Officials Denounce IDA’s $100K Lobbying Spend

Senator James Skoufis and Assemblymembers Jonathan Jacobson, Chris Eachus, and Paula Elaine Kay – Orange County’s majority party delegation in the State Legislature – strongly denounced the Orange County Industrial Development Agency’s (IDA) most recent illegal actions and announced their intention to renew the state monitor’s oversight of the agency upon its scheduled expiration next year.

In late September, the Orange County IDA – the agency tasked with selectively granting property tax breaks to corporations – held a meeting of its board of directors with state monitor Brian Sanvidge. The board then opted to enter into an executive session and, further, refused to let the monitor participate, a clear violation of state law. After coming out of the closed meeting, the board voted to spend $100,000 in public funds to hire an Albany-based lobbyist in an attempt to defeat the oversight monitor’s renewal next year. To date, the IDA, led by CEO Bill Fioravanti, has not publicly acknowledged the purpose of the $100,000 expenditure, preferring to try and keep it concealed from taxpayers.

“While there have been some operational improvements at the IDA over the past two years, the same culture exists whereby the agency prioritizes corporate greed over protecting taxpayers,” said Senator Skoufis. “Let’s be crystal clear: The IDA is spending $100,000 in public funds to do away with oversight because they want to operate like the Wild West. They want zero accountability to taxpayers and want to line the pockets of every corporation that walks through their doors. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues and when the time comes, we’ll be fighting tooth-and-nail to renew the monitor’s term – politics, pressure, and lobbying be damned.”

“The IDA’s recent decision to not allow the State-appointed monitor in a meeting is contrary to State law,” said Assemblymember Jacobson. “It is also an affront to every taxpayer and resident of Orange County for the IDA to approve spending $100,000 of public money on a lobbyist.”

“This is a slap in the faces of all hardworking residents throughout Orange County,” said Assemblymember Eachus. “There can be no interpretation of these actions other than a blatant attempt by the IDA to circumvent our laws and treat their developer friends to an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet on our tax dollars. As if the previous corruption charges levied against former senior officials of the IDA weren’t enough evidence, these recent illegal actions solidify the need for continued oversight. Together with my colleagues here in Orange County we will make sure that these violations do not stand unopposed.”

“Orange County deserves an IDA that is both effective and accountable,” said Assemblymember Kay. “Transparency and integrity are not optional when public dollars are at stake. The state-appointed monitor was put in place to protect taxpayers – and excluding him from any discussion, executive session or otherwise, is a flagrant violation of the law.”