Legislature Approves Tax Cuts For Manufacturers

Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - 5:41am

State lawmakers have sent a pair of bills to Gov. Jan Brewer that would give tax cuts to manufacturers.

One of the measures, House Bill 1413, would eliminate sales taxes on the electricity manufacturers buy. The governor backs the measure, which is expected to cost the state’s general fund $17 million a year. It won the near unanimous support of lawmakers in both chambers.

The other bill, House Bill 1484,  specifically targets Apple’s planned Mesa sapphire glass manufacturing plant by providing a $5 million tax credit if it installs at least $300 million in renewable power capacity to supply the plant. Apple already qualifies for a $10 million grant from the Arizona Commerce Authority. That measure had bipartisan support in both the House and Senate but also more opposition than the other bill.