The New York Times (registration required) reports today on some small town efforts to recover incentives money given to manufacturers who shut down plants after reaping their tax breaks. One such town is Galesburg, Ill., who wants Maytag to pay back the incentives money the community gave to it.
“We gave Maytag these incentives, and they accepted them,” said Mr. Mangieri, a Navy veteran who grew up in a small town not far from here in western Illinois. “We did it based on faith and trust. If we don’t do anything now, it sends a message that we lack the resolve to treat the rich and privileged the same as everybody else.”
Maytag says it honored its agreement and took just the breaks to which it was entitled.
We did it based on faith and trust? What a great way to manage the taxpayers’ money.
