Slog - Comments on $75 Million Tax Break for Microsoft

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:00:53 -0800

In actual practice, most tax writeoffs are for "job creation" - most of which never occurs or occurs at only a small fraction of the jobs promised - and then they leave.

Bad idea to subsidize this, especially at a time when we don't know if we have the energy resources to do it.

Comment by keshmeshi

keshmeshi — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:12:23 -0800

In what world does $75 million in tax breaks equal $75 million in wages for temporary construction workers and a small number of full-time employees? The state would be better off putting that money where it really counts, such as maintaining existing infrastructure. That creates jobs too.

Comment by Brandon Dismuke

Brandon Dismuke — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:18:08 -0800

@2
I couldn't agree more. Why does a company headed by the richest man in the world need any kind of tax break?

Comment by Non

Non — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:18:45 -0800

These server farms are actually sucking up valuable power that can be sold to outside markets for WAY more than what Microsoft and Yahoo are getting it for.

They build the farms in Central Wash where localized power is extremely cheap thanks to hydro power. All of this surplus power, when not used, has much better benefit to the state when it can be SOLD to California and other localities not in our utility districts.

grr

Comment by Trevor

Trevor — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:20:29 -0800

Corporate subsidies during flush times, corporate tax breaks as a "stimulus package." Thanks, Democrats!

Comment by Greg

Greg — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:27:39 -0800

I don't understand all the specifics, but this sounds like a really bad idea. Why don't we just give Boeing a big tax write-off while we're at it? Oh, right. We did that last year.

Comment by @#3

@#3 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:30:42 -0800

the richest man in the world doesn't privately bank roll Microsoft, and he is just one, powerful, voice on the board of directors of the most publically traded stock in the world.

Giving Microsoft a tax break here would allow them to take that $75 million and invest it in other ways, creating new products, new jobs, a bigger stock dividend, etc. Those options would stimulate the economy, especially in WA and Seattle metro area.

Comment by Cato

Cato — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:49:50 -0800

Agreeing with #4.

If they don't build them here, they will build them somewhere else where some legislature will give them an even bigger tax break. # of Employees on a 5k machine server farm, maybe 20 - 30.

Comment by JMR

JMR — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:53:56 -0800

Microsoft and Yahoo already have server farms in Eastern Washington

Damn farmers in Eastern WA, always looking for a handout.

Comment by Cale

Cale — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:05:14 -0800

We have tax breaks for rural manufacturers?

I'd rather give the tax break to Microsoft than some company pouring mercury into the rivers.

Comment by Cato

Cato — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:25:35 -0800

@10
Over time they will need/get newer & faster computers. They going to use that $75 Mil to dump the old servers into a landfill? Be the practical equiv of dumping mercury into the rivers.

Comment by holz

holz — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:57:30 -0800

asinine. they need to drop sales tax on non-profit construction projects like low income housing and clinics, etc - not corporate tools that already make billions and billions of dollars and can afford to pay sales taxes. fuck microsoft. fuck them with a big black ken hutcherson-case rubber cock.