Google data center plan raises tax, transparency questions in rural Missouri
Google plans a $15 billion data center in rural Montgomery County, Missouri, alongside an existing Amazon project. The development is criticized for a proposed 70% tax break for Google and a lack of public input, raising concerns about transparency, electricity prices, and environmental impact. A public hearing on Google's tax agreement is scheduled for June 8.
Google announced a $15 billion investment in a new data center in rural Montgomery County, Missouri, situated south of Interstate 70 near New Florence. This project follows an Amazon Data Services facility already under construction north of I-70. Supporters, including Governor Mike Kehoe and local officials, highlight the promise of thousands of construction jobs, 200 permanent positions, and millions in annual tax revenue for the county.
However, the project has sparked significant public concern regarding transparency and the proposed tax incentives. Montgomery County commissioners plan to grant Google a 70% personal property tax abatement on equipment like servers, with Google agreeing to pay $10 million annually for 20 years. Amazon Data Services is also slated to receive personal property tax exemptions ranging from 75% to 95%. Critics, including residents and the group Preserve Montgomery County LLC, question the cost-benefit analysis of these tax breaks and lament the limited public input, demanding a public vote on the developments. Residents also voiced worries about potential increases in electricity prices and environmental impacts.
Public outrage over data center developments has been seen elsewhere in Missouri, with Festus voters ousting four city council members in April over a data center approval and Camdenton's Board of Aldermen enacting a moratorium on data center development due to community health and environmental concerns. A public hearing on Google's specific tax agreement details and cost-benefit analysis is scheduled for June 8.