Skoufis announces agreement on video lottery terminal legislation

Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) announced late Thursday, June 20, that his legislation to establish a video lottery terminal (VLT) in Orange County has received a three-way agreement between the Senate, Assembly and governor, and is set to pass.
The VLT license, owned by Resorts World, will be transferred from the now-closed Monticello operation to a new site in Woodbury/Harriman.
In his press release detailing the agreement, Skoufis said that during negotiatons with Resorts World, he outline a number of conditions that he said must be met in order to earn his support:
Site the facility at the former Nepera Chemical Plant property that is contaminated and, for the better part of a decade, has been reduced to rubble; and
No tax breaks.
Skoufis said he was adamant that the company must clean up the property and pay full taxes.
According to the state senator's press releas, Resorts World agreed to both conditions. The impacts include:
Remediating a blighted, contaminated property in the community
Substantial and full payment of property taxes to the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, Town of Woodbury and Villages of Harriman and Woodbury
Approximately 400 good-paying, union jobs
More than $1.2 million in VLT impact aid to fully offset - and then some - the cost of municipal services associated with the project such as fire and police.
The project will be subject to the local planning board process just as any other construction would, and be required to mitigate any additional traffic.
“I’m not particularly pro- or anti-gambling so I used this opportunity to deliver real, substantive economic benefits to the constituents I represent,” Skoufis said. “The former Nepera Chemical Plant property has been a contaminated blight in our community for years; as a result of this project, it will now be cleaned, put back on the tax rolls, and employ approximately 400 local residents.
"It was also important to me that the facility be kept out of a residential neighborhood to avoid any disturbances," the senator added. "This agreement was always about bringing benefits to the community I’m proud to represent.”
Frank Palermo, Woodbury Town Supervisor said, “I thank Senator Skoufis for his successful efforts that will create a new economic driver to our community, provide new annual tax revenue and protect taxpayers from subsidizing this project. This development will bring lasting jobs to our community and clean up a contaminated, blighted property."