Mayfield joins action
      against Regulating District

November 19, 2010

Mayfield Central School District has joined Broadalbin-Perth and Northville school districts in legal action to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid property taxes from the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District.

The Mayfield Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday, Nov. 16 to begin legal action against the regulating district to recoup $354,000 in back school taxes. The move follows Fulton County’s decision to take legal action against the regulating district earlier this month.

Mayfield Superintendent Paul G. Williamsen said that the three school districts and their attorney met with the county's attorneys to develop a strategy for moving forward. They agreed that the county would be the lead in filing the claim for taxes due.
“We’re pleased the county has decided to take the lead on this matter and we will offer whatever assistance it needs,” Williamsen said.

Mayfield Board of Education President Robert Suits said the regulating district will owe Mayfield about $700,000 in taxes after the 2010-11 school year.

In addition to the money currently owed Mayfield, the regulating district owes Fulton County $1.4 million, the Broadalbin-Perth school district $256,000, and the Northville school district $326,000.

The regulating district plunged into a financial crisis when the federal court ruled that it could no longer assess hydroelectric companies downstream for the cost of regulating the flow of the river. The 2008 ruling eliminated more than 25 percent of the district’s $5.4 million budget.

On November 10, the regulating district asked Gov. David Paterson and the state legislature for help to pay its "outstanding school and county tax obligations.” The district’s Board of Directors asked the state to either loan it the money needed to pay off the taxes or take over the tax debt.