Anniston council reviews three tax-abatement items for expanding manufacturers

City staff briefed the Anniston City Council on three tax-abatement items being placed on the consent agenda for the evening, each tied to local business expansions.

Aaron Norris, planning and development director, introduced the items and turned the presentation to Don Hopper with the county economic development council, who said the three firms represent multimillion-dollar investments and local job creation. Hopper described one company that began in the city’s small-business incubator and has built a third manufacturing facility in Greenbrier Industrial Park to make and service robotic welding tips. He said the city’s abatement policy focuses on expanding firms as well as newcomers.

Hopper reported that M & H Valve expects roughly a $7,600,000 investment to expand its operations. Staff emphasized that the city’s abatements do not reduce the school portion of property taxes and are structured as performance-based incentives: “If they don't make that investment, they've not spent anything and it hasn't cost the city,” Hopper said. He added that the payroll estimate for one expanding operation is about $750,000 a year for 10 employees (roughly $75,000 per employee), which staff used to calculate return-on-investment projections.

Staff also described planned machinery and equipment additions at another facility and said the abatement would be tied to verified investment and hiring. The chair asked whether members were comfortable leaving the three items on the consent agenda; the council agreed to proceed.

Next steps: the three abatement ordinances will remain on the consent agenda for formal action at tonight’s meeting.