Cost-Effective Management

[mwilbert]

$175M Tax Break for Marathon, 15 Jobs for Detroit

http://www.freep.com/article/2014031...-officials-say

I'm not fond of poorly targeted tax incentives, but surely the idea was at least partly to create jobs in Detroit, not just jobs for people living in Detroit. More jobs in the city will ultimately mean more people in the city, even if there isn't a direct correspondence now.

Whether getting a couple hundred jobs in Detroit is worth a $175 million dollar tax break is certainly debatable, but it is a different debate than whether 15 Detroiters getting jobs is worth it.

[Wesley Mouch]

Criticism of deals like this hurt Detroit.

I'm not saying that tax-breaks are a good idea... but that's another discussion.

In the meantime, Marathon has been a Detroit company for years. They pay taxes. They employ a lot of people. They want to stand up for their community. Let's help them be proud of what they've done -- not tear them down because what they're doing isn't perfect in our eyes.

Detroit needs jobs. Metro Detroit needs jobs. Michigan needs jobs. Jobs in any of the three about are very good for the City of Detroit.

Step back and look at the big picture. The $175m isn't for 15 jobs. Its part of what corporations expect. I hate that. But I guarantee you Toledo would give Marathon a tax break if they expanded there instead of Detroit. Its all part of the game. Play or lose.

[iheartthed]

Criticism of deals like this hurt Detroit.

I'm not saying that tax-breaks are a good idea... but that's another discussion.

In the meantime, Marathon has been a Detroit company for years. They pay taxes. They employ a lot of people. They want to stand up for their community. Let's help them be proud of what they've done -- not tear them down because what they're doing isn't perfect in our eyes.

Detroit needs jobs. Metro Detroit needs jobs. Michigan needs jobs. Jobs in any of the three about are very good for the City of Detroit.

Step back and look at the big picture. The $175m isn't for 15 jobs. Its part of what corporations expect. I hate that. But I guarantee you Toledo would give Marathon a tax break if they expanded there instead of Detroit. Its all part of the game. Play or lose.

Yeah... no. If it costs Detroit $175M for 15 jobs then simple math tells you that Detroit is better off without. Now, if there is a flaw in Detroit's tax code that necessitates it give away these gigantic tax breaks then that's what the politicians should be spending their time working on. Not schmoozing with some company and playing favorites.

[Wesley Mouch]

Yeah... no. If it costs Detroit $175M for 15 jobs then simple math tells you that Detroit is better off without. Now, if there is a flaw in Detroit's tax code that necessitates it give away these gigantic tax breaks then that's what the politicians should be spending their time working on. Not schmoozing with some company and playing favorites.

If its only money for jobs, then it absolutely is a miserable deal -- although maybe no worse than the millions and millions spent creating job programs and training centers. They also probably delivered 5 jobs for every $10m spent.

But back to the point... I agree with you only if you think this deal is just money for jobs. I doubt that's true. Its tax relief.

The other option is to not grant tax relief to Marathon. Watch them move away. And Detroit loses 15 jobs. Wayne County loses 300. Metro Detroit loses 500. Before you even start counting the spinoff.

This isn't money for 15 jobs.

[Cliffy]

If its only money for jobs, then it absolutely is a miserable deal -- although maybe no worse than the millions and millions spent creating job programs and training centers. They also probably delivered 5 jobs for every $10m spent.

But back to the point... I agree with you only if you think this deal is just money for jobs. I doubt that's true. Its tax relief.

The other option is to not grant tax relief to Marathon. Watch them move away. And Detroit loses 15 jobs. Wayne County loses 300. Metro Detroit loses 500. Before you even start counting the spinoff.

This isn't money for 15 jobs.

Well Wesley its obvious you have never driven down there because you would realize Detroit and Michigan is better off with Marathon taking those jobs and shoving them up their ass and hitting the road. They are killing everyone down there with their pollution. It is the most polluted area in the state. Your throat burns when you get out of your car in that area. Delray is basically hell on earth. Why anyone would be just ignore simple things like air pollution over money is beyond me.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Your throat burns when you get out of your car in that area. Delray is basically hell on earth. Why anyone would be just ignore simple things like air pollution over money is beyond me.

What I am puzzled by is that there are people who didn't take the buyout. Marathon tried to [[and largely did) buy out the nearby property owners. Those who didn't take it live in pollution with a property that will essentially have no value going forward.