WURTSBORO –– Retail giant Kohl’s, which has a distribution center on 3440 U.S. Rt. 209 in Wurtsboro, has approached the Town of Mamakating about reducing the amount they pay in taxes by half, according to Town Supervisor Michael Robbins. 

Robbins explained that Kohl’s desires to have their assessment cut by half from $12 to six million dollars. 

Kohl’s had been entered into  a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (IDA), which recently ended. This in turn put the property back on the tax rolls. 

An attorney hired by the Town has recommended they get the property appraised, the cost of which would be around $14,000 plus court time.

There was also discussion about reaching out to the Ellenville Central School District, which Kohl’s also pays taxes to, to see if they’d assist with the cost of the appraisal. 

Robbins indicated that the Town would receive another $254,522 dollars from Kohl’s if they pay the full taxes that are owed.

“I think it’s money well spent,” said Councilman Peter Goodman of the appraisal.  “We gave them a 20-year tax PILOT, then they saved money all this time and now that that PILOT’s out  all of a sudden they’re crying poverty and saying ‘oh we can’t afford this and the retail market is down so please cut our taxes to what we were paying before.’ I have a hard time believing they are going to pack up and leave other than try to drain our tax revenues.”

Salomone gives Report

During the course of Mamakating’s recent town board meeting, County Legislator Nicholas Salomone, whose district includes the Town of Mamakating, gave a report on the current happenings to the Town Board. 

Salomone expressed that Sullivan County has been efficient in keeping the environment healthy. They are one of the top counties in biodegradeables. He said they also eliminated their solid waste fee which could save tax payers between $45 and $750 dollars. Along with this, Sullivan County eliminated a total of nine million dollars in debt and settled all labor contracts. They did all of this while being able to maintain their budget.

Along with environmental changes, Salomone discussed other quality of life improvements that help the residents. For example, Sullivan County expanded the public transportation system known as Move Sullivan. This allows for more bus routes for people who may not have other means of travel. “From what I understand people are happy,” said Salomone of Move Sullivan. 

Another change they made was to the Veterans Service Agency in which they expanded the first floor to make the office bigger. 

Also, according to the NYS Department of Labor Statistics of December 2022, it says that Sullivan County once again is number 1 in year-over-year job growth in the entirety of New York State.