Tax breaks to end for 100 firms

CHAMPAIGN — When Sears Holding Corp. rattled Illinois last month by saying it might move its headquarters Gov. Pat Quinn quickly said the state would try to keep the retailer in place.

That situation could repeat itself a number of times in the next few years.

State records obtained by The Associated Press show that tax-break deals with 107 companies expire in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The deals represent more than $100 million in tax breaks and pledges to keep more than 12,000 jobs in Illinois and create more than 10,000 new jobs.

The state is considered a prime target for job poaching with businesses unhappy over income tax increases.

Marcelyn Love of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity says companies don't automatically merit new deals when old deals expire.