Current as of: 2009 Chapter 40Q: Section 1. DefinitionsSection 1. (a) As used in this chapter, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:— "Base date", the last assessment date of the real property tax immediately preceding the creation of the district. "Captured assessed value", the valuation amount by which the current assessed value of an invested revenue district exceeds the original assessed value of the district. If the current assessed value is equal to or less than the original, there is no captured assessed value. "Development district", a specified area within the corporate limits of a city or town which has been designated as provided in section 2 and which is to be developed by the city or town under a development program. "Development program", a statement of means and objectives designed to improve the quality of life, the physical facilities and structures and the quality of pedestrian and vehicular traffic control and transportation within a development district. Means and objectives designed to increase or improve residential housing, both affordable and market rate, may also be addressed within a district and shall be considered part of a development program. The statement shall include: (1) a financial plan; (2) a complete list of public facilities to be constructed; (3) the use of private property; (4) plans for the relocation of persons displaced by the development activities; (5) plans, if any, for the development of housing, both affordable and market rate; (6) the proposed regulations and facilities to improve transportation; (7) the proposed operation of the district after the planned capital improvements are completed; and (8) the duration of the program which shall not exceed 30 years from the date of designation of the district. "Financial plan", a statement of the costs and sources of revenue required to accomplish the development programs which shall include: (1) cost estimates for the development program; (2) the amount of indebtedness to be incurred; and (3) sources of anticipated capital. "Inflation factor", a ratio: (1) the numerator of which shall be the total assessed value of all parcels of all residential and commercial real estate that are assessed at full and fair cash value for the current fiscal year minus the new growth adjustment factor for the current fiscal year attributable to the residential and commercial real estate as determined by the commissioner of revenue pursuant to paragraph (f) of section 21C of chapter 59 ; and (2) the denominator of which shall be the total assessed value for the preceding fiscal year of all the parcels included in the numerator; provided, however, the ratio shall not be less than 1. "Invested revenue district", a type of development district or portion of a district that uses tax increment financing under section 3. "Invested revenue district development program", a statement which, in addition to the information required for a development program, shall also include: (1) estimates of the captured assessed value of the district; (2) a projection of the tax revenues to be derived from the invested revenue district in the absence of a development program; (3) the method of calculating the tax increment together with any provisions for adjustment of the method of calculation; (4) the board or officer of the city or town responsible for calculating the tax increment; (5) a statement as to whether the issuance of bonds contemplated under this chapter shall be general or special obligation bonds; (6) the portion of the captured assessed value to be applied to the development program and resulting tax increments in each year of the program; and (7) a statement of the estimated impact of tax increment financing on all taxing jurisdictions in which the district is located. "Original assessed value", the aggregate assessed value of the district as of the base date, increased each year by a percentage equal to the inflation factor. The original assessed value shall be increased or decreased annually as a result of a change in the tax-exempt status of property within the district. "Project", a project to be undertaken in accordance with the development program. "Project costs", any expenditure made or estimated to be made or monetary obligations incurred or estimated to be incurred by the city or town which are listed in a project plan as costs of improvements including, but not limited to, public works, acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of land or improvements for sale or lease to residential, commercial or industrial users within a development district plus any costs incidental to those improvements, reduced by any income, special assessments or other revenues, other than tax increments, received or reasonably expected to be received by the city or town in connection with the implementation of this plan. Project costs shall include, but not be limited to:— (1) "administrative costs", any reasonable charges for the time spent by city or town employees in connection with the implementation of a project plan; (2) "capital costs", the actual costs of the construction of public works or improvements, new buildings, structures and fixtures; the demolition, alteration, remodeling, repair or reconstruction of existing buildings, structures and fixtures; the acquisition of equipment; and the grading and clearing of land; (3) "discretionary costs", those payments made by the appropriate body of a city or town that in its discretion are found to be necessary or convenient to the creation of development districts or the implementation of project plans. (4) "financing costs", including, but not be limited to, all interest paid to holders of evidences of indebtedness issued to pay for project costs and any premium paid over the principal amount of that indebtedness because of the redemption of the obligations before maturity; (5) "improvement costs", those costs associated with developing new employment opportunities, promoting public events, advertising cultural, educational and commercial activities, providing public safety, establishing and maintaining administrative and managerial support and such other services as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the development program; (6) "organizational costs", all reasonable costs relating to the conduct of environmental impact and other studies and informing the public about the creation of development districts and the implementation of project plans; (7) "professional service costs", including, but not limited to, those costs incurred for architectural, planning, engineering and legal advice or services; (8) "real property assembly costs", any deficit incurred resulting from the sale or lease by the city or town, as lessor, of real or personal property within a development district for consideration which is less than its cost to the city or town; (9) "relocation costs", all reasonable relocation payments made pursuant to a condemnation; (10) "training costs", costs associated with providing skills, development and training for employees of businesses within the development district; provided, however, that these costs shall not exceed 20 per cent of the total project costs and shall be designated as training funds within 5 years of the issuance of bonds pursuant to this chapter for the project or the designation of the district, whichever occurs later; and (11) "water and sewer line costs", which shall include the costs related to the construction or alteration of sewage treatment plants, water treatment plants or other environmental protection devices, storm or sanitary sewer lines, water lines or amenities on streets or the rebuilding or expansion thereto so long as required by the project plan for a development district, whether or not the construction, alteration, rebuilding or expansion is within the development district; Project costs shall not include the cost of a building or a portion of a building used predominantly for the general conduct of government, such as a city hall, courthouse, jail, police or fire station or other state or local government office buildings. "Project revenues", receipts of a city or town with respect to a project including, without limitation, tax increments, investment earnings and proceeds of insurance or disposition of property. "Tax increment", that portion of all real and personal property taxes assessed by a city or town upon the captured assessed value of property in the development district. The portion of the tax levy attributable to the increased valuation after the base date shall be calculated using the same classification factors as were used as of the base date, or without classification factors, if property was not classified for tax purposes as of the base date. If the base date is earlier than the date as of which the commissioner of revenue makes the certification required by subsection (c) of section 2A of chapter 59, the project plan may provide for such further adjustment in calculating the tax increment as may be deemed appropriate to reflect changes of practice after the base date with respect to the valuation of property in order to achieve assessment at full and fair cash valuation. Prev | Next________________________________________________________________________
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