Collins asks Simple Question
Glad to see someone’s watching the cash register.
It’s a simple question - Does Fantasy Island qualify for tax breaks by the virtue of installing 2 new rides?
“When someone asks for $87,000 and they’re not creating any jobs, a red flag goes up. At what point in time is it proper for a public sector entity to partner with an individual business where they’re not creating any jobs?” Collins said.
I had assumed (perhaps erroneously) that these requests were reviewed carefully as to the need for each outlay of cash. But this quote raises doubt:
ECIDA Chairman Dennis Penman said the county executive may “want to raise the bar” on how much background work is done in evaluating proposals.
“The county executive is protecting taxpayers dollars, by making sure that there’s going to be a real return on our investment,” he said. “He’s doing it from a business perspective.”
The bar should already be raised you twits!
This process of review should happen with every single solitary request. If it doesn’t add jobs, if it isn’t needed to prevent total collapse or the moving of a business out of the area, is the incentive really needed?