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Commission defers Topgolf incentive amendment to March 11 after questions about job targets and payments
Summary
The commission deferred action until March 11 on an amendment that would reduce Topgolf Albuquerque's job commitments and corresponding county LITA payment; commissioners asked for the original PPA, a clawback table and wage details.
The Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 11 voted 4-0 to defer consideration of an amendment to the Topgolf Albuquerque USA LLC project participation agreement (PPA). Economic development staff sought to reduce Topgolf's job-creation commitment from 200 to 167, cut the county LITA (Local Economic Development Incentive) contribution from $250,000 to $168,670 and extend the compliance period by five years.
Marcos Gonzales of the county's economic development department told the commission the amendment responds to hiring shifts after the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in Topgolf's hiring mix, with more part-time and temporary roles. "We are going to adjust the company's job creation commitments from 200 to 167 and reduce the county's LITA contribution from 250,000 to 168,670 and extend the compliance period for another five years," he said.
Tyler Summers, a Topgolf representative, said the venue currently counts approximately 165 jobs under the agreement's hourly definition and about 85 full-time employees; he said the company shifted to more part-time college-age workers during and after the pandemic. Commissioners asked whether the county had paid any funds under the original agreement and what clawbacks, if any, would apply.
County staff said the county had not paid the $250,000 and that the proposed amendment would proportionally reduce the LITA payment to match sustained jobs, and would extend the performance window for enforcement. Commissioners asked economic development staff to provide the original PPA, a table showing the original clawback calculation versus the proposed amendment outcome and wage levels for full- and part-time jobs.
The commission voted to defer until its March 11 meeting; staff said they would provide the original PPA, the city's PPA for comparison and a table showing the clawback math and reported wages before the next consideration.
