The Amazon headquarters subsidies were aimed at trying to provide jobs and economic growth in Virginia. | Canva
The Amazon headquarters subsidies were aimed at trying to provide jobs and economic growth in Virginia. | Canva
Many residents in Virginia are dissatisfied with the subsidies given to Amazon in 2019 and believe that they could have been spent better elsewhere, a recent poll conducted by Axis shows.
“Virginians believe the subsidies given to Amazon should have gone toward other issues facing the state, including a majority of Northern Virginians," said Blake Moore, research analyst with Axis Research.
Axis Research conducted an online poll from Feb. 4-7 of adults in Virginia regarding Amazon's HQ2. Around 300 adults responded. HQ2 is Amazon's corporate headquarters in Arlington, Va.
The Virginia General Assembly voted in 2019 to provide $750 million in subsidies for Amazon's HQ2. Sixty-five percent of poll respondents who have an unfavorable view of Amazon agreed with the statement that "$750 million is a lot of money that should be used for many other critical issues facing our state, not subsidies for Amazon."
Geographically, 51% of Northern Virginians responded that the $750 million should be used for other issues in the state.
When the responses to that statement are broken down by political party, 52% of Republicans responded it was too much money, compared to 42% of Democrats and 49% of independents.
The survey comes as a new report reveals that Amazon has saved more money as a result of various local and state government concessions on taxes than they’ve paid in total federal taxes in 2021. They paid $2.1 billion in federal taxes last year, but saved paying $5.2 billion because of the local tax breaks.
Virginia agreed in 2017 to give the global online seller about $750 million in total tax breaks and infrastructure build-outs in exchange for Amazon bringing its second headquarters to the Commonwealth in an effort to bring more jobs and a stimulated economy to the state.
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