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Loss of baby food plant will cost property taxpayers dearly

By By the Associated Press

Story Created: Aug 26, 2010 at 10:30 AM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 26, 2010 at 10:30 AM EDT

CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) - The move of Beech-Nut baby food to a new plant could cost village taxpayers dearly in its old home town.

Beech-Nut moved to a state-of-the-art plant in the Montgomery County Town of Florida Business Park this spring. Now, taxpayers in the village of Canajoharie are facing the prospect of picking up the tab once covered by the plant in their community.

A new state audit found that Beech-Nut used 86 percent of the village's water and wastewater treatment facilities, and provided 11 percent of its general fund tax revenues. To offset Beech-Nut's loss, auditors said each household could see an increase of $2,700.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli called that "unsustainable."

The best outcome would be to find a new tenant for the century-old Beech-Nut plant. But efforts to market the 25-acre site have failed so far.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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