[CPEO-BIF] Florida "Bill would tighten tax incentives on pollution"

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Bill would tighten tax incentives on pollution

By Sandra Pedicini
Orlando Sentinel (FL)
May 12, 2013

Businesses would no longer receive state tax breaks simply because of  
perceived pollution on their properties if Gov. Rick Scott signs a  
bill approved by the Florida Legislature earlier this month.

Last year, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Florida companies in  
2011 and part of 2012 received as much as $11 million in brownfield  
economic-development tax breaks. Many, including Publix and Darden  
Restaurants, were building on land that local officials have said  
doesn't appear contaminated.

But they got the breaks anyway because the current law is vaguely  
written and does not require actual contamination - only the  
perception of it.

The bill (SB 406) would require companies receiving those tax  
incentives to be on or next to property where a pollution-cleanup  
agreement with the government is in place.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-florida-brownfields- 
tighter-rules-20130512,0,1772983.story

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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