Comanche County to vote on sales tax for plant expansion

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ Voters will decide Tuesday whether Comanche County will raise millions of dollars in sales taxes to help Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. <br><br>The election is for a five-year, quarter-cent

Saturday, March 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ Voters will decide Tuesday whether Comanche County will raise millions of dollars in sales taxes to help Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

The election is for a five-year, quarter-cent sales tax that is expected to generate $7 million to $8 million _ $3 million of which would go toward Goodyear's $125 million plant expansion in Lawton.

The plant's expansion is expected to create 100 additional jobs. The plant is Oklahoma's largest, already employing 2,300 people.

``This is really a good deal,'' said Larry Buchwald, a Comanche County commissioner.

Goodyear could also get a boost from the Legislature.

A bill under consideration would allow the company to sell up to $38 million in state tax credits to other Oklahoma companies. A version of the bill _ House Bill 2245 _ passed the House last month.

One stipulation of the bill is that Goodyear must invest $250 million in its expansion.

If Comanche County approves the sales tax, it will begin June 1. Additional money raised by the tax would be used to build roads for the planned Crusader artillery plant in Elgin.