Vernon Downs racino takes a final shot at tax relief

The special session of this week is the last chance that the Vernon Downs supporters have to get tax relief legislation to be approved.

US.- This week’s special session of the Legislature is the final opportunity that legislators have to get financial assistance to the Vernon Downs racetrack and casino. The bipartisan coalition from Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties will seek to take a final shot at passing a tax relief bill to aid the “racino” operation.

The group, which has called itself the Mohawk Valley Nine according to The Legislative Gazette, argues that without a relief package, the gaming venue will close and that’s why they’ll try to pass the bill this week. Gary Greenberg, minority owner of the venue, confirmed the news and explained that customers are opting for the Turning Stone, Rivers and Del Lago casinos over its own facility.

“The country’s most beautiful and historic racetrack is at risk in today’s special session,” he said and added that 300 jobs will be lost and 100 small shareholders will lose their invesments if the racino closes. And “Vernon Downs will close without tax relief,” he assured. He further reported that primary owner Jeff Gural has started the legal process to begin closing the track in September.

The Senate had already passed a bill that would’ve given the venue tax breaks for five years, saving it nearly US$4 million a year. However, the Assembly passed a different bill reducing tax breaks for only two years, saving it US$2 million dollars instead. According to Greenberg, only the Senate’s version can save the track.

The nine legislators supporting the tax relief released a statement saying that “there are 300 good jobs at stake” and urged Governor Andrew Cuomo to step in and push the Legislature to approve the tax relief. “We are respectfully calling upon the governor to also include the future of Vernon Downs in any package of matters he plans to take up in an extraordinary session,” they said.

On Wednesday, Gov. Cuomo said that he received the statement but passed responsibility back to the Mohawk Valley Nine: “To be clear, I am 100 percent supportive of Vernon Downs and stand ready to sign a bill that will protect people’s jobs and ensure the viability of the facility. However, the Legislature has not passed any such bill,” he said. He addressed the Mohawk Valley Senators directly and urged them “to pass a bill immediately” and said he’ll sign it.