Local firms may lose Empire Zone breaks

[WNYresident]

Local firms may lose Empire Zone breaks

ALBANY — Dozens of companies in the Buffalo area — including Rich Products, Chef’s Restaurant and the downtown Hampton Inn — are poised to lose their lucrative tax breaks under the state’s evolving Empire Zone economic-development program. But more than 6,000 others across the state, including the Buffalo Sabres, NRG Energy in Dunkirk and the sprawling GEICO facility in Amherst, will retain their benefits, which companies say have helped create or retain jobs in the region.
The program’s 8,000 companies began receiving letters in the last week or so informing them whether changes to the Empire Zone benefits, as ordered in the new state budget approved last month, would let them remain in the program or have them lose their eligibility and, along with it, an assortment of hefty tax incentives.

Read the Full Story in the Buffalo News

[WNYresident]

No one should get a tax break or everyone does. If you need to be selective to who gets them it means the taxes are too high for everyone to begin with. WHY give one business a competitive edge while others in the community must suffer with the tax burden?

[Truthdetector]

I'm not saying that this is great news, but I do know of at least one business that has been abusing this system for years. It's about time that gaps were filled. The program should be restarted after a better inspection and review of businesses.