New York City Update
NYCDEP Invested $165M in H.V., Serving Half the State Population for Drinking Water
By JOHN JORDAN
NEW YORK—The New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced recently the completion of payments of $165 million in local village, town, city, county and school taxes in 2024 across nine Hudson Valley and Catskill counties covering the water supply system serving half of the state’s population.
With these payments, DEP remains a top taxpayer throughout many municipalities and school districts in and near the watershed, paying taxes on the full-assessed value of land, structures, easements and most water supply infrastructure across the more than 200,000 acres owned by New York City for the water supply system.
“DEP remains committed to working hand in hand with all the communities that help us continually delivering the highest quality water possible to half the State’s population,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Between paying full property taxes, funding best management practices on watershed farms and economic development projects throughout the region, DEP directly infuses hundreds of millions of dollars each year to local economies throughout the watershed and will continue paying its fair share providing support and opportunities for all of our community partners.”
DEP pays property and school taxes at full assessed value on all land, reservoirs, dams and structures across the approximately 230,000 acres it owns or controls throughout the 2,000-square-mile watershed in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, including the tens of thousands of acres open to the public for recreational purposes such as hiking, fishing, hunting and boating as well as on property used for agricultural purposes.
Piping and aqueducts used to convey water are tax exempt. Taxes are paid on all properties originally acquired to build the 19 upstate reservoirs and three controlled lakes between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries (about 78,000 acres), and all land and assets acquired since to operate the supply system and as buffer land to help protect water quality (approximately 156,000 acres).
In 2024, DEP was among the top taxpayers in numerous municipalities and school districts across the watershed region. DEP paid more county government property taxes than any other property owner in Ulster, Delaware, Putnam and Schoharie counties, and was the second highest in Westchester County. DEP also has more than 1,000 employees throughout the upstate watershed and water supply system.
The DEP’s 2024 property and school tax payments breakdown as follows but does not include local municipal taxes paid by DEP:
Delaware County: On 1,231 parcels, DEP paid $6,460,574 in county property taxes and $12,537,575 in school taxes.
Dutchess County: On 39 parcels, DEP paid $47,253 in county property taxes and $434,432 in school taxes.
Greene County: On 458 parcels, DEP paid $529,591 in county property taxes and $1,248,072 in school taxes.
Sullivan County: On 131 parcels, DEP paid $4,4149,122 in county property taxes and $10,240,494 in school taxes.
Ulster County: On 558 parcels, DEP paid $3,895,152 in county property taxes and $18,152,546 in school taxes.
Orange County: On 21 parcels, DEP paid $12,504 in county property taxes and $88,757 in school taxes.
Putnam County: On 484 parcels, DEP paid $2,015,384 in county property taxes and $17,672,085 in school taxes.
Schoharie County: On 101 parcels, DEP paid $2,525,734 in county property taxes and $3,182,887 in school taxes.
Westchester County: On 501 parcels, DEP paid $7,183,385 in county property taxes and $41,711,473 in school taxes.
Turner, New York City FC Break Ground On $780 Million Etihad Park in Queens
NEW YORK—Turner Construction Company and New York City FC recently broke ground on Etihad Park, a $780 million, state-of-the-art stadium in Willets Point, Queens.
Fully financed by New York City FC, Etihad Park, the 610,000-square-foot, that will seat 25,000 spectators, and is designed to set a new standard as Major League Soccer’s first fully electric stadium in the U.S. It will be powered by innovative sustainability features including rooftop photovoltaic panels and a water reuse system for pitch irrigation, New York City FC officials stated.
Etihad Park will house more than 40 private suites, three exclusive clubs and the City Square, a vibrant plaza for community gatherings and events. The project also integrates retail, dining and office spaces, creating a dynamic hub in Queens.
“New York City FC committed ten years ago to build New York City’s first-ever, soccer-specific stadium in the five boroughs, and today’s groundbreaking of Etihad Park in Willets Point, Queens, brings us one step closer to delivering that promise to our fans and our city,” said New York City FC Vice Chairman Marty Edelman.
The stadium is set to open in time for the 2027 MLS season.
Published: February 13, 2025.