To the editor:

Last week, the Lawrence chamber of commerce felt obliged to admonish city commissioners about the dangers of tinkering with existing tax abatement and incentive plans since it might lead to “unintended consequences.” The chamber really knows what they’re talking about.

Around 15 years ago, the chamber was actively recruiting new firms to Lawrence and the city went along with massive, ten-year tax abatements with the proviso that the new firms maintain certain levels of permanent employees. Included were E&E Specialties, Davol and Sauer-Danfoss, just to name three. They never achieved their pledged levels of permanent employees and instead cycled “platoons” of short-term, low-wage temp workers though their plants. Within 90 days of the abatements expiring, all had packed-up and left town. Davol workers had the ignominious task of loading machinery on semis with ads on the sides stating the company specialized in moving equipment to Mexico.

About the same time, chamber officials encouraged the city to build a large white building in East Hills Business Park on the theory it would induce some company to move here. That was a time when thousands of factories were closing and the market was flooded with a huge surplus of buildings. That white elephant was eventually sold to Kansas University under less-than-favorable circumstances.

Taxpayers have little to show for the chamber’s past schemes. Before authorizing another $200,000 to fund them next year, we deserve accountability and a fresh approach to sustainable economic development.