Ohio to review if Wal-Mart reneged on tax credit

Columbus, Ohio Economic development officials in Ohio say they will check whether Wal-Mart Stores violated terms of a tax agreement by closing an optical lab near Columbus. The chain on Friday announced that it will close the lab, which makes eyewear for vision centers in Wal-mart stores, cutting 650 jobs.

Ohio gave the retailer a $1.8 million job-creation tax credit in 2001 on the condition that the company create and maintain jobs there.

Kelly Schlissberg, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Development, says the agency is reviewing its agreement with Wal-Mart to determine if the state can recoup money.

A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart says the company is willing to work with the state to resolve the situation.