© 2024 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Amphitheater project's future relies on upcoming vote

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO
The Onondaga County Legislature meets to talk about the proposed $100 million amphitheater project.

The future of an amphitheater project on the western shore of Onondaga Lake comes down to a vote by Onondaga County lawmakers next week. 

The amphitheater is part of a $100 million project to revitalize the communities on the western shore of Onondaga Lake. The state will pay for infrastructure improvements and housing projects in Solvay and Geddes but Onondaga County will have to pay for the $50 million amphitheater, by way of a 30-year bond.

Legislature Chairman Ryan McMahon says the county would use a new stream of revenue from the Oneida Nation, and even if that falters, the venue will bring in other revenue. 

"The Oneida Nation revenue that we receive right now is over the forecasted revenue that we took into consideration, so right now there is a surplus, between the revenue we’re receiving, compared to what the debt service is,” said McMahon.

McMahon is confident the money is there to do it, using Oneida Nation payments the county now gets in the wake of the nation’s casino agreement with the state.

“The economic impact this will have will be $12 to 17 million conservatively per year, which will generate sales tax,” said McMahon. “On top of that, at the 12 events per year, this facility will actually make money. So I think we have a pretty sound economic plan.”  

However, not everyone is on board with this scenario. Manlius Legislator Kevin Holmquist has been skeptical of the plan from the start, and says his biggest concern is that this new revenue stream is dependent on business at the Oneida-run Turning Stone Casino, at a time when gaming competition is ramping up in New York state.

“For 30 years we have bond payments that we are responsible for,” said Holmquist. “And the revenue from the Oneida Indian casino isn’t guaranteed. It can go down.”

To hedge their bets, McMahon said lawmakers are also proposing a kind of savings account, made up of any of the extra sales tax revenue from the amphitheater, to cover any lean years at the casino. Lawmakers make their decision on the amphitheater project funding Monday.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.