Philips Lightolier lays off workers, faces tax credit questions

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

FALL RIVER – As many as 30 workers at Philips Electronics subsidiary Philips Lightolier were laid off last week, sparking an examination by city officials, reported the Fall River Herald.

The Herald reported that city officials intend to examine the layoffs in light of tax breaks the company was granted by both Fall River and the state of Massachusetts.

Lightolier has a 20-year tax increment financing agreement dating to 1994, which has reduced its property taxes by 75 percent over the last four years, according to the Herald.

Depending on a review by the Fall River Office of Economic Development, Lightolier may face a decertification of its current tax breaks.

Philips told the Herald that the layoffs at the energy-efficient lighting systems-maker were seasonal and that workers may be hired back if construction work picks up at the start of 2013.