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DAS Services seeks new real‑property abatement; council approves continuation of existing personal‑property abatement but requires public hearing for expansion
Summary
DAS Services told Steuben County Council it bought a honing machine and reported $2 million in sales; council approved continuation of an existing personal‑property abatement and provisionally approved a new real‑property abatement for a 4,500 sq. ft. expansion, but the attorney said a public hearing is required so final action is delayed until May.
Barbara Short, representing DAS Services Inc., told the Steuben County Council on April 9 that the company spent $89,000 on a honing machine last year and has shifted to an inside sales support model as its sales stabilize near $2.0 million. Council President Richard Shipe opened the item as the council considered continuation of an existing six‑year personal‑property (CF‑1/PP) tax abatement.
Jim Getz moved to approve continuation of DAS’s CF‑1/PP; Wil Howard seconded and the council carried the motion with six ayes. Council member Dan Caruso recused himself from the vote.
Isaac Lee of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation presented a separate request from DAS for a 2019 real‑property investment of about $268,330 to add 4,500 square feet at the county location. Lee said DAS currently employs 20 people at the site and expects to add two full‑time positions at an average wage of $23 per hour. The EDC’s cost‑benefit summary, prepared for the council, estimated the five‑year abatement’s value at $14,624 and recommended a 5‑year, 100% personal‑property abatement as a local incentive.
Linda Hansen moved to approve the new abatement as proposed; the motion carried with six ayes and one recusal. After the vote, county attorney Donald Stuckey advised the council that state law requires a public hearing to complete the abatement approval process. Council members directed staff to prepare the declaratory and confirmatory resolutions and scheduled the required public hearing and formal resolution presentation for the May council meeting, leaving the matter effectively tabled until those steps are completed.
Why it matters: The proposed expansion would add industrial space and two jobs to a local employer; final abatement approval requires an additional public‑hearing step under county procedure and state notice requirements.
What’s next: Staff will draft the formal resolutions and schedule a public hearing for the May council meeting; the council’s prior votes do not complete the statutory approval process.
Provenance: Topic first introduced at SEG 003 and last discussed in SEG 003.
