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Talk of the bay

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 17, 2007

EMPLOYER NAME TO CHANGE, BUT JOBS WILL STAY

A $4.8-billion bid by General Electric Co. to buy the aerospace division of London-based Smiths Group will mean a name change for a business in the Tampa Bay area. Since 1969, the British company has operated two divisions on Roosevelt Boulevard in Clearwater. One does design and production of avionics systems for both military and commercial customers, including Boeing, Airbus and Lockheed Martin. Customer service for the Americas is also handled out of the Clearwater location. A spokeswoman for Smiths said the sale to GE is not expected to affect the 460 employees in Clearwater. "Our facilities will continue their regular operations," said Jennifer Villarreal. "GE is acquiring a complementary business which will expand both companies' capabilities."

Online, sales tax break will be later

Free income tax filing started Tuesday on the IRS Web site (www.irs.gov), but you'll have to wait until Feb. 3 to file a return claiming the state sales tax deduction, which Congress tucked into the tax law at the last minute. The free file program is open to anyone with an adjusted gross income of $52,000 or less, which encompasses about 70 percent of tax filers. As a result of criticism from Congress and consumer groups, refund anticipation loans will no longer be available through the free file program.

Port conflict takes away vote, voice

Tampa port commissioners whose personal business interests conflict with official port business shouldn't just take a pass on voting. They need to remain silent during discussion, too. So ruled the Tampa Port Authority board Tuesday, though not without some fur flying. Port business executives balked, saying the move looked like an attempt to muzzle two commissioners with jobs in the maritime industry. The board passed the change anyway, with commissioner Joe Hartley, Tampa Bay Shipbuilding Co. president, casting the sole no vote. But it won't cause him any heartburn. Hartley retires Feb. 1, and any business conflicts go out with him.

. THE TICKER

. tampabay.com

All about money

Times personal finance editor Helen Huntley talks about money topics and answers your finance questions at blogs.tampabay.com/money.

[Last modified January 17, 2007, 00:13:34]