Position Paper: “Project Britain” EDATE Tax Concessions vs. Local Business Fairness
Glenn Dorsey, Republican Candidate — Escambia County Commissioner, District 2 (2026)
My position
I support job creation—but I do not support a system where government picks winners and losers by handing a 10-year tax holiday to one new company while the businesses already here keep carrying the load.
Escambia’s EDATE tool can waive up to 100% of county property taxes for up to 10 years for a qualifying business.
The “Project Britain” proposal being discussed publicly promises an $8 million investment and 50 jobs (with reporting indicating salaries around ~$80K on average, and ranges often cited from ~$40K to ~$150K).
What this “tax concession” is really worth (taxpayer subsidy)
To be transparent: the exact dollar amount depends on what tax lines are exempted, the company’s taxable value over time (equipment depreciates), and whether the project also adds taxable buildings/land improvements. But we can still calculate a solid baseline from the $8M equipment number you gave.
Key local tax rate
Escambia County’s countywide millage rate is 6.600 mills (about $6.60 per $1,000 of taxable value).
Baseline calculation (countywide only)
- Taxable value assumed: $8,000,000
- Countywide tax per year:
$8,000,000 × 6.600 / 1,000 = $52,800 per year - Over 10 years (simple total): $528,000 nominal
“Real value” in today’s dollars (present value)
Using a conservative discount range (3%–5%):
- PV @ 3% ≈ $452,000
- PV @ 5% ≈ $408,000
So, just on the $8M equipment figure, we’re talking roughly a $0.4–$0.45 million subsidy in today’s dollars—before considering any additional taxable improvements the project may include.
Important note: If additional county levies (like certain MSTUs) are also waived, the total subsidy rises. Some county levies in Escambia are listed separately from the 6.6 mills.
The fairness problem: existing businesses get a bill, newcomers get a deal
Here’s the part that doesn’t sit right with me: our local employers who’ve been investing, hiring, and sponsoring youth teams for years don’t get a 10-year holiday. They get higher costs and more uncertainty—while government rolls out incentives for the “new shiny object.”
That’s not a free market. That’s government choosing who gets relief and who doesn’t.
Even EDATE’s defenders acknowledge it’s a competitive “tool” used to win projects.
But competition shouldn’t mean discounting one company’s taxes by shifting the burden to everyone else.
The “50 jobs” headline isn’t the same as 50 local jobs
When a company brings higher-skill positions (especially aerospace/technical roles), some jobs are often filled by experienced hires from outside the area, at least early on. I want local hiring commitments, but I won’t pretend every promised job will automatically go to a current Escambia resident.
That’s why I push for:
- local-first hiring goals
- training pipelines with our schools/college programs
- annual proof, not press releases
Opportunity cost: what could local businesses do with the same money?
The county itself describes incentives that refund fees/taxes or provide grants tied to $1,000–$5,000 per new job under certain programs.
Using the same ~$408K–$452K “real value” subsidy:
- At $5,000 per job, that could support ~80–90 jobs
- At $1,000 per job, it could support ~400–450 jobs
That’s the core point: spreading relief across existing, proven local employers can plausibly generate more total hiring—and more hiring that actually benefits our current workforce—than concentrating the subsidy into a single recruitment deal.
What tonight’s unanimous vote signals to me
I can’t read anyone’s mind, but I can judge outcomes. When the Board moves quickly and unanimously to bless a major tax concession for one new prospect, it reinforces a perception that recruitment gets priority over retention—and that taxpayer dollars are too easily given away instead of being used to lower the burden for everyone.
My policy recommendations
If I’m elected, I will advocate for a level playing field:
- “Local First” Tax Relief Package
Offer broad-based, modest property tax reductions or rebates tied to verified hiring and expansion—open to existing Escambia businesses. - Performance-based incentives only
Any tax break must include:- annual compliance checks
- clawbacks if job/investment targets aren’t met
- clear definitions of “new jobs” and “local hires”
- Transparency, up front
No more “mystery company” policymaking when the public is being asked to subsidize the deal. - Workforce guarantees
Require local recruitment plans, training partnerships, and measurable targets for Escambia residents—not just job counts.
Bottom line
I want Escambia County to win good jobs. But I want to win them fairly—without treating the businesses already here like an afterthought.
If we can afford to waive roughly $0.4–$0.45 million (real value) for one deal, we can afford policies that help hundreds of local employers expand—and put more Escambia residents to work.