What's the real cost of Wal-Mart? Study: New store may cost taxpayers $10M [View All]

[Tweed]

http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2005/04/04/top/doc425129e16916c481567019.txt

MURPHYSBORO - The current Wal-Mart store in Murphysboro brings in roughly 30 percent of the city's sales tax revenue, city officials said.

But the new Wal-Mart Super-center reported to be moving into the neighborhood of Country Club Road and Illinois 13 also could bring considerable costs officials admit will fall partly on taxpayers' shoulders.

Those costs associated with a Wal-Mart include adding traffic signals and turning lanes and widening roads.

One geologist who lives off Lake Road, one of the areas that could be impacted by the Wal-Mart, has used his resources and knowledge to create an impact study that indicates the new Wal-Mart could end up costing Jackson County residents upward of $10 million over a period of time.