Brakes Put On Washington City Growth

6/17/2007

The manufacturing difficulties that have plagued Boys State as a whole have begun to hit hard in Washington City. General Motors and Shaft Brakes are both looking for an assist to maintain operations.

GM is looking for city tax abatements in order to avoid laying off workers at the Washington North Plant. “We enjoy the relationship that has developed with our workers and the local community over the years. Foreign competition has forced us to look for ways to cut costs,” said the company’s district spokesperson. “Tax assistance from the city will be an important consideration for our company as we move forward.”

In contrast, Shaft Brakes is seeking tax help from the state. A previous Legislature had sought to increase import taxes on automotive parts. The company relies heavily on imported parts to keep their prices low. Shaft employs 2,600 workers in the city, and a loss of that many jobs would create a huge dent in the city’s budget.

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