County to Offer Utility-Tax Rebate to Major Users

Sacramento County hopes to lure manufacturers and other businesses by offering utility-tax rebates to big electricity users.

The rebate program, approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 4, would give the county's Economic Development Department leeway to offer the rebate to companies on a case-by-case basis. The county would offer the rebate to companies in the unincorporated county that have annual electric bills of at least $3 million and want to make capital improvements. It could also negotiate deals with businesses that want to build new facilities that use that much electricity, said Rob Leonard, the county executive's economic development and intergovernmental affairs assistant.

"It's not just a recruitment tool," Leonard said. "We will rebate your tax growth to offset costs of agreed-upon capital investments. We're really looking to help pay for infrastructure that vests the company in the Sacramento region."

For example, the refunds could finance road improvements, building expansions, rail extensions or construction of new electrical substations, Leonard said. The county would not offer the deal for new equipment that a company could cart off to another site, he said.
So far, no companies have signed a contract, but the county has spoken with two solar power companies that might be interested, Leonard said. He would not disclose their names.