New York: Holding Corporations Accountable

Counties in New York, as in many states, often provide tax-breaks to businesses through Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs). The IDAs were originally created to stop companies from relocating to states with lower wages and benefits. However, a recent study by the New York Comptroller's office has found that companies receiving tax incentives rarely create the promised number of jobs. In fact, two-thirds of all companies show either stagnant or declining employment numbers. The Comptroller's report has received wide media attention and it seems likely that some reforms will be forthcoming.