Republicans zero in on Pederson tax breaks - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Republicans, however, cite city document and criticize Pederson foraccepting $27 million worth of tax breaks, rebates and incentivea in recent years from local governments to help builc retail projects in Scottsdale, Casa Grandse and Phoenix. Pederson's development , is teaming with Westcor on a 1 million-square-fooyt retail center off of Interstate 10 in Casa Grande for whichj the city has offered as muchas $20 million in incentivesz and sales tax rebates to help get the proposed project builyt and improve surrounding according to city documents. Pederson Groul received another $5.
5 million in 1999 from the city of Scottsdalew to help with infrastructures and development fees for the Scottsdale Promenade in the northern part of the And the city of Phoenix gave PedersonGroulp $1.5 million worth of tax reimbursements in 2003 for the Legachy Village development in South Phoenix. Republicans say it is not fair for Pedersonj to oppose federal tax cuts and criticize Kyl for supporting business tax cuts while getting subsidies and tax breaks forhis "Jim Pederson has shaken down local governments for tens of milliona of dollars in tax breaks and subsidiez to line his pocket and then has railede against tax cuts for working Arizonans," said Garrico Taylor, spokesman for the Arizona Republicam Party.
Pederson spokesman Kevin Griffizs said there is a big difference betweenh cities reimbursing developers such as Pedersonj for infrastructure improvements and Republicanw offering federal tax cuts tooil companies. "These are essentiallgy loans to help build said Griffis of the local development incentivesz Pedersonhas received. "They're not open-endedr tax incentives. They're for specific projects. A developerd comes in and makes improvementsto interchanges, etc., and is then re-paid by the city or town from the tax revenue generated by the Griffis said.
The Casa Grande deal involvez reimbursement for widening an overpassd andother improvements, he said addin g the south Phoenix project has helped attracy businesses to the less affluent area of town. "Th city or town then gets the benefitw of the increased commercial sales tax revenus generated bythe development. Jim's projects have generated tens of million of dollars of tax revenue for Arizona Griffis said.