BETHEL – Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center will no longer be seeking a 10-year extension to its 20-year tax abatement from the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).

“They [Bethel Woods Center for the Arts] withdrew their application,” Ira Steingart, who is the IDA’s Chief Executive Officer, said. The next regular meeting of the IDA, which was set for Monday, March 9, was canceled.

Bethel Woods, which is a 501c (3) tax-exempt organization, has filed for tax exempt status for its properties with the Town of Bethel Assessor Dan Gettel, according to an IDA spokesman.

When contacted, Bethel Assessor Gettel would not comment, saying, “As a rule, I do not speak of exemptions.”

Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm did not respond for comment by presstime.

Sunday, March 1 is Taxable Status Day, the date by which all property shall be assessed as to its condition and ownership as of this date. Gettel would not confirm whether the Town of Bethel granted tax exempt status to Bethel Woods on the parcels included in the original PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement. 

Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Bethel Woods Susan Russ said, “In its early years, Bethel Woods participated in a voluntary PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) arrangement as the campus was developed. It has now become clear that securing the same tax-exempt status as other New York nonprofit organizations is both appropriate and necessary as we plan for the future and continue our long-term stewardship of this historic site and the community it serves.”

Initially, Bethel Woods had applied to the IDA for a 10-year extension in early February, but that application was pulled as the IDA tried to address an issue with the Monticello Central School District. School Superintendent Matthew Evans had written a letter to the IDA stating it would “lose” an estimated $5.1 million in taxes over the life of the new agreement if the extension was granted.

When asked to comment on the recent development, Evans said he had no additional comment but added, “We are grateful for and fortunate to have the Bethel Performing Arts Center in our community.”

Evans went on to say that the school district “will continue to monitor the situation” and “advocate to maximize the resources available.”

Bethel Woods was paying $69,676.52 a year in an agreement made 20 years ago between Alan Gerry, the founder of Bethel Woods, and then-Bethel Supervisor Alan Scott. The proposed 10-year extension would have increased that payment to $113,000 a year, however the resolution to authorize the extension was removed from the IDA agenda.

Bethel Woods made PILOT payments to both the Monticello and Sullivan West School Districts as well as the county and Town of Bethel under the agreement, which went into effect on February 21, 2006.

[Isabel Braverman and Matthew Albeck contributed to this story.]