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Questions to Ask When Companies Seek "Welfare"

  • Have they received tax breaks, subsidies, grants, or other assistance from our community or any other community before? How did they use that assistance?

  • Have they closed up shop elsewhere so they can move here? Have they laid off workers lately? What does that say about their corporate conscience?

  • How high have their profits been over the last several years?

  • How well do they pay their workers? Do they offer full-time jobs with basic benefits (health, pension, etc.)?

  • How does their CEO and top officials' pay compare to that of average workers?

  • Do they hire from within the community?

  • Do they support community activities through sponsorship, leadership, or other in-kind contributions?

  • How much do they pay in federal, state, and local taxes? How does it compare to their profits? What tax breaks do they already receive?

  • How much are they asking for? What is the cost to taxpayers for each job created?

  • What protections or recourse do we have if they close up shop and leave?

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