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Mirant, which owns and operates 2 power plants in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State, has failed to pay its property taxes over the last several years, claiming over-assessments by the Towns of Stony Point and Haverstraw New York, as well as the North Rockland School District. Under the terms of bankruptcy, Mirant held payment in excess of $180 million due this last several years while a settlement could be reached. This case, which has caused local residents to themselves file bankruptcy, which cost the average taxpayer over $2000 in increased property taxes.
The higher than average assessments paid to the local municipalities were part of a strategy used by the Consolidated Edison and Orange and Rockland Utilities, whose plants Mirant assumed after deregulation, to site their plants in this very picturesque Hudson River Valley Scenic Area. Local residents, who at one time could justify a 50 acre power plant in their backyard in exchange for a more reasonable tax rate, now have see 180% increases in taxes with nothing in exchange for the trouble. Taxpayers are now forced to live with the plants and without any of the benefits a local area would get from a large industrial plant.
Currently, this issue seems to be moot. The Mirant Lovett Plant has been named as one of the Worst Polluters in the State of New York, and is scheduled to be closed by 2008, and the Bowline Plant, at nearly 40 years old, and will be denied any requests for upgrades by the Town, County and State without which any major overhaul will be denied out of hand.
The higher than average assessments paid to the local municipalities were part of a strategy used by the Consolidated Edison and Orange and Rockland Utilities, whose plants Mirant assumed after deregulation, to site their plants in this very picturesque Hudson River Valley Scenic Area. Local residents, who at one time could justify a 50 acre power plant in their backyard in exchange for a more reasonable tax rate, now have see 180% increases in taxes with nothing in exchange for the trouble. Taxpayers are now forced to live with the plants and without any of the benefits a local area would get from a large industrial plant.
Currently, this issue seems to be moot. The Mirant Lovett Plant has been named as one of the Worst Polluters in the State of New York, and is scheduled to be closed by 2008, and the Bowline Plant, at nearly 40 years old, and will be denied any requests for upgrades by the Town, County and State without which any major overhaul will be denied out of hand.
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