Purdue Farms Seeks Tax Break Amidst Big Expansion

Perdue Farms submitted an application for property tax abatement to the Fayette County Commissioners Court at a meeting last Thursday, Dec. 10.

The company is seeking the abatement as an economic incentive to expand their pet treats manufacturing plant in Schulenburg. The application states that the company plans to invest $3.847 million in the expansion. The company says it intends to hire 28 additional employees as part of the expansion, with wages starting at $15 an hour for production workers. Management employees would earn annual salaries in the $65,000 range.

The application did not state how much property tax abatement the company plans to request. The County will have to schedule public hearings on the abatement. More details about the expansion and the amount proposed will be provided at that time.

Back in August, Commissioners approved a10-year property tax abatement for the 7V Solar Farm in Cistern. That deal involved a 75 percent tax abatement on property improvements in the first two years.

The abatement amount decreases by five percent every two years down to 55 percent in year nine and ten. After that, the solar farm pays 100 percent of the property taxes levied on the investment. The 7V project involved a massive investment in the property – at least $150 million according to the abatement agreement. However, the 7V project is expected to employ only one or two people once construction is complete.

“This is interesting, different than the other one,” said County Judge Joe Weber, referencing the 7V abatement. “The type of jobs created, you know the other one was only one job. This one has 28 manufacturing positions at $15 an hour for entry level increasing to $65,000 annually for management positions.”

“Its a very large monetary investment in Schulenburg along with the creation of jobs,” said Assistant County Attorney Blake Watson.

“The payroll is fairly impressive,” said Pct. 4 Commissioner Tom Muras, who represents the Schulenburg area.

Commissioners unanimously accepted Perdue Farm’s application. Watson said he planned to meet with a representative from Perdue Farm this week to work on a schedule for the public hearings.