Pair of Batavia hotels get sales tax break for new windows and doors

Exactly how does essentially giving a private entity $9000.00 of taxpayer money toward new windows retain 21 jobs?? That's $429/job.

Of course this could not be an attempt to appease these hotel owners for GCDEC backing the unwarranted tax breaks to the developers of the Holiday Inn, could it? Nah, no way, right?

Right?????

You got that right Bob..How does it..Wish they would explain their reasoning..Were are the facts..$9000 that we won't get in sales tax revenue..Just another GCEDC scam....Time for another bonus...

Help me understand. They get $9000.00 sales tax break on materials. Does that mean they have to support Genesee County businesses and buy their material locally or are they getting a slip that says their tax free and then go out of county? Just a thought.

Are they trying to tell us that if they do not put in new windows, 21 people will get laid off?

Thats what it sounds like?!? Where are their figures??I just don't get it.

It's like this: the 21 people who will retain their jobs, 17 are goat tenders who operate in a barn over in Monroe County. Their landlord, owner of a window company, is experiencing a slowdown because of the weather. The landlord intends to sell the property he rents to the goat tenders. The goat tenders provision three city groceries that cater to Jamaican and Puerto Rican customers. Also there is Mike; the guy who owns the truck that conveys the goats from barn to grocery. This window contract will make booting the goat tenders, unnecessary. The grocery stores stay open. And Mike is still in the trucking business.

ROFLMAO, CM. Awesome.

And probably close to being right.

Howard, can you find out how $429 retains jobs? Obama could use their methods...

Or are these 21 jobs just a ridiculous number picked out of thin air? Mr. Hyde? Care to explain your reasoning? Taxpayers would like to know. What jobs?

If I had simply paid my employer $429.00, would I still have a job?

The GCEDC should be eliminated and the money that funds it should be used to lower taxes on property for Genesee County . To many tax breaks are given out to companies. We the people are making up the difference in taxes that these companies are not paying . There is no proof that the tax breaks will keep companies here after they expire . And once again why are we giving out a bonus to anyone at all if they are doing the job they were hired for . Lots of pork out there that needs to be trimmed starting with GCEDC. I would be embarassed if my name was Steve Hyde . I am sure that Mr. Hyde is being smoozed by many companies that would like the treatment from him in tax breaks .

Genesee County Hotel Development Agency.

Perhaps, in order to get assistance from the GCEDC, a business has to swear or affirm that there is a possibility that they will close or have to shed employees unless they can obtain the economic assistance they are seeking. Everyone involved knows it's piffle, but at the end of the year the agency can point to the numbers and claim that they are saving jobs.

Email just sent to GCEDC:

"Many taxpayers would like to know exactly how $429 saves a job.

That figure is derived from your own statement that a $9000.00 sales tax breaks for two hotels will retain 21 jobs. I cannot, for the life of me figure how that works. Are you asserting that the 2 firms would not go forward with this project without this tax incentive that constitutes 4% of the total cost? I find that doubtful. Even if so, specifically, what jobs will be “retained”?

Please also clarify how GCEDC justifies this tax break for two existing private businesses, when they are replacing older windows with new ones that will obviously pay for themselves over time through reduced energy costs.

Your prompt reply is anticipated and appreciated.

Thank you."

I'll let you know if they respond.

Just wondering why the whole press release made to the Daily News wasn't printed on this site. The release show's a "profit" of $170,000 for GCEDA for the year 2010. I don't know how and agency that get's public funding would produce a "profit", I would think that is a surplus.
That $170,000 profit in the past would equate to a $15,000 bonus for the employee's if divided equally. I hope that the legislature will see that this doesn't happen anymore.

Thanks, C.M. now it all makes sense(-;

I thought I read somewhere that it was "21 EQUIVALENT" jobs? What the heck is an equivalent job?

Actually, Brandon, if there was any quid pro quo, reciprocity or clawback assurance; the money-grabs orchestrated by IDAs across the state might actually justify the tax-dollars sunk into their deals. This has been my main objection to the agency's operations. The local governments not only lose tax revenue; they often have to pay for perks (utilities and site prep). The beneficiaries get a leg-up on their competition. The promised jobs don't always materialize, and when the grants and tax deferrals expire, the beneficiaries finagle a sweeter deal with another community and move on- leaving their initial host with a vacant building. The vacant building is then donated to a non-profit that pays no taxes.

Any profits from these deals remain in the hands of the deal-makers, the contractors (if any), the corporate-beneficiary and its stockholders. Oh! ...And some politicians are wined and dined and get to pose at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Ricky, they are referring to window washers.

C.M.
your scenario is spot on and the proof is all over the area.

CM: So it is their assertion that these hotels are only going to wash their windows if they are NEW windows? :)

I totally agree with all above and how's this for a rub... I put all new windows and doors in several of my rental properties. I got no tax breaks, bought everything through local Genesee County retailers, and hired local workers. Not only did I not get a tax break, but my property taxes went up! On top of that the GCEDA will probably now claim "THEY" saved more jobs because I made the improvements to my properties.

Then you bought the wrong windows and doors. We've gotten a tax credit each of the last three years as we've replaced all the windows in our house, and the front door.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

I'm pretty sure he can't claim those credits because the property has to be owner occupied.

Correct Vicki, not sure why Kev didn't understand that and the "tax break" he is reporting he received is NOT through the GCEDA nor anywhere near the percentage the Hotel owners received. I also wonder if he completed the required City of Batavia building permit for the work he is reporting that was completed on his home, paid that permit fee, and if his taxes did then go up? He kind of missed all the points? The point also was that I used all local retailers and workers and there is no guarantee that the Hotel owners do not use ALL non-local retailers and workers and I would be willing to bet that is the case.