Representatives from ESCO requested a tax exemption for new equipment purchases at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday.
The county had granted a previous 25 percent tax exemption for ESCO for the new addition to plant that was added in the 2017 fiscal year after the company closed one of the plants in its home city of Portland, Ore., and moved some of its operations to the Newton plant.
In April, the company announced that it was to be acquired by Scottish corporation the Weir Group for $1 billion.
Travis Wilhelm, the new plant manager at the Newton facility, and Jeremy C. Burroughs, vice president and tax and treasurer, said there would be no significant changes to the Newton plant because of the sale, but that the facility is adding new equipment that will cost $12.6 million. Wilhelm and Burroughs also requested that the plant property be reappraised by County Tax Assessor May Bender’s office in order to get a more accurate tax amount.
The board approved tabling the issue until they could get more accurate numbers for the appraisal and the exemption.
Burroughs said that there will be no plant closings and no layoffs as a result of the sale, which he said should be completed in July.
ESCO is a global business with 10 manufacturing facilities, six foundries and 22 service and supply centers in 19 countries around the world. After the sale, the two combined companies will then employ around 18,000 workers in seven countries.
In other business, Chancery Clerk George Hayes reported that the Justice Court $1,597.89 had collected through April 20 through May 20, with 197 new cases opened with 33 dismissals.
The supervisors discussed meeting with Justice Court Clerk Sue graham and Deputy Court Clerk Lolita Jordan to discuss more ways to collect fines from offenders.
