UNC professor Jonathan Morgan asks the question I pondered two weeks ago: What if the incentives for Polo.com don’t come through?
High Point Becky Smothers has the answer:
This deal depends on the incentives. It will all fall apart like a $3 watch if we don’t have the incentives.
As the N&R correctly points out, High Point certainly will approve its $2.2 million share of the incentives. But Guilford County commissioners are tougher nuts to crack:
… Commissioners have a more turbulent record on incentives, and the unusual timing of the Oct. 26 announcement has some officials claiming their votes on the remaining $650,000 are being taken for granted.
“I’m absolutely amazed. It’s like an entitlement,” said Paul Gibson, a Democrat who votes against most incentives proposals. He added: “I wouldn’t give ’em 10 cents.”
“That’s arrogance, is what that is,” said Republican Billy Yow, a more strident incentives opponent. “They’ve already assumed they’re going to get it.”
Here’s a suggestion for government officials and economic developers: Next time you publicly unfurl the banner for a company, don’t leave your wallets at home.
