Amid Bids For Amazon’s HQ2, Questions About The Cost Of Incentives

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June 14th, 2018

In May at a Seattle City Council meeting, members of the public expressed their views about a tax on large businesses such as Amazon that would have raised millions for affordable housing and homelessness. The corporate tax was repealed. Corporations can hold a lot of influence with local governments, and Georgia and other states may offer incentive packages to attract businesses, like the race to get Amazon’s second headquarters.

Elaine Thompson / Associated Press file

This week, the Seattle City Council repealed a corporate tax, after weeks of pressure from its hometown giant: Amazon. The tax would have raised millions for affordable housing and homelessness.

The vote was a reminder that corporations can hold a lot of influence with local governments.

In the cutthroat race to lure Amazon’s second headquarters, Georgia’s bid is expected to include massive tax breaks and incentives. So will other states’ bids, like Maryland’s. Its incentive package for Amazon tops $8 billion.

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