Senate OKs Incentives For OfficeMax, Univar; ADM Could Come Later

The Illinois Senate has approved tax incentives worth roughly $58 million for chemical distributor Univar and newly-merged OfficeMax and Office Depot.

Senators approved the plan by a 43-10 vote Tuesday. The measure now moves to the House, where lawmakers were taking up a major pension overhaul.

The proposal is aimed at creating jobs and keeping companies in Illinois.  

The incentives are separate from a plan a House committee considered Monday.  That one proposes a satellite television tax expected to generate $75 million annually and includes $92 million worth of incentives for Univar, OfficeMax and Archer Daniels Midland Company.

Univar wants to relocate to Illinois from Washington state. Naperville-based OfficeMax merged with Florida-based Office Depot last month. ADM plans to relocate from Decatur.