Many manufacturers not taking advantage of 2007 tax break

Roby Brock reports this morning on the large number of manufacturers that have not taken advantage of the tax break on energy consumption for manufaturers that was enacted during the 2007 legislative session. Roughly 18% of the 3,600 manuacturers in the state have applied for the reduced tax rate benefits. The tax now stands at 4%, and there is discussion of reducing it further. Most legislators consider it to be a lower priority than the governor's proposal to further reduce the grocery tax. Each percentage point taken from the manufacturers' sales tax on energy consumption is estimated to reduce state revenue by $15 million, according to DF&A forecasters.