More than $20 million in tax abatements were quietly added to Austal USA’s state incentive package in recent weeks — a revision that has come to light as the company has disclosed a $17 million accounting gaffe and a subsequent announcement its president will retire.
Austal’s tax incentive records reported by the Alabama Department of Commerce currently show that the Australian-owned shipbuilder’s incentives are attributed to $741.3 million in projects, more than doubling its previously reported capital investments in the state and adding more than 1,000 jobs.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm{28?:2AA6 :56?E:7:65 E96 C6G:D:@? 2D pFDE2= &$p’D 92?5=:?8 @7 @E96C E2I 4C65:E AC@8C2>D H2D 4@>:?8 F?56C D4CFE:?J]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~? u63] `a[ pFDE2= {:>:E65 E@=5 :?G6DE@CD :E 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]27C]4@>^A@=:4J^7@C6:8?\2772:CD^2FDE2=\AF?:D965\7@C\FD\?2GJ\5@F3=6\244@F?E:?8\82776\a_ae_a`b\Ad@a_2Qm5@F3=65\4@F?E65 E2I :?46?E:G6Dk^2m @? 2 &]$] }2GJ 4@?EC24E E@ 3F:=5 E9C66 }2G2;@ r=2DD %@H:?8 2?5 $2=G286 $9:AD] %96 &$S`f]` >:==:@? @G6CDE2E6>6?E 925 366? :?4=F565 :? pFDE2=’D u*a_ae 62C?:?8D 8F:52?46[ H9:49 E96 4@>A2?J =2E6C C65F465 E@ 23@FE pS``_ >:==:@? WpFDEC2=:2? 5@==2CDX]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmyFDE 7:G6 52JD =2E6C[ pFDE2= &$p 2??@F?465 :ED AC6D:56?E[ |:496==6 zCF86C[ k2 E:E=6lQpFDE2= &$p !C6D:56?E |:496==6 zCF86C C6E:C:?8 yF?6 `Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=28?:2AA6>@3:=6]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^52gf6ad5\b6gf\cb5_\g`4e\h`e`727fha4c^QmH@F=5 C6E:C6 7C@> 96C A@DEk^2m 67764E:G6 yF?6 `] $96 92D 96=5 E96 A@DE D:?46 a_ac]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpFDE2= rt~ !255J vC688 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?G6DE@C]2FDE2=]4@>^DE2E:4\7:=6D^363dhgc4\`_f7\c4h6\3`f3\4`4bed2af_f2Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD2:5 zCF86C H2D 2AA@:?E65k^2m 2E 2 “492==6?8:?8 E:>6” 2?5 4C65:E65 96C H:E9 96=A:?8 D64FC6 2 C64@C5 @C56C 3@@< 7@C E96 4@>A2?J] v6?6 |:==6C[ pFDE2=’D 49:67 @A6C2E:?8 @77:46C[ :D ?@H D6CG:?8 2D :?E6C:> AC6D:56?E] xE’D 4FCC6?E=J F?4=62C 9@H E96 :?46?E:G6 C64@C5D 27764E65 @C A=2J65 :?E@ pFDE2=’D 62C?:?8D C6DF=ED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr@A:6D @7 E96 r@>>6C46 s6A2CE>6?E’D :?46?E:G6 2H2C5D[ >2:?E2:?65 3J {28?:2AA6[ D9@H pFDE2=’D :?46?E:G6D H6C6 AC6G:@FD=J =:DE65 H:E9 2? 67764E:G6 52E6 @7 ~4E] ad[ a_ac[ 2?5 2? 6DE:>2E65 Sagg]e >:==:@? 42A:E2= :?G6DE>6?E E:65 E@ `[_ba ?6H ;@3D] %92E 62C=:6C 6?ECJ C67=64E65 2 ;@3VD 4C65:E G2=F65 2E 23@FE Saa]b >:==:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%92E 6?ECJ H2D C6>@G65 2?5 C6A=2465 :? C646?E H66<D H:E9 @?6 D9@H:?8 :E H6?E :?E@ 67764E s64] h[ a_ad] {28?:2AA6 AF3=:D965 EH@ 2CE:4=6D @? DE2E6 E2I :?46?E:G6D 4@G6C:?8 E96 D2>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=28?:2AA6>@3:=6]4@>^?6HD^2=232>2^DE2E6\F?G6:=D\`b_>\:?\?6H\E2I\:?46?E:G6D^2CE:4=60ed75dd5g\6g7e\cchf\3afh\hc2f3c5e2h2_]9E>=QmE:>67C2>6 :? s646>36k^2mC 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=28?:2AA6>@3:=6]4@>^?6HD^2=232>2^@G6C\c__>\E2I\4C65:ED\2H2C565\:?\a_ad^2CE:4=60ba`fa_47\b4hc\c74e\ge73\a_3`bf76g_3h]9E>=Qmy2?F2CJ]k^2m pFDE2=’D 4FCC6?E :?46?E:G6 :D ?@E C67=64E65 :? 4@A:6D @7 E96 C64@C5D FD65 7@C 6:E96C @7 E9@D6 DE@C:6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr@>>6C46 2EE@C?6J wF?E6C %2==6J E@=5 {28?:2AA6 E96 28C66>6?E D:8?65 s64] h “C67=64ED E96 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 EH@ D6A2C2E6 pFDE2= AC@;64ED 4@>3:?65 :?E@ 2 D:?8=6 28C66>6?E]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9:D :D E96 7:CDE :?DE2?46 {28?2AA6 :D 2H2C6 @7 H96C6 2 4@>A2?J’D 6I:DE:?8 E2I :?46?E:G6 C64@C5 92D 366? FA52E65[ C2E96C E92? 4C62E:?8 2 D6A2C2E6 6?ECJ] u@C :?DE2?46[ s@E:6C {{r[ |6E2 !=2E7@C>DV DF3D:5:2CJ 56G6=@A:?8 E96 E649 4@>A2?J’D |@?E8@>6CJ s2E2 r6?E6C 42>AFD[ 92D E9C66 D6A2C2E6 :?46?E:G6 2H2C5D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%2==6J 5:5 ?@E AC@G:56 255:E:@?2= 56E2:=D @? 9@H E96 C64@C5D H6C6 4@>3:?65[ H9J E96 28C66>6?E H2D ?@E 5:D4=@D65 7@C >F=E:A=6 H66<D[ 2?5 H96? :E H2D 24EF2==J A@DE65]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 FA52E65 C64@C5 ?@H 6DE:>2E6D E96 G2=F6 @7 E96 ;@3D 4C65:E E@ Scb]g >:==:@?[ 2? :?4C62D6 @7 C@F89=J Sa`]d >:==:@?] %96 6DE:>2E65 ;@3 4C62E:@? 4@??64E65 E@ E96 2H2C5 :D ?@H =:DE65 2D a[`hc — 2? :?4C62D6 @7 `[`ea A@D:E:@?D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmw@H6G6C[ H9:=6 E96 :?4C62D6D 2C6 E:65 E@ ?6H ;@3D[ pFDE2= @77:4:2=D =:?<65 E96 :?46?E:G6D E@ 42A:E2= AC@;64ED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%96D6 E2I :?46?E:G6D 2C6 4@??64E65 E@ pFDE2= &$p’D EH@ ?6H :?7C2DECF4EFC6 6IA2?D:@? AC@;64ED[” 2 4@>A2?J DA@<6DA6CD@? DE2E65 :? 2? 6>2:= C6DA@?D6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9:D :?4=F56D :ED C@F89=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=28?:2AA6>@3:=6]4@>^?6HD^>@3:=6\5:G6D\:?E@\286\@7\DF3>2C:?6\H@C<\2D\2FDE2=\3C62<D\8C@F?5\@?\cd_>\724:=:EJ^2CE:4=60f4ehdefe\h`e3\``67\ha24\bb5`5a_6fa7_]9E>=QmScd_ >:==:@? DF3>2C:?6 >2?F724EFC:?8 724:=:EJk^2m 2?5 :ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=28?:2AA6>@3:=6]4@>^3FD:?6DD^`\___\?6H\;@3D\DE66=\2DD6>3=J\32J\6IA64E65\E@\62D6\2FDE2=D\`_3\@C56C\324<=@8^2CE:4=60h`hfbg54\b6`d\``67\3_ef\5fd4cdd`c_5`]9E>=QmSad_ >:==:@? 7:?2= 2DD6>3=Jk^2m =:?6 7@C DE66= G6DD6=D 2?5 2 962GJ\5FEJ =:7E DJDE6>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? pFDE2= DA@<6DA6CD@?[ H9@ ?@E65 E92E E96 :?46?E:G6D H6C6 ?@E C6=2E65 E@ E96 %\p%$ AC@8C2>]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? :ED 4FCC6?E :?46?E:G6 6?ECJ[ pFDE2=’D 6DE:>2E65 42A:E2= :?G6DE>6?E ;F>A65 Scda]f >:==:@?] w@H6G6C[ :ED :?G6DE>6?E E2I 4C65:E H2D F?492?865 2E Scb]ah >:==:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?G6DE@C]2FDE2=]4@>^DE2E:4\7:=6D^3d5f5g`g\hgdh\cbgg\35aa\a5_ah`34b__fQmx? :ED 92=7\J62C 7:?2?4:2= C6A@CE C6=62D65 u63] abk^2m[ pFDE2= 56D4C:365 @?8@:?8 4@?DECF4E:@? 2E :ED |@3:=6 J2C5 @? ?6H 724:=:E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 255:E:@?2= DF3>2C:?6 724:=:EJ] %96 4@>A2?J 2=D@ 5:D4=@D65 :E C6>2:?D :? 4@>>6C4:2= 5:D4FDD:@?D D66<:?8 FA E@ &$S`d_ >:==:@? :? 4@?EC24EF2= C6=:67 C682C5:?8 :?7=2E:@? @? >2E6C:2=D 2?5 4@DE @G6CCF?D :? :ED %\p%$ 2?5 pFI:=:2CJ u=@2E:?8 s@4< |@5F=6 AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp? :?56A6?56?E 2F5:E :?4=F565 :? E96 C6A@CE DF886DED 244@F?E:?8 7@C E96 %\p%$ AC@8C2> 4@F=5 7246 @E96C BF6DE:@?D] p s6=@:EE6 C6A@CE :DDF65 2 42FE:@?2CJ 25G:D@CJ[ DE2E:?8 E92E :E H2D F?23=6 E@ @3E2:? DF77:4:6?E 6G:56?46 E92E E96 4@>A2?J @3E2:?65 E96 4@?EC24EF2= C6=:67 :E 4=2:>65 :? ?68@E:2E:@?D H:E9 E96 &]$] }2GJ]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpFDE2=’D &]$] @A6C2E:@?D 92G6 72465 =682= 2?5 C68F=2E@CJ D4CFE:?J AC6G:@FD=J @G6C 62C?:?8 C6A@CED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? a_ac[ pFDE2= 28C665 E@ 2 Sbd >:==:@? A6?2=EJ 27E6C E96 $64FC:E:6D 2?5 tI492?86 r@>>:DD:@? 244FD65 E9C66 7@C>6C 6>A=@J66D @7 >2?:AF=2E:?8 7:?2?4:2= :?7@C>2E:@? E:65 E@ &]$] }2GJ 4@?EC24ED] pFDE2= 5:5 ?@E 25>:E E@ E96 2==682E:@?D 2D A2CE @7 E96 D6EE=6>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ C6A@CE:?8 2E E96 E:>6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9@D6 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6D C6>2:? 6>3C@:=65 :? 2 D6A2C2E6 7656C2= 4C:>:?2= AC@D64FE:@? E92E 92D 5C28865 @? :? 5:D4@G6CJ 2?5 2EE6>AED E@ E@DD E96 492C86D] s676?D6 2EE@C?6JD 7@C E96 7@C>6C pFDE2= @77:4:2=D 2C6 4FCC6?E=J D66<:?8 8C2?5 ;FCJ >2E6C:2=D FD65 3J E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 E@ D64FC6 :?5:4E>6?ED F?56C E96 &]$] H:C6 7C2F5 DE2EFE6] %96J 2C8F6 DE2E6>6?ED 3J &]$] 2EE@C?6JD 5FC:?8 E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 =:E:82E:@? DF886DE E92E ;FCJ >6>36CD H6C6 >:D:?7@C>65 23@FE E96 =2H]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmxE C6>2:?D F?4=62C H9J E96 p=232>2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@>>6C46 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 D2E @? pFDE2=’D FA52E65 E2I :?46?E:G6 7@C H66<D 367@C6 C6EC@24E:G6=J FA52E:?8 :ED A@CE2=] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr@>>6C46 AF3=:D96D :?46?E:G6 :?7@C>2E:@? @?=:?6 :? 244@C52?46 H:E9 E96 p=232>2 %C2?DA2C6?4J :? x?46?E:G6D p4E] ~77:4:2=D 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J DE2E65[ “E96 A@DE:?8D 2C6 >256 2D D@@? 2D C62D@?23=J A@DD:3=6 7@==@H:?8 E96 67764E:G6 52E6 @7 E96 AC@;64E 28C66>6?E]” x?46?E:G6D 2C6 ?@E 8C2?E65 F?E:= 2? “28C66>6?E 92D 366? 7F==J 6I64FE65 2?5 D:8?65 3J E96 v@G6C?@C]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmt4@?@>:4 :?46?E:G6 6?EC:6D 2C6 @7E6? A@DE65 E@ r@>>6C46’D A@CE2= D9@H:?8 2? 67764E:G6 52E6 :? E96 A2DE[ 3FE EJA:42==J @?=J 3J @?6 @C EH@ 52JD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ {28?:2AA6’D C64@C5D] p55:E:@?2==J[ E96C6 92G6 366? `` ?6H E2I :?46?E:G6 C64@C5D 5:D4=@D65 @? E96 A@CE2= D:?46 s64] h[ H96? pFDE2=’D H2D D:8?65]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.