Tax break deal for Atlanta Hawks facility questioned

A tax incentives deal for the Atlanta Hawks will help the team build a practice facility in Brookhaven, but the agreement also calls for the Hawks to make payments back to the city's economic development agency.

That’s a problem for officials with DeKalb County’s government and public school system, who object to the $11 million tax incentive arrangement.

DeKalb Commissioner Jeff Rader calls the payments to the city’s development authority a “kickback,” and school Superintendent Steve Green says tax money is needed for educating students.

Brookhaven officials say they'll negotiate with the county and the school system on how the payments should be distributed.