Report Inappropriate Comments

Without detracting at all from the excellent and thorough reporting by Rory Schuler, I cannot help but draw attention to the fact that throughout the entire story, and apparently throughout all of the conversations and negotiations and agreements being reported on, nowhere is it possible to put a finger on one very significant number: the actual net dollar amount of tax revenue that will not be paid by Amazon over the next twenty years. To say "they'll be paying about 60% of their total obligation" or "the project will yield $146 million to the town over 20 years" obscures a crucial side of the equation. It's like asking a car salesperson "How much does it cost?" and getting the answer "You will save a ton of money on gas!" Going forward, it would be helpful if this actual number were reported as thoroughly and as often as the other numbers cited, just to provide a point of reference against which to evaluate the advertised benefits of the deal.