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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 09-09 Sales Tax ReimbRESOLUTION NO. 9- 09 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN APPROVING THE SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the current worldwide economic slowdown has impacted the City of Dublin's revenues; and WHEREAS, for decades, state and local government have used Economic development incentives to attract or retain jobs and/or improve a local tax base; and WHEREAS, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has recommended that any proposed incentive program has specific goals and criteria that serve to define the economic benefit to both the government and the entities receiving the incentives expect to gain from the incentives, the conditions under which the incentives are to be granted, and the actions to be taken should the actual benefits differ from the planned benefits; and WHEREAS, in an attempt to attract new businesses that will provide additional jobs and generate additional tax revenues for the City, Staff is requesting City Council consideration of a program to stimulate reinvestment in the community through a Sales Tax Reimbursement Program; and WHEREAS, the objective of the proposed Sales Tax Reimbursement program would be to: (1) improve the aesthetic nature and physical appearance of existing buildings and promote site improvements to commercial properties in the existing commercial/office/industrial areas of Dublin and (2) target existing buildings throughout the community with the goal of improving the existing building stock and also lowering long-term vacancy rates in the community; and WHEREAS, the program would use the concept of reimbursement through sales tax revenues to assist and encourage property owners/tenants to reinvest in, reconstruct, rehabilitate and renovate their properties; and WHEREAS, the proposed program would allow property owners and/or tenants, through a written agreement with the City, to recover over time a portion of the cost of improvements (internal and external) made to the property. The reimbursement would be limited to the actual costs incurred by the owner/tenant for improvements to structures and the property site. Eligible costs would include exterior improvements (painting, facade repair, replacement signage), interior improvements (tenant improvements), and site improvements (parking lots, driveways, landscaping, etc.). Reimbursement for demolition of existing buildings and replacement with new buildings may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Land acquisition costs would be excluded from eligible expenses; and WHEREAS, the program would be made available to businesses that would generate over $100,000 in new sales tax each year (this requires annual taxable sales of $10 million). Businesses would need to certify, by providing copies of sales tax returns to the State Board of Equalization (SBOE) that based on previous operations that this threshold has been met; and WHEREAS, the program would be made available to new, not existing businesses. An exception would be considered on a case-by-case basis for existing Dublin businesses that might relocate/expand within Page 1 of 2 the City, if their move /expansion results in additional sales tax revenues that would meet the target ($100,000 or more) established for the program; and WHEREAS, the program would require that all improvements considered under this program must be approved by the City and subject to all laws and regulations; and WHEREAS, the program would calculate and distribute the reimbursement as follows: 1. The amount of eligible improvements will be established and certified with documentation of the expenses. 2. Once retail sales begin to be paid based on reported sales transactions at a location within the City of Dublin, no more than fifty percent (50%) of the net new sales tax would be calculated and considered as the amount of reimbursement subject to the following limitations: a. The cumulative maximum reimbursements paid to the business cannot exceed the total established in number 1 above. b. Reimbursements would be made on an annual basis. c. Reimbursements would continue until the full amount in number 1 above was reimbursed or for a period five (5) years, whichever occurs first. WHERAS, the program would require that all Sales Tax Reimbursement agreements be negotiated by Staff and approved by the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin does hereby approve the Sales Tax Reimbursement Program for a period of two (2) years. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin will revisit the program at the end of the two-year period and determine if the program should be continued based upon the economic conditions at that time. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of January, 2009, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Biddle, Hart, Hildenbrand, Scholz, and Mayor Sbranti NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ATTE T: ~ ~ / _ ~Z~' City Clerk Reso No. 9-09, Adopted 1-6-09, Item 7.1 Page 2 of 2 Mayor