Exact Sciences ID’d As Company In WEDC Audit

Madison-based medical diagnostics company Exact Sciences Corporation is the unnamed company highlighted in an audit that revealed it received $61,000 in tax credits for jobs created outside of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. named the company in response to an open records request from The Associated Press.

But Thursday afternoon Exact Sciences said it would return the $61,000 in tax credits.

Company spokeswoman Cara Connelly told The Associated Press that as a “good corporate citizen” Exact Sciences would return the money.

Exact Sciences was awarded $1 million in tax credits in 2017. About 6 percent, or $61,000, was for 261 jobs created outside Wisconsin. It also created 795 jobs in Wisconsin.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau highlighted the award in a report last week about awards from the WEDC. WEDC CEO Mark Hogan defended the award, saying it is allowed to give credits for jobs created outside the state.

WEDC also revealed the company that received $462,000 in tax credits even though it lost 17 jobs was Walgreens. WEDC spokesman Dave Callender said the agency is determining how much of those will be reclaimed.