Why? Data centers provide a small number of jobs and use enormous amounts of electricity. They gave Apple $46m to get 50 jobs that pay $50k a year. Do the math, Apple got essentially free labor for the next 18 years.
1) Don't give any tax break. Apple will likely go elsewhere, and the town doesn't get any additional tax revenue.
2) Give Apple a break on some fraction of their taxes, amounting to $46m. They will still get some tax revenue from Apple.
It's like saying a store is giving money when it puts a product on sale. The town is just lowering the price to sell more goods.
Don't these schemes seem illegal under the 14th amendment?