have on their communities. In a 2023 poll that my office commissioned, over 75% of county respondents expressed the OC IDA generally did not provide incentives to support small business, though that is the stated goal of any IDA.
I fought hard in last year’s budget to ensure that Orange County no longer has to suffer from the corruption of the OC IDA by creating the position of a monitor. This monitor will act as an independent voice, and I’m thrilled to announce that he has just been appointed and began his term last week. Brian Sanvidge is a Certified Inspector General and Certified Fraud Examiner, with more than 30 years of experience, including time spent as the appointed monitor to oversee taxi medallion abuses in New York City. Mr. Sanvidge will be empowered to overrule the Orange County IDA’s tax break packages if they do not sufficiently consider the taxpayer, the environment, or return on investment required by the agency’s own policies. This oversight will come at no expense to taxpayers and is paid fully by the IDA’s coffers.
It’s time for real and lasting reform. Our new monitor will provide an added layer of accountability and scrutiny, making sure that our tax dollars remain where they belong—right here in our communities.
