Critics say Caterpillar plant comes with high price tag

ATHENS - Taxpayers in Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties will pay a stiff price for the 1,400 jobs that Caterpillar is bringing to northeast Georgia.

The two local governments paid almost $10 million to buy 252 acres for land that straddles the county line, according to reports in the Athens Banner-Herald. The governments will spend millions more to build more roads and utility lines to service the 1.2 million square-foot plant.

It will cost $17.6 million for the land and the improvements. That's not including property tax abatements that will save Caterpillar $12.4 million over the next 20 years and another $45 million in state incentives.

Georgia economic officials say the package is typical for a project this size, but some analysts warn the incentives aren't always worth the cost.