§ 13-263. Ad valorem tax exemption.

(a)

The board is hereby authorized to grant exemptions in accordance with the terms of F.S. § 196.1995, and this authorizing ordinance. Exemptions may be granted or refused at the sole discretion of the board.

(b)

The exemption shall not accrue to improvements to real property made by or for the use of a new business or the expansion of an existing business or tangible personal property acquired to facilitate a new business or the expansion of an existing business unless such improvements are made or such tangible personal property is acquired on or after the effective date of an implementing ordinance for a specific business, as provided in subsection 13-265(g) hereof.

(c)

Any exemption granted may apply up to one hundred (100) percent of the assessed value of all improvements to real property made by or for the use of a new business and of all tangible personal property of such new business, or up to one hundred (100) percent of the assessed value of all added improvements to real property made to facilitate the expansion of an existing business and of the net increase in all tangible personal property acquired to facilitate such expansion of an existing business, provided that the improvements to real property are made or the tangible personal property is added or increased on or after the effective date of an implementing ordinance for a specific business, as provided in subsection 13-265(g) hereof. Property acquired to replace existing property shall not be considered to facilitate the expansion of an existing business.

(d)

The exemption may be for a period up to ten (10) years from the date the board enacts an implementing ordinance granting the exemption to a specific business.

(e)

No exemption shall be granted for the land upon which a new business or the expansion of an existing business is to be located.

(f)

The exemption applies only to taxes levied by the county. The exemption does not apply to taxes levied by a municipality, school district, or water management district, or to taxes levied for the payment of bonds or taxes authorized by a vote of the electors pursuant to Section 9 and Section 12, Article VII of the State Constitution.

(g)

Each exemption shall be subject to each of the following conditions:

(1)

Each business granted an exemption shall maintain the new business or the expansion of an existing business as defined in section 13-262 hereof this authorizing ordinance throughout the entire period of the exemption;

(2)

Each business granted an exemption shall be required to submit an annual report and employee roster to the county manger evidencing satisfaction of the foregoing condition. The report and employee roster shall be submitted on or before March 1 of each year the exemption is in effect. The report shall be made on the form prescribed by resolution of the board, a copy of which shall be provided to the applicant by the county manager no later than December 1, which will be ninety (90)days prior to the March 1 filing deadline;

(3)

Each business granted an exemption shall furnish to the board or its designee, such information/report as the county manager may reasonably deem necessary for the purpose of determining continued performance by the business of the conditions stated in this authorizing ordinance and the representations made in the application process. The county manager shall provide a copy of each annual report to the property appraiser.

(Ord. No. 11-05, § 3, 7-18-11)