COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina officials are now saying an Amazon.com distribution center could bring as many as 3,000 jobs to Lexington County.
The new estimate by the state Commerce Department is more than double the jobs officials said the online retailer might bring and came in an email sent to lawmakers as supporters push the Legislature to pass a sales tax break Amazon says is vital.
Leaders in Lexington County told The State of Columbia that they are perplexed that Gov. Nikki Haley and the county's 11 lawmakers aren't fully behind the tax break, which would exempt South Carolina residents from paying sales tax when buying Amazon products - a break not available to smaller stores.
They worry Amazon may back out of the new warehouse without the sales tax break.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
