Jennifer Fusco of the Utica Observer-Dispatch writes - “In an effort to crack down on companies that might have abused the Empire Zone program, four local companies were recently removed from it.

The companies include two real-estate firms owned or run by local developer Henry Heumann - Miter Realty Corp. and 111-117 Business Park Realty Corp. Also dumped from the benefits program were Erie Boulevard Hydro Power LP and DuRoss Realty Corp.

This past summer, Empire State Development, a state economic development agency, took measures to weed out more than 500 underperforming businesses in the program — 15 of which were local.

Of the local businesses, eight appealed the decision. During the past few months, the state has been considering those appeals.

This month, the state upheld 93 of the decertifications, including the four locally.

The companies were bounced from the program for failing to provide economic returns in the form of wages - including fringe benefits - and capital investments greater than the tax benefits the businesses were receiving.

Decertifications are effective for taxes years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2008.”

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