News from Greene County Coalition for Economic Equality

For more information contact: Russ Coloton, 518-263-4223

Governor Urged to Sign Outdoor Recreation Bill

Blue Ribbon Commission Would Recommend Ways to Create Fair Public-Private Competition for Golf Courses, Ski Resorts and Campgrounds

ALBANY, NY (07/20/2008; 1500)(readMedia)--

Organizations representing virtually every kind of business in New York State, including private ski areas, golf courses and campgrounds today called on Governor Paterson to enact legislation establishing a Blue Ribbon Commission which would examine the outdoor recreation industry in New York State.

The bill, sponsored by State Senator James Seward and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, would create a panel charged with making recommendations to promote fair competition between public and private recreational facilities.

Calling on the Governor to approve the legislation are:

• Business Council of New York State (Michael Moran: 518-465-7511)
• National Federation of Independent Businesses (Mike Elmendorf: 518-434-1262)
• Ski Areas of New York (Scott Brandi: 518-792-5060)
• Greene County Coalition for Economic Equality
  • Hunter Mountain (Russ Coloton: 518-263-4223)
  • Windham Mountain (Tim Woods: 518-734-4300)
• New York State Turfgrass Association (Jeff Lane: 518-463-3202)
• National Golf Course Owners Association (Jeff Lane: 518-463-3202)
• Campground Owners of New York (Peter O’Connell: 518-436-7202)
• Greene County Legislature (Wayne Speenburgh: 518-719-3270)
• Bristol Mountain Ski Center (Dan Fuller: 585-374-6000)
• Plattekill Mountain Ski Center (Laszlo Vajtay: 607-326-3500)

Kenneth Adams, President and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, said: “Private sector outdoor recreational facilities, which pay real property taxes, payroll taxes, sales and use taxes – all of which support communities – are being asked to conduct business against government-owned and taxpayer subsidized competitors. The level and impact of those regulations and public investments should be transparent.”

Mike Elmendorf, New York State Director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said: “Privately-owned outdoor recreational facilities are important tourist attractions, preserve open space, pay taxes and employ thousands of people across our state. However, the added difficulty of competition with taxpayer-financed facilities raises fundamental issues of fairness and for many owners of such businesses has forced them to question whether they can continue to exist.”

In referring to the current New York State expansion proposal that would increase the size of Belleayre Mountain by 62%, Scott Brandi, President of Ski Areas of New York, said: "Last year when the Belleayre project was announced, Ski Areas of New York publicly called for a study of the economic impact of public ski areas on the surrounding private resorts. This bill is simply going to establish facts and figures so a proper road map can be established. The entire Ski Areas of New York Board of Directors, made up of both public and private ski resorts, unanimously supports this bill."

Russ Coloton, the President of Hunter Mountain and head of the Greene County Coalition for Economic Equality, said: “Every year, ski resorts, golf courses and campgrounds are forced to compete with enterprises owned by the State of New York.” Coloton continued, “We all pay taxes that the State then uses to undercut prices and take business away from us. We’re actually financing our own demise.”

Another member of the Greene County Coalition, Tim Woods, President and General Manager of Windham Mountain, said of state-owned local competitor Belleayre Mountain: “Belleayre, thanks to state assistance, prices its product so low that it’s difficult for private ski sites to compete. What we’re really looking for is for Belleayre to be more fair with their pricing and to stop giving away thousands of free and promotional tickets season after season.”

Owen Regan, President of the NYS Turfgrass Association, said: “Currently in New York State, a situation exists where privately-owned, for-profit outdoor recreation businesses are forced to compete with publicly-owned recreational entities. Issues such as taxes, equipment purchases, personnel and employee benefits, borrowing rates and insurance need to be examined to determine what inequities exist between privately held entities and their publicly held counterparts.”

Michael Hughes, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, said: “The multi-billion dollars infused into New York’s economy each year by privately owned golf courses significantly contributes to the state’s economy in a substantial way. In my view however, these businesses do not enjoy a level playing field with public golf courses.”

Peter O’Connell, Legislative Counsel for the Campground Owners of New York (CONY), said: “Undue competition from state campgrounds is one of the primary issues that led to the formation of CONY.” He continued, “The issue has become far more critical in recent years, as many state campgrounds have morphed into RV parks – which place them in direct competition with CONY members.”

Wayne Speenburgh, Chairman of the Greene County Legislature, said: “The ongoing practices at Belleayre pose a considerable threat to the continued economic viability of Greene County that relies on the ski tourism industry as its primary economic engine. The Blue Ribbon Commission will provide an objective examination of these advantages and evaluate the extent of their impact on competition in the outdoor recreation industry.”

Dan Fuller, President of Bristol Mountain, said: “Recently, a central New York ski club which had booked a trip to Bristol Mountain cancelled at the last moment because Belleayre offered them $15 tickets. We can’t sell $15 tickets and stay in business.” Fuller continued, “At a time when State government is facing budget deficits and everyone is challenged financially, it seems counterproductive that New York taxpayers are subsidizing millions of dollars worth of ski tickets so Belleayre can give them away or sell them at a loss.”

Speaking for another ski resort, Laszlo Vajtay, the Owner of Plattekill Mountain, said: “The effects of these competitive disadvantages are real and pronounced at Plattekill. For example, when Belleayre offered $15 lift tickets for their Appreciation Day on March 14, 2008, we closed for the day because we just couldn’t compete. As a result, we kept 20 of our 40 employees from coming to work. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s pretty important to the 20 people who didn’t get paid that day. Additionally, during Belleayre’s Winter Festival Week when they offer $10 lift tickets, I had to reduce our ticket prices and even had to close for 3 days and cut back on staff.” Vajtay concluded, “All we are looking for is a level playing field so that we can compete fairly.”

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Attachments

Letters to the Governor
blue_ribbon_support_letters.pdf