This makes sense to me. If the revenue is there they will get the break. If Decatur passed on this they would not have had the new revenue and would have lost the new businesses to some nearby city. Jackson is just ticked that no business is EVER going to locate in westgate shopping center. Too much street crime over there.

Too bad that's been apporoved. Billy Jackson doesn't like it and he voted against it. Darn, Billy , another dissappointment. Maybe you will have better luck pushing Busbey as moyor although I do't think you will be elected. People had enough of your b.s.

This is a smart, well layed out plan for the city. A HECK of a lot better than the plan to bring Bass to this area, that was giving away the farm. Win win for both sides. Billy is just being Billy

I hope city of Decatur official have made a provision that in the event of sales not doubling then Mall owner must pay back all sales tax rebate they have been granted .

I believe City Council should have waited till council election is over this month because majority of council memeber & mayor will not be able to hold their seats. After all, it was a matter of 3 weeks before election.

Why did city offer sales tax break for Car Mike & Belk store construction store since it was already taken by Mall without any tax break.

I smell something fishy about whole hush up quick deal.

BASS Pro and that debacle is what you get with DONothing Kyle in charge. This is what you get with Wally Terry in charge. Don't go back to DONothing Kyle people. It will be a disaster just like BASS Pro was.

It's great that the mall is gettting all the new stores and everything, but why on God's green earth are we giving another big business a tax break? There are quite a few local small business owners who would LOVE the tax break! I know that we have to keep up with bigger cities when it comes to retail stores, but these small businesses are owned mainly by people who live here in Decatur! Since they have to pay personal sales tax then have to pay sales taxes for their businesses, why should we stay in business? We're getting double sometimes triple taxed! Give me one reason why the business that I own here in my home town for the past 36 years should stay open? I have a total of 5 employees who all live in this city and we don't get ANY tax breaks or incentives! I'm sorry but that doesn't sound right! How many locally owned businesses have closed because the city council in their infinate wisdom has decicded that big business is more important than small business!

Douglas H. I agree with you; but we have to grant these to the big box stores to get them here. This is the wave of the future and they are doing it in almost all towns across the country. Oh and before I forget any big box stores would have to hire 50% (or more) from Decatur/Morgan County.

Now here is where I disagree with Decatur’s current process.

I say that any small business that wants to improve their business (remodel, rebuild, landscape etc.) which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars should be given some kind of tax break.

Granted you couldn't get millions over 10 years but if the city would back off on 100% of the tax and reduce licensing fees for small businesses it would be helpful. Painful for the city for a few, but in the long run an improved business would help bring more people to Decatur which in turn brings in more revenue. I mean 80% revenue is better than any small business closure!

The amount of any tax breaks would have to be dependent on the amount spent.

I’m just saying there has to be alternative solutions for the small business owners of Decatur and at the same time we can stem the exodus of people going to shop in Madison and Huntsville.

Decatur is a great town that has started to move forward; let’s not loose the momentum while at the same time giving away the city keys to the big box stores.

American.....there are no breaks for Carmike or existing Belk revenues..Belk took more Mall space best I could tell when I was there shopping and as I read the article....get a copy of the agreement as I plan on doing.