The troubled economy may be taking its toll on the workers at the BASF automotive paint factory in Belvidere.

BASF, a plant that opened nearly 25 years ago, would affect many facets of the local economy should it close. The plant pays in property taxes an amount that?s equal to about an eighth of Belvidere?s entire municipal budget.

?They are the biggest taxpayer business-wise in this area, so it's probably going to affect a lot of businesses and the residential owners, too," says Tammy Dux, of Belvidere.

BASF says the jobs will be phased out before closing and that employees could get other jobs elsewhere within the company. The plant has 110 employees.