Hempstead town comptroller withholding millions in payments owed to Nassau County, IDA says

Hempstead Comptroller Kevin Conroy hasn’t handed over millions of dollars collected by the town’s Industrial Development Agency [IDA] and owed to Nassau County, according to a statement released by the IDA, Newsday reported. The funds are from PILOTs — “payments in lieu of taxes” — collected from local businesses, which are allowed to make payments lower than regular taxes in order to spur economic growth. The payments go to the IDA, which then sends the money to the comptroller to disperse to the appropriate taxing jurisdiction, in this case Nassau County. IDA officials don’t know how much money wasn’t sent out, when that money had initially come in or where it is now. Conroy declined to comment. Spokesman for the Nassau County comptroller’s office, Robert Busweiler, told Newsday “it is irresponsible for any party involved to draw conclusions, discuss specifics or disclose contents of a draft audit publicly.” [Newsday]