A $50 million opportunity

Saving taxpayer money should always be a priority. Since moving out of the Government Center the debate has focused on “Build New” or “Renovate” and the various cost estimates of each solution.

What has not been discussed is how Orange County Government is performing and providing services at its new location on Matthews Street, still in the Village of Goshen, one mile away. The answer is “quite well.” The space is adequate. Public access is adequate. Government is working at its new location in three buildings at 15, 30 and 40 Matthews Street.

An opportunity exists to purchase all three buildings, as well as an adjacent building for less than 20 million dollars. The purchase of these four buildings would save our taxpayers between 40 million and 50 million dollars based on the estimates provided by companies responding to the Legislatures RFP for renovating the Government Center.

This purchase accomplishes the following:

1. Saves approximately 50 million dollars of taxpayer money;

2. Moves DMV back into the Village of Goshen at Matthews Street.

3. Moves the Office of the County Executive to Matthews Street.

4. Increases the opportunity for the Village of Goshen to attract a super market.

5. Provides the Village and County economic development professionals the opportunity to market the sale of the Government Center on Main Street.

Sale of the Government Center provides the following:

1. Revenue for the County.
2. Puts it back on the tax roll making up for the Matthews Street Buildings coming off.

3. Brings additional new business into the Village of Goshen.

4. Creates an opportunity for the Village of Goshen to add hundreds of new jobs into the village economy.

While the savings to our taxpayers will be a one-time 40 to 50 million dollars, significant to say the least, the increase to the economy of the Village of Goshen with jobs and investment will be ongoing each and every year, also significant.

As a long-time resident of the Village of Goshen and the father of eight children, six of whom work outside of Orange County, this is a great opportunity to keep our taxes down and create jobs right here in Orange County.

The future is now.

Until this week, James O’Donnell was the deputy Orange County Executive. He resigned to pursue other interests.