Nestlé Purina should prove it needs a tax break

It’s very disappointing the Mayor and Flagstaff City Council have indicated they will support giving Nestlé Purina, a $91.4-billion company, a $400,000 tax break so it will reduce the odor from its manufacturing plant a mere 6% from what it is today.

Purina is a multinational corporation with profits that have increased from 17% to 22% between 2017 and 2018 alone. They say they can’t afford to pay to further reduce the odor, which is below the state air quality standard. What makes matters even worse is that Council doesn’t require that companies who stand before them who claim "they can’t afford" to do something to show them their books. If they “need” a tax break, prove it.

The City has a lot of unmet financial needs. For example, the $400,000 tax break could be put toward our unfunded pension liability. A majority on this Council increased the total amount it can collect from Flagstaff property taxpayers, yet has no qualms about doling out huge tax breaks to a multinational corporation without even verifying its finances. Something is terribly wrong with this picture.

https://azdailysun.com/opinion/letters/letter-to-the-editor-nestl-purina-should-prove-it-needs/article_0e00067c-d8ae-5181-b321-01d9a7157e60.html