'Database of Deals' for State Business Subsidy Accountability Backed by Both Houses of Legislature

*Reposted from Gotham Gazette. Written by Ethan Geringer-Sameth. (photo: Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)*

In their separate one-house budget resolutions passed this week both houses of the State Legislature included a "database of deals," a public register of state business subsidies that would shed light on billions of dollars in government incentives to corporations.

The legislation, which has been around for years but not passed, would require the state to publish a searchable database of state subsidies for economic development projects that would document the corporate recipient, the state benefits received, and number of jobs committed to and created.

Supporters of the proposal including legislators and transparency advocates say the tool would allow the government and the public to evaluate the efficacy of roughly $5 billion in annual business and economic development incentives and could make it possible to track the total flow of state money to businesses across the state.

For the entire article visit: https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/11179-database-deals-business-subsi…