Agency approves tax-exemption package for Utica Harbor Lodging Group LLC

An unnamed board approved a final authorizing resolution on a financial assistance package for Utica Harbor Lodging Group LLC that includes sales tax exemptions valued at $2,143,751, mortgage-recording tax exemptions valued at $261,000 and a reduction in real property taxes for 24 years valued at $11,078,436.

The action is a deviation from the agency’s uniform tax exemption policy and follows a public hearing on Feb. 28, 2025, that drew no public comment. Speaker 4, a staff member, told the board the package requires the board to make a statutory retail finding before the mayor can be asked to confirm the proposed assistance: "So, the first action the board needs to take is to consider a statement of retail finding. This project is considered a retail project under the act. So in order to qualify financial assistance, the board needs to make specific findings regarding the project, and then ask the mayor to confirm your proposed action."

Speaker 5, a staff member, said the specific finding to support retail qualification is the project’s location in "a distressed highly distressed area." The resolution approved by voice vote and recorded as "all in favor" was approved subject to counsel review and the agency’s standard document forms.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion was moved and seconded and passed on a voice vote. The agency noted the assistance will reduce revenues to taxing jurisdictions compared with standard property taxation; staff described annual collections under the arrangement as approximately $210,000–$220,000 to be prorated across taxing jurisdictions. Documents related to the assistance are subject to counsel review and mayoral confirmation before the measures take final effect.

The board did not receive comments at the public hearing, and no amendments to the resolution were reported in the meeting record.