DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Deere & Co. wants to repay the state 25 percent of $7.1 million in tax credits for a $44 million expansion in Davenport.
The Moline, Ill.-based company says it created 300 jobs as pledged by 2005. But because of economic hard times, it isn't sure it will retain the manufacturing jobs until 2010, as the agreement requires.
The company says in a letter to the state last month that returning $1.8 million in tax credits was a fair resolution.
Deere announced plans Tuesday to combine operations that make its tractors with another unit that manufactures products like riding lawn mowers, resulting in about 200 job cuts.
The cuts will be the latest at Deere, which has laid off more than 1,000 workers since the beginning of the year.
