Cazenovia Pilot

Railroad Loses Tax Exemptions over Power-Line Deal

From today's Post-Standard "extra", an interesting development in the New York Regional Interconnect (NYRI) power line project:

Railroad's deal with power line developer costs it its tax exemption

The Oneida County Industrial Development Agency revoked property tax exemptions granted to New York Susquehanna & Western Railway at a meeting today, citing the railroad’s relationship with power line developer New York Regional Interconnect.

Spokesman Rob Duchow said the IDA rescinded its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement when the railroad refused to hand over information about its dealings with NYRI, a private developer that wants to build a $1.6 billion high-voltage power line through parts of Oneida, Madison and Chenango counties. The railroad gave NYRI rights to run a stretch of the proposed power line along of its tracks.

Previously, the railroad did not pay any property taxes as part of the agreement. They will now owe the county $115,000 a year, Duchow said.

--Alaina Potrikus