KALISPELL — Flathead County and the Columbia Falls school district have denied a request from Columbia Falls Aluminum Company for a 95 percent tax reduction.
CFAC sought the reduction under a state law designed to give tax breaks to companies that closed due to the economic downturn. CFAC closed on Oct. 31, 2009 after failing to reach an agreement on the cost of electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration.
Some county officials said Monday they might have considered the request if it included a guarantee the plant would reopen. School officials said they cannot afford another funding hit.
Flathead County officials say CFAC’s taxes for 2010 are $462,140 after the state reduced the amount by $82,537.
CFAC is owned by Swiss-based Glencore, which expects to raise $10 billion with a public stock offering later this month.