Alphabet soup: if the UDC aims to offer Sports Stadium Assistance, why was the BALDC created by the JDA (which finances machinery and equipment)?
The text on the web page of the Bond Program offered by the state's economic development agency compounds questions raised by state Senator Bill Perkins about the legitimacy of the bonds issued for the Atlantic Yards arena.
It states:
Empire State Development is the parent organization for New York’s two principal economic development financing entities: the Empire State Development Corporation (formerly known as the Urban Development Corporation), and the Job Development Authority. In 1995, these agencies, which had previously functioned independently, were consolidated in order to increase efficiency, reduce overhead and enhance the delivery of the State’s economic development initiatives. Reorganized as Empire State Development, the combined agencies now function as a streamlined economic development organization whose primary mission is the facilitation of business growth and job creation across New York State.
As part of this economic development role, Empire State Development Corporation oversees the issuance of debt under the programs of both the Urban Development Corporation and the Job Development Authority. On the UDC side, bonding programs include Corporate Purpose, Correctional and Youth Facilities, Sports Stadium Assistance, and various educational and civic related project revenue bonds. The Job Development Authority issues both taxable and tax exempt bonds to finance its business lending programs. These programs are designed to promote job growth by providing loans to assist New York companies to build and expand facilities and acquire machinery and equipment.
(Emphases added)
The questions
If the UDC is supposed to offer Sports Stadium Assistance, then why was the Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation (BALDC) created instead by the Job Development Authority (JDA)?
And if the JDA aims to help companies "build and expand facilities and acquire machinery and equipment," then why is it financing an arena?
It states:
Empire State Development is the parent organization for New York’s two principal economic development financing entities: the Empire State Development Corporation (formerly known as the Urban Development Corporation), and the Job Development Authority. In 1995, these agencies, which had previously functioned independently, were consolidated in order to increase efficiency, reduce overhead and enhance the delivery of the State’s economic development initiatives. Reorganized as Empire State Development, the combined agencies now function as a streamlined economic development organization whose primary mission is the facilitation of business growth and job creation across New York State.As part of this economic development role, Empire State Development Corporation oversees the issuance of debt under the programs of both the Urban Development Corporation and the Job Development Authority. On the UDC side, bonding programs include Corporate Purpose, Correctional and Youth Facilities, Sports Stadium Assistance, and various educational and civic related project revenue bonds. The Job Development Authority issues both taxable and tax exempt bonds to finance its business lending programs. These programs are designed to promote job growth by providing loans to assist New York companies to build and expand facilities and acquire machinery and equipment.
(Emphases added)
The questions
If the UDC is supposed to offer Sports Stadium Assistance, then why was the Brooklyn Arena Local Development Corporation (BALDC) created instead by the Job Development Authority (JDA)?
And if the JDA aims to help companies "build and expand facilities and acquire machinery and equipment," then why is it financing an arena?
Hi Norman, I have a quick question for you. Reading the description of the bond program, it would appear that the JDA "issues both taxable and tax exempt bonds to finance its business lending programs". (the UDC description does not look like it contains any "tax exempt bond" language) Therefore, wouldn't the BALDC, as a JDA subsidiary, be entitled to issue tax exempt bonds in connection with the Atlantic Yards Arena (thus differing with Senator Perkins assertion that the BALDC had no such right)?
ReplyDeleteI'm not a bond lawyer, nor a lawyer, so take this as tentative
ReplyDelete1) Yes, the JDA can, in general, issue tax-exempt bonds.
2) I believe the UDC, or its subsidiaries, *can* issue tax exempt bonds. (It just has to go through the PACB.)
3) It doesn't look like the JDA's business lending programs are geared at sports facilities.
4) The June decision by the Court of Appeals casts doubt on the property tax exemption for LDCs; whether this can be extrapolated to the AY case is the question raised by Perkins.
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/CTAPPS/decisions/2009/jun09/83opn09.pdf
5) Stay tuned. People with a lot more legal heft are surely looking into it all.