SULLIVAN COUNTY –– County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Executive Director Jennifer Flad gave an update on the work of the committee currently reviewing the IDA’s 13 Uniform Tax Exemption Programs (UTEP), at last week’s meeting.

As the Democrat previously reported, the committee conducting the review, which is done in collaboration with the Sullivan County Legislature, has been seeking input from local towns and villages, stakeholders, etc. This is the first time that the IDA has reviewed their UTEPs since 2006.

In September, the IDA enacted a six-month pause on new applications (with the exception of a few carve outs), while they review their UTEPs. The pause is slated to end on March 1, 2022.

Flad said the committee has done all its outreach to the various towns, villages and other economic development agencies, and recently had a meeting to finish synthesizing all the input received and formulate recommendations for the IDA’s Board.

Flad further stated that she was now working on drafting that report, which will first go back to the UTEP review committee for revision, before being submitted to the IDA Board.

Should the IDA Board decide to accept the committee’s recommendations, a public comment period would then follow.

In order to keep with the timeline of wrapping up the UTEP review process in February, the IDA Board recessed last week’s meeting, and will reconvene later this month, once they’ve received the report detailing the UTEP review committee’s recommendations.