Basnight Wants Review of Google Deal

(02/09/07 -- RALEIGH) -- A powerful legislative committee is expected to review the state's use of business incentives following news that Google's plan to build a data center in Caldwell County could cost the public up to $260 million.

Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, said he will ask the Senate Finance Committee next week to examine successes and failures in the state's economic recruiting, the kinds of incentives offered and whether changes should be made.

"It has to benefit the people of the state. If we give away $100, we'd certainly like to get more than $100 back," Basnight said, adding that he wasn't passing judgment on the Google deal.

Google announced last month it would build a $600 million data center near Lenora and create as many as 210 jobs with average salaries of $48,000. Records show that city and county tax breaks for Google amount to $165 million over 30 years, in addition to state tax breaks and incentives totaling $94 million.

The Google deal could become one of the richest incentives deal in state history, depending on how much the Internet search engine firm invests.

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