Wayne County commissioners override veto of Google data center tax breaks
Wayne County commissioners voted 13-0 to override County Executive Warren Evans’ veto and approve tax incentives for a proposed Google data center in Van Buren Township. The package includes about $125 million in tax incentives and $15.4 million for township infrastructure, but the project still needs final site plan approval.
The Wayne County Commission voted unanimously to override County Executive Warren Evans’ veto of tax incentives for Google’s proposed data center in Van Buren Township. The township has approved roughly $125 million in incentives, while the development agreement includes $15.4 million for local infrastructure and provisions intended to prevent increases in water rates, with Google covering those rates.
Van Buren Township officials argue the incentives are necessary to negotiate stronger community protections and bring more than $100 million in work to local contractors. Evans continues to question whether the tax breaks are worthwhile, and some residents remain concerned that the incentives will not offset the project’s impacts. Township Supervisor officials say the project is moving toward final site plan approval, which is still required before construction can begin.