Warren County committee weighs $2.5 million occupancy-tax supplement for Johnsburg sewer project

The Warren County Occupancy Tax Committee on Feb. 10 considered a request to award the Town of Johnsburg $2,500,000 in municipal supplement funding from occupancy-tax revenue to close a shortfall for a proposed municipal wastewater system in North Creek.

Supporters told the committee the sewer project is tied to substantial private investment and will enable hotels and other tourist-serving development. Jim Williams, a Town of Johnsburg board member, said the town needs the money to award existing construction bids and avoid rebidding at higher cost. “We’re looking for an award of $2,500,000. That allows us to close our gap and allows us to proceed with the bids that we have,” Williams said.

The funding request would be paid from occupancy-tax (Octax) revenues at $250,000 per year over 10 years, according to the resolution request presented to the committee. Supporters said the project has broader county benefits: an Economic Development Corporation representative told the committee “there is nothing in the county that would develop more future potential than this,”…