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HomeMy Public PortalAbout113-1997 - Tax Abatement - Amends Tax Abatement ProcedureORDINANCE NO. 113-1997 A SPECIAL ORDINANCE REGARDING PROCEDURE FOR TAX ABATEMENTS WHEREAS, Common Council has previously designated eight economic revitalization areas within the City of Richmond, and WHEREAS, I.C. 6-1.1-12.1 requires the Common Council as the designating entity to approve all Statements of Benefits required to be filed by property owners applying for deductions in assessed valuations for the installation of new manufacturing equipment or for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of real property, and WHEREAS, an owner of real property located in an economic revitalization area is entitled to deductions pursuant to Indiana law, which pursuant to prior Council resolution, i.e.: Resolution No. 2-1987, has currently been established for a ten year period from the assessed value; and WHEREAS, an owner of new manufacturing equipment is entitled to deductions pursuant to Indiana law for either a 5 year or 10 year period from the assessed value of new manufacturing equipment, and WHEREAS, Common Council wishes to amend its prior Resolution No. 2-1987 regarding establishing a ten-year period for all approved Statement of Benefits on real property, to allow a consideration of the statutory possibilities of 3, 6, or 10 years for each Statement, pursuant to the guidelines set forth within this Ordinance; and WHEREAS, pursuant to I.C. 6-1.1-12.1-3, in order for Common Council to approve a Statement of Benefits to allow a deduction, it must make certain findings of fact regarding certain benefits which will be forthcoming from the described project therein; and WHEREAS, Common Council wishes to establish guidelines in determining whether a specific Statement of Benefits, regarding either real property or new manufacturing equipment, meets the required positive beneficial findings; and WHEREAS, Common Council recognizes that the goals and purposes of allowing a deduction through a Statement of Benefits includes adding property for tax base revenue which would not otherwise be included without the deduction; providing an incentive for higher wages and a better quality of life for the citizens of Richmond; and keeping Richmond competitive for economic development opportunities; and WHEREAS, Common Council also wishes to enhance the City's monitoring of certain aspects of approved Statement of Benefits. NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana as follows: 1. Resolution No. 2-1987, is hereby amended and/or rescinded to eliminate the establishment of a 10 year period for all future Statement of Benefits regarding real property located in an Economic Revitalization Area and in lieu thereof, the applicable time period for each future real property phase -in and/or application shall be either 3, 6, or 10 years, as determined by Common Council in each Special Ordinance approving a specific Statement of Benefits, and as determined pursuant to the guidelines established herein. 2. In determining whether to approve a Statement of Benefits and in determining which time period to use on any approval, Common Council shall consider the following factors in making its required findings of beneficial impact, to -wit: a. average wage paid to employees, including fringe benefits b. health care benefits paid to employees c. upward mobility of jobs to be created and/or retained by the applicant d. size of redevelopment/rehabilitation and/or new manufacturing equipment e. applicant's level of commitment and involvement in the City. 3. All Statement of Benefits shall continue to be referred to Common Council's Tax Abatement Committee for consideration of the above guidelines and for recommendation of which time period the applicant will receive as to its phase -in. The applicant will be given notice of the Tax Abatement Committee's recommendation prior to any final action taken by Common Council. 4. Commencing in 1998, five percent of all outstanding property owners who have previously secured approved Statement of Benefits from Common Council, and are still in the period of their phase -ins, shall be randomly selected by the City Administration, and their information regarding job creation and/or retention, and applicable employee wages, shall be audited by the City Administration as part of assuring continued compliance with their Statement of Benefits. Besides the random audit process, any written complaints that the City receives about non-compliance of a specific business will also be investigated and subject to audit. To the extent any non- conforming information is found, the City Administration and/or Common Council shall be authorized to take all action as authorized by I.C. 6-1.1-12.1-1 et seq. 5. In order to implement and/or advise applicants of the guidelines described herein, an addendum to the Statement of Benefits Form SB-I, known as Form SB-lA (a copy of which is incorporated by reference and attached hereto) shall be required of all applicants with their Statement of Benefits applications. i I i�- Passed and adopted this day of `cam 1997, by the Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana. President (BROO-- G, ATTESi� City Clerk (Norma Schroeder) PRESENTED to the Mayor of the City of Richmond, Indiana, this day of APPAO ATTES' 199S, at 9:00 a.m. Clerk yor