MONTICELLO – The Legislature approved a $1.5 million injection of funds for the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association (SCVA) with a 7-1 vote at its June 18 regular monthly meeting. 

The dissenting vote came from District 5 Legislator Cat Scott, who vocally opposed the move and called the efficacy and transparency of the SCVA into question after an executive session between the Legislature and SCVA CEO Michael Martelon.

“The bed tax is down $30,000 from last year, but we keep hearing presentations about how everything is doing much better than it was previously,” said Scott. “I don’t see justification for another $1.5 million of tax money, public money, going to an organization that has not proven how they are going to improve the situation here in Sullivan County.”

In a statement to the Democrat, Martelon said, "The Sullivan County Legislature's support of this initiative reflects a shared commitment to responsible, visitor-funded economic development. By strategically growing paid overnight accommodations, we are able to reinvest lodging tax revenue, dollars paid entirely by visitors, not local taxpayers, directly back into the communities of Sullivan Catskills. A portion of these funds will establish mobile visitors centers throughout the county, each equipped with satellite technology providing complimentary Wi-Fi access to residents and visitors in areas that have historically lacked reliable connectivity. This is precisely the kind of sustainable, community-minded investment that will strengthen Sullivan Catskills as a destination for years to come, and I am deeply grateful to the legislature for their vision and partnership in making it possible."

After Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz said Scott’s objections were duly noted, she clarified the source of the funds: “The $1.5 million that we are allocating is from their [SCVA] money.”

“No, it’s not their [SCVA] money,” argued Scott, “it is bed tax money, and it is outside of the parameters of their contract. It doesn’t belong to them.”

“Bed tax money,” responded Rajsz, “that we are retaining, we cannot use that money for anything other than tourism. I don’t have the expertise in tourism… whereas the SCVA does, they are requesting $1.5 million to further their initiatives so that we can then regain some revenue from their initiatives.”

Scott asked about agreed upon deliverables and wondered when the county would see a bounce in sales tax as a result of SCVA’s efforts. 

“That is what was being discussed, and you left,” said Rajsz, referencing the closed-door contract negotiation with the SCVA that had just occurred during which Scott apparently left early. “There is no hard date.”

“This is the problem that I have,” continued Scott. “We don’t have a deadline, we don’t have deliverables, but we have $1.5 million leaving our bed tax money.”

District 7 Legislator Joseph Perrello weighed in, saying he sympathizes with Scott’s perspective, “But Michael [Martelon, CEO of SCVA] brought to us a different scenario on how to get business in Sullivan County, which is about AI and technology, and I’m willing to give it a one-year shot to see if it works,” said Perrello.