And this is why local elections are so important! Okay, maybe the center will still be built, but they’re going to be fighting obstacles all the way.
There are reasons a small community like Festus wouldn’t want this data center. They suck up resources. And don’t give much back to the community as in employment or spending dollars.
Massive government incentives equal massive government over reach. IMO.
I’m happy they are even talking about it. The more you know.
Definitely. What I wonder is, what are the reasons they would want it?
So they could say they do, I guess?
Depends on how much property tax that facility would have paid compared to the taxes of the present use of the land.
I expect the reason the center was going to be built there was a promise of no taxes.
“Growth is good”? A belief that getting some revenue and a smallish number of jobs is worth giving up gigantic tax breaks? Under the table payments? Lots of dazzling thought processes go into these decisions. In the end, it’s probably the same delusionary thinking that leads to public financing of sports stadiums.
Who cares what those pointy-headed intellectuals think, amirite? 
Opposition is playing out in a number of places.
Yes, and the cynic in me suspects that there was also the provision of some untraceable crypto currency involved.
Local media suggests the biggest objection wasn’t taxes or resources, but that the city council and data center people couldn’t/wouldn’t identify who was actually going to own and operate the center.
The lawsuit filed by a citizens group essentially claims the entire deal was done behind closed doors and without an opportunity for public input.
< cough > crypto send to anonymous wallets < cough >