Raising bar for incentives: Mecklenburg County officials tighten requirements for business grants.

Byline: Carrie Levine

Apr. 10--After months of sharp criticism of tax incentives for businesses expanding or creating new jobs in Mecklenburg, county officials have toughened guidelines that govern who gets money. Mecklenburg County and Charlotte have given 17 companies grants worth a total of more than $8.6 million since 2001. Critics say officials didn't do a good enough job of weighing what it costs the public to serve the businesses and whether taxpayers benefit in the end. "It's called economic development," said Republican county commissioner Jim Puckett, who has been critical of the program. "If the economics don't make sense, why do it?" The guidelines county officials say they will use from now on require an analysis of the cost of providing county services such as schools, parks and libraries to the business and its employees, as well as the benefits the…