But what is the net effect?

Janice Sexton of Garland complains about companies getting tax abatements. I assume she is referring to Toyota moving to Texas from California. She says we need our streets repaired, more firefighters and police, more money for education and programs to take care of "us Texans." She is upset that a $3.5 million tax abatement has been give to this company (whether it's Toyota or another is really irrelevant).

But has Janice considered the net effect? Toyota will mean 3,000 to 4,000 jobs for Texas. And each of those 3,000 to 4,000 people, will be paying taxes. That will mean a considerable increase in revenue. Some of these people will be coming from California, and that's new revenue. Some of these people will be Texans, who, if they take a job with Toyota, will leave open a job they currently have for someone else to fill. If the new Toyota employees are currently unemployed, then the effect will be even better -- someone who was not contributing taxes will now be able to do so.

Not only will these people be paying taxes themselves, but they will be spending money that Toyota pays them. They will be buying clothes, food, housing, vehicles, paying for hobbies and entertainment and supporting hundreds of local businesses who will in turn be able to keep people on their payrolls or even hire more people.

And we get all this for a measly (in the big scheme of things) $3.5 million. I consider that a bargain!

"Good for business, but . . ." The Dallas Morning News; May 11, 2014; p. 2P.