Syracuse Gives Initial OK to Abatement, Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
The overall budget to be submitted for county approval is $3.33 million, up about $112,000 from this year. The single biggest increase – $203,896 for Oakwood Park infrastructure upkeep – is offset by cuts to cumulative storm and economic development income tax funds.
Councilman Brian Woody questioned why the new Oakwood fund was placed under the town manager instead of the public works department.
Clerk-Treasurer Julie Kline said it was for transparency, so Oakwood residents can see where their tax money is going, and so the funds aren’t spread out among police, streets and other budgets, where they can’t be used for other needs.
Town Manager Henry DeJulia added the new budget item is temporary, needed only as long as infrastructure repairs last.
Tax abatements given initial approval are for Patrick Industries Inc., an Elkhart-based maker of RV parts which recently acquired A.I.A. Countertops in Syracuse for $5.7 million. The company is expanding into the former Liberty Homes manufacturing facility on Huntington Street, which will create 65 new jobs in Syracuse, Chief Financial Officer Andy Nemeth told the council.
He noted that Patrick Industries has shied away from expanding until now, and chose Syracuse over potential spots in Elkhart; and that the expansion is expected to eventually double the company’s yearly revenue of $21 million.
Patrick Industries is requesting a 10-year personal property exemption for $1 million worth of equipment to be installed in the next few months, and a three-year real estate exemption for the building, which Nemeth said will need up to $1 million in renovations. Both exemptions would begin at 100 percent and scale down year by year.
In addition, the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. awarded Patrick Industries a $25,000 grant for moving expanses. KEDCo President George Robertson told the council the program was begun four months ago to attract manufacturing companies that pay better-than-average wages.
Council President Larry Siegel observed that the abatement will mean a dip in revenue to the town since Liberty Homes is currently paying taxes on the property, but said he considers it the cost of bringing in new businesses.
A public hearing for the abatements will be Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. in the town hall, after which council will make a final decision.[[In-content Ad]]
The overall budget to be submitted for county approval is $3.33 million, up about $112,000 from this year. The single biggest increase – $203,896 for Oakwood Park infrastructure upkeep – is offset by cuts to cumulative storm and economic development income tax funds.
Councilman Brian Woody questioned why the new Oakwood fund was placed under the town manager instead of the public works department.
Clerk-Treasurer Julie Kline said it was for transparency, so Oakwood residents can see where their tax money is going, and so the funds aren’t spread out among police, streets and other budgets, where they can’t be used for other needs.
Town Manager Henry DeJulia added the new budget item is temporary, needed only as long as infrastructure repairs last.
Tax abatements given initial approval are for Patrick Industries Inc., an Elkhart-based maker of RV parts which recently acquired A.I.A. Countertops in Syracuse for $5.7 million. The company is expanding into the former Liberty Homes manufacturing facility on Huntington Street, which will create 65 new jobs in Syracuse, Chief Financial Officer Andy Nemeth told the council.
He noted that Patrick Industries has shied away from expanding until now, and chose Syracuse over potential spots in Elkhart; and that the expansion is expected to eventually double the company’s yearly revenue of $21 million.
Patrick Industries is requesting a 10-year personal property exemption for $1 million worth of equipment to be installed in the next few months, and a three-year real estate exemption for the building, which Nemeth said will need up to $1 million in renovations. Both exemptions would begin at 100 percent and scale down year by year.
In addition, the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. awarded Patrick Industries a $25,000 grant for moving expanses. KEDCo President George Robertson told the council the program was begun four months ago to attract manufacturing companies that pay better-than-average wages.
Council President Larry Siegel observed that the abatement will mean a dip in revenue to the town since Liberty Homes is currently paying taxes on the property, but said he considers it the cost of bringing in new businesses.
A public hearing for the abatements will be Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. in the town hall, after which council will make a final decision.[[In-content Ad]]
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