After the school built several new off-campus dorms in recent years, Schenectady's mayor is hopeful Union College will pay more money to cover the cost of public services. TWC News' Matt Hunter has the details.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – On behalf of city taxpayers, Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy is seeking more money from Union College.

"We want the college to be successful, we view them as a full partner, but to be a full partner, you should contribute a little bit," McCarthy said Tuesday.

As a not-for-profit private college, Union is exempt from paying property taxes, but McCarthy says the city spends large sums each year providing the campus police, fire and EMS protection.

"We are looking at an excess of $600,000," McCarthy said of the city’s annual cost.

McCarthy addressed his concerns in a letter written to Union College President Stephen Ainlay last week. He says in recent years, the school has added two new off-campus dormitories, including one on Ruger Hull Place with an assessed value of nearly $8 million, but neither are on city tax rolls.

"It has shifted that tax burden back to the rest of the taxpayers,” McCarthy said.

In his letter, McCarthy wrote the combined assessed value of all of Union's off-campus property in Schenectady is more than $31 million. If taxes were paid on those properties, it would mean an additional $1.35 million in revenue for the city and school district.

"We would like them to just pay a portion of their cost to help offset the operational expenses of the city," he said.

In a written statement Tuesday, Phillip Wajda, Union's directior of media and public relations, said, "Union already plays a key role in driving the economy and cultural vitality of Schenectady and the surrounding region. Almost $300 million in direct spending, employment, construction and student and visitor impact is infused directly into the community each year. Union is also proud of the tens of millions of dollars it has invested to make significant improvements to the neighborhoods surrounding its campus. We remain committed to exploring further opportunities with the city on projects that are mutually beneficial to the College and the community."

"We are open to negotiations, something that is fair for both parties," McCarthy said.

For future off-campus projects, McCarty is hopeful Union will go the route of schools like RPI and SCCC and work with private developers to take advantage of the state's Empire Zone program, which provides reimbursement funds for local tax bills.

"The college and a developer working with it would have been held harmless; the state would have paid that money," McCarthy said.

In the meantime, he's hopeful future negotiations with the school will be fruitful.