Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. has decided to decline $25 million in tax incentives from the state of Wisconsin, confirmed state Department of Commerce spokesman Tony Hozeney.
In September state officials announced that it was offering the tax credits to encourage Harley to maintain its operations. That announcement came shortly after the company’s union employees agreed to concessions in wages and benefits that the company said it needed to maintain its Wisconsin manufacturing operations.
However the tax credits were designed as a performance-based incentive linked to jobs and capital investment at the company and purchases from their in-state suppliers
Harley still plans to maintain its Wisconsin operations, but the company decided to decline the tax credits because the state requirements might not allow the company to make necessary employment reductions.
