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Board to endorse Windows USA for state tax‑back program to keep 200 local jobs
Summary
City staff recommended the Board endorse Windows USA LLC’s participation in the Arkansas Tax Back Program; presenters said the company employs about 200 locally, will add roughly 20 jobs and expects about $8 million in investment, while staff cautioned rebate amounts and timing are set by the state and not fully disclosed to municipalities.
City staff previewed a resolution the Board will consider next week endorsing Windows USA LLC’s participation in the Arkansas Tax Back Program, a local incentive that rebates sales tax collected on buildout and equipment purchases.
Mr. Albright said Windows USA is a large Garland County employer with about 200 local workers at its relocated facility in the old Baxter building. He told the Board the company expects to add about 20 positions and invest a little more than $8 million in buildout and equipment tied to the move.
The proposed local endorsement, resolution R26115, would permit the city to participate in the state-administered program; Mr. Albright said the rebate applies only to the company’s construction and equipment purchases, not to sales tax on merchandise.
Directors sought clarity about how much the city would rebate and whether the refund is reconciled monthly. Director Webb asked whether the tax-back is deducted as companies report monthly filings; staff said it appears to be reported on company filings but that obtaining precise monthly rebate detail from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration has been difficult.
City Manager Bill Burl added that retaining 200 local jobs — and potentially adding about 20 more — was a key practical benefit of local participation, and that Hot Springs Metro Partnership helped secure the new location. He and Mr. Albright emphasized that the city lacks property‑tax leverage in the program and that the tax-back is limited to buildout and equipment purchases.
The resolution is a consent-agenda item scheduled for formal consideration at the July 7 Board meeting. The staff preview did not include a final rebate dollar figure for the Board; staff said state rules and reporting practices constrain the level of monthly detail the city can obtain.
