COLUMBUS – While Columbus town residents are proud the number one Greek-style yogurt producer in the Northeast has chosen to call their rural community home, they don’t see a need to give the company additional tax breaks to fuel their expansion.

That was the message Columbus Interim Supervisor Bruce Vermeulen relayed to the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency, during a public hearing held Tuesday night at the Columbus Town Hall.

The meeting was held to gather feedback regarding Agro Farma’s request for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement to abate property taxes on the 150,000 square foot, $22 million refrigerated warehouse they are currently constructing. The company is also seeking sales and mortgage recording tax exemptions for a second project, designed to expand production at their existing facility.

The bottom line, according to Vermeulen, is that Agro Farma – the makers of the wildly popular Chobani-brand Greek-style yogurt – doesn’t need the concessions.

“The construction they are doing certainly appears that it would be done regardless of whether this is given to them,” the town official said, reading from a prepared statement. “Why are the citizens of Columbus, all county residents and Unadilla Valley school taxpayers subsidizing this project?”

Vermeulen brought up other community concerns as well, including road congestion and air and water quality issues. He also took issue with the fact that Agro Farma identifies itself as being located in New Berlin or South Edmeston, rather than Columbus.

“(It’s) interesting they don’t mention Columbus, but now want a tax break from the citizens of Columbus,” he said.

Columbus Town Councilman Kavin Winton said he was “disheartened” by the fact that neither the agency or company had reached out to town leaders to discuss the scope of the agreement, or its potential ramifications for the municipality.

“I have a severe issue with that,” he said.

“I think the IDA and Agro Farma has approached this wrong and it is being forced down our throats,” agreed Vermeulen.

Other community members weighed in on the matter as well, some registering their objections to the tax concessions and others speaking in support of the company.