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State mandate forces IDA to add on‑site childcare as a consideration in project reviews; details still unsettled
Summary
Board members discussed a new state requirement that on‑site child day care be considered as part of cost‑benefit analyses for IDA projects; staff said the statute requires consideration but offers no numeric scoring guidance and recommended waiting for MRV/MDR software updates.
Herkimer County IDA members discussed a recently issued state mandate that requires industrial development agencies to consider whether proposed projects provide on‑site child day care.
Staff said the statute does not require projects to provide child care, only that the IDA consider the benefit when evaluating applications. The board discussed whether the agency should add a question to its application asking whether applicants will provide on‑site facilities, and how to score or weight such a benefit in the cost‑benefit analysis.
Why it matters: agency representatives said adding child‑care consideration could affect recapture language or payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑tax (PILOT) terms if the board chooses to treat on‑site child care as a public benefit. But staff and counsel repeatedly emphasized the statute provides no numeric “plus” or penalty; it is a factor the IDA must consider, not a mandatory condition.
Staff said the agency will work with its cost‑benefit consultant (referred to in the meeting as MRV/MDR group) to incorporate a formula or scoring approach when the consultant provides updated software. Board members said they expect guidance at an upcoming conference and agreed to ask applicants whether they will provide on‑site care so the agency can document consideration.
Ending: no policy formula or points were adopted at the meeting; staff said they would return with a recommended approach once the consultant and state guidance provide clearer metrics.
