Atlanta City Council tells Fulton County to stop granting tax breaks to developers inside city limits (Perry: apartment)

[LynnHarris1]

The Atlanta City Council is joining the call for the Development Authority of Fulton County to stop granting tax breaks to developers within city limits, reviving a major, metro-wide political controversy..."

https://atlantaintownpaper.com/2020/...e-city-limits/

SOURCE: Atlanta INtown

[bu2]

Originally Posted by LynnHarris1

The Atlanta City Council is joining the call for the Development Authority of Fulton County to stop granting tax breaks to developers within city limits, reviving a major, metro-wide political controversy..."

https://atlantaintownpaper.com/2020/...e-city-limits/

SOURCE: Atlanta INtown

Atlanta city council wants to get the bribes from the developers instead of Fulton County commissioners. That's pretty much what this is about.

There should be NO tax breaks to developers. The only occasion should be something extraordinary like the redevelopment of the brownfields at Atlantic Station.

[Need4Camaro]

Mixed opinions on it. I’m no fan of corporate welfare but at the same time it does concern me how it may affect business relocations into the city proper / urban core versus a suburban area. Also wondering how it may affect deals of which were already established (if they received incentives) such as Google and Microsoft. I kind of doubt it will impact their decision overall.. but not sure about future relocatees

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Mixed opinions on it. I’m no fan of corporate welfare but at the same time it does concern me how it may affect business relocations into the city proper / urban core versus a suburban area. Also wondering how it may affect deals of which were already established (if they received incentives) such as Google and Microsoft. I kind of doubt it will impact their decision overall.. but not sure about future relocatees

But Atlanta area doesn't limit it to corporate relocations. They give it to routine developers who happen to be connected.

See that Project X Brookhaven thread. Its a simple apartment development and Brookhaven is giving them $13 million. Its obscene. These people would build anyways.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by bu2

Atlanta city council wants to get the bribes from the developers instead of Fulton County commissioners. That's pretty much what this is about.

There should be NO tax breaks to developers. The only occasion should be something extraordinary like the redevelopment of the brownfields at Atlantic Station.

Agreed. Tax breaks and bizarre semi-legal tax based funding has become the norm for big developments. It’s so crooked, no average person or small business could get away with this. “Too big to fail” is the same as “above the law”.

[LynnHarris1]

Fulton rolls out welcome mat for Microsoft data center

Tech giant Microsoft is eyeballing Palmetto for a data center — and maybe another one nearby. A Fulton board voted to welcome said data center with a property tax break worth $14.5 million over 10 years..."

https://saportareport.com/fulton-rol...eports/maggie/

SOURCE: Maggie Lee/Saporta Report

[BobbyJayATL]

The absurdity of all this is anyone thinking it actually works.

Of course a business is going to take free money - but they're not making their decisions on where to locate based on a check; if they were there would be a ton of great jobs in some pretty crappy corners of America.

Jobs that come to Atlanta would've come to Atlanta by and large without economic development checks.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by BobbyJayATL

The absurdity of all this is anyone thinking it actually works.

Of course a business is going to take free money - but they're not making their decisions on where to locate based on a check; if they were there would be a ton of great jobs in some pretty crappy corners of America.

Jobs that come to Atlanta would've come to Atlanta by and large without economic development checks.

The movie industry is here for that exact reason. Think they're not? End their tax breaks and watch how fast they find another state to move to.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

The movie industry is here for that exact reason. Think they're not? End their tax breaks and watch how fast they find another state to move to.

Tons of states have tax breaks for the film industry but haven't seen the results Georgia has had. Honestly I'm tired of the games politicians play with taxes. They're constantly tilting the playing field and de-legitimizing the whole system when they're supposed to be refereeing.

[BobbyJayATL]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

The movie industry is here for that exact reason. Think they're not? End their tax breaks and watch how fast they find another state to move to.

No they're not. Movies were here before the massive tax breaks in place now.

Pinewood and Tyler Perry have done more to bring movies here than the tax credit.

The dirty secret about Pinewood in Fayette is that it's in large part a project of the Cathy family (yes, that Cathy family). They (basically) built a movie studio in their backyard.

Likewise Tyler Perry - he's here because it's home.

Georgia makes for more affordable filming (even without talking about tax handouts); among other things, the location availability in Georgia nearby to home for productions based here rivals anyone. Labor is cheaper.

And the talent enjoy Atlanta.

Further, to bryant's point, Georgia's film handouts are FAR from the best in the country. Among others, Oklahoma's is better. I'll wait for Tyler Perry to bail on Atlanta and set up in Tulsa.

That'd never happen, you say? Illinois credits are better. New York's are better.