SB-1597, As Passed Senate, December 18, 2008

SENATE BILL No. 1597

November 6, 2008, Introduced by Senator JANSEN and referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform.

[A bill to amend 2005 PA 210, entitled

"Commercial rehabilitation act,"

by amending sections 2, 8, and 10 (MCL 207.842, 207.848, and 207.850),

sections 2 and 8 as amended by 2008 PA 231.]

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 2. As used in this act:

(a) "Commercial property" means land improvements classified

by law for general ad valorem tax purposes as real property

including real property assessable as personal property pursuant to

sections 8(d) and 14(6) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA

206, MCL 211.8 and 211.14, the primary purpose and use of which is

the operation of a commercial business enterprise or multifamily

residential use. Commercial property shall also include facilities

related to a commercial business enterprise under the same

ownership at that location, including, but not limited to, office,

engineering, research and development, warehousing, parts

distribution, retail sales, and other commercial activities.

Commercial property also includes a building or group of contiguous

buildings previously used for industrial purposes that will be

converted to the operation of a commercial business enterprise.

Commercial property does not include any of the following:

(i) Land.

(ii) Property of a public utility.

(b) "Commercial rehabilitation district" or "district" means

an area not less than 3 acres in size of a qualified local

governmental unit established as provided in section 3. However, if

the commercial rehabilitation district is located in a downtown or

business area or contains a qualified retail food establishment, as

determined by the legislative body of the qualified local

governmental unit, the district may be less than 3 acres in size.

"certificate" means the certificate issued under section 6.

(d) "Commercial rehabilitation tax" means the specific tax

levied under this act.

(e) "Commission" means the state tax commission created by

1927 PA 360, MCL 209.101 to 209.107.

(f) "Department" means the department of treasury.

(g) "Multifamily residential use" means multifamily housing

consisting of 5 or more units.

(h) "Qualified facility" means a qualified retail food

establishment or a building or group of contiguous buildings of

commercial property that is 15 years old or older or has been

allocated for a new markets tax credit under section 45d of the

internal revenue code, 26 USC 45d. Qualified facility also includes

vacant property located in a city with a population of more than

36,000 and less than 37,000 according to the 2000 federal decennial

census and from which a previous structure has been demolished and

on which commercial property will be newly constructed. A qualified

facility does not include property that is to be used as a

professional sports stadium. A qualified facility does not include

property that is to be used as a casino. As used in this

subdivision, "casino" means a casino or a parking lot, hotel,

motel, or retail store owned or operated by a casino, an affiliate,

or an affiliated company, regulated by this state pursuant to the

Michigan gaming control and revenue act, 1996 IL 1, MCL 432.201 to

432.226.

(i) "Qualified local governmental unit" means a city, village,

or township.

(j) "Qualified retail food establishment" means property that

meets all of the following:

(i) The property will be used primarily as a retail

supermarket, grocery store, produce market, or delicatessen that

offers ~~fresh~~ unprocessed USDA-inspected meat and poultry products

or meat products that carry the USDA organic seal, fresh fruits and

vegetables, and dairy products for sale to the public.

(ii) The property meets 1 of the following:

(A) Is located in a qualified local governmental unit that is

also located in a qualified local governmental unit as defined in

section 2 of the obsolete property rehabilitation act, 2000 PA 146,

MCL 125.2782, and is located in an underserved area.

(B) Is located in a qualified local governmental unit that is

designated as rural as defined by the United States census bureau

and is located in an underserved area.

(iii) The property was used as residential, commercial, or

industrial property as allowed and conducted under the applicable

zoning ordinance for the immediately preceding 30 years.

(k) "Rehabilitation" means changes to a qualified facility

that are required to restore or modify the property, together with

all appurtenances, to an economically efficient condition.

Rehabilitation includes major renovation and modification

including, but not necessarily limited to, the improvement of floor

loads, correction of deficient or excessive height, new or improved

fixed building equipment, including heating, ventilation, and

lighting, reducing multistory facilities to 1 or 2 stories,

improved structural support including foundations, improved roof

structure and cover, floor replacement, improved wall placement,

improved exterior and interior appearance of buildings, and other

physical changes required to restore or change the property to an

economically efficient condition. Rehabilitation for a qualified

retail food establishment also includes new construction.

Rehabilitation also includes new construction on vacant property

from which a previous structure has been demolished and if the new

construction is an economic benefit to the local community as

determined by the qualified local governmental unit. Rehabilitation

shall not include improvements aggregating less than 10% of the

Senate Bill No. 1597 as amended December 18, 2008 (1 of 2)

true cash value of the property at commencement of the

rehabilitation of the qualified facility.

(l) "Taxable value" means the value determined under section

27a of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.27a.

(m) "Underserved area" means an area determined by the

Michigan department of agriculture that contains a low or moderate

income census tract and a below average supermarket density, an

area that has a supermarket customer base with more than 50% living

in a low income census tract, or an area that has demonstrated

significant access limitations due to travel distance.

[Sec. 8. (1) If the taxable value of the property proposed to be exempt pursuant to an application under consideration, considered together with the aggregate taxable value of property exempt under certificates previously granted and currently in force under this act or under 1974 PA 198, MCL 207.551 to 207.572, exceeds 5% of the taxable value of the qualified local governmental unit, the legislative body of the qualified local governmental unit shall make a separate finding and shall include a statement in its resolution approving the application that exceeding that amount shall not have the effect of substantially impeding the operation of the qualified local governmental unit or impairing the financial soundness of an affected taxing unit.

(2) The legislative body of the qualified local governmental unit shall not approve an application for a commercial rehabilitation exemption certificate unless the applicant complies with all of the following requirements:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the commencement of the rehabilitation of the qualified facility does not occur earlier than 6 months before the applicant files the application for the commercial rehabilitation exemption certificate. However, through December 31, 2009, for a qualified facility that is a qualified retail food establishment, the commencement of the rehabilitation does not occur earlier than 36 42 months before the applicant files the application for the commercial rehabilitation exemption certificate.

(b) The application relates to a rehabilitation program that when completed constitutes a qualified facility within the meaning of this act and that shall be situated within a commercial rehabilitation district established in a qualified local governmental unit eligible under this act.

(c) Completion of the qualified facility is calculated to, and will at the time of issuance of the certificate have the reasonable likelihood to, increase commercial activity, create employment, retain employment, prevent a loss of employment, revitalize urban areas, or increase the number of residents in the community in which the qualified facility is situated.

(d) The applicant states, in writing, that the rehabilitation of the qualified facility, excluding qualified retail food establishments through December 31, 2009, would not be undertaken without the applicant's receipt of the exemption certificate.

(e) The applicant is not delinquent in the payment of any taxes related to the qualified facility.]

Sec. 10. (1) There is levied upon every owner of a qualified

facility to which a commercial rehabilitation exemption certificate

is issued a specific tax to be known as the commercial

rehabilitation tax.

(2) ~~The~~ Except as otherwise provided in subsection (8), the

amount of the commercial rehabilitation tax, in each year, shall be

determined by adding the results of both of the following

calculations:

(a) Multiplying the total mills levied as ad valorem taxes for

that year by all taxing units within which the qualified facility

is located by the taxable value of the real and personal property

of the qualified facility on the December 31 immediately preceding

the effective date of the commercial rehabilitation exemption

certificate after deducting the taxable ~~valuation~~ value of the land

and of personal property other than personal property assessed

pursuant to sections 8(d) and 14(6) of the general property tax

act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.8 and 211.14, for the tax year

immediately preceding the effective date of the commercial

rehabilitation exemption certificate.

(b) Multiplying the mills levied for school operating purposes

for that year under the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1

to 380.1852, and the state education tax act, 1993 PA 331, MCL

211.901 to 211.906, by the taxable value of the real and personal

property of the qualified facility, after deducting all of the

following:

(i) The taxable value of the land and of the personal property

other than personal property assessed pursuant to sections 8(d) and

14(6) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.8 and

211.14.

(ii) The taxable value used to calculate the tax under

subdivision (a).

(3) The commercial rehabilitation tax is an annual tax,

payable at the same times, in the same installments, and to the

same officer or officers as taxes imposed under the general

property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to ~~211.157~~ 211.155, are

payable. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the officer

or officers shall disburse the commercial rehabilitation tax

payments received by the officer or officers each year to and among

this state, cities, school districts, counties, and authorities, at

the same times and in the same proportions as required by law for

the disbursement of taxes collected under the general property tax

act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to ~~211.157~~ 211.155.

(4) For intermediate school districts receiving state aid

under sections 56, 62, and 81 of the state school aid act of 1979,

1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1656, 388.1662, and 388.1681, of the amount of

commercial rehabilitation tax that would otherwise be disbursed to

an intermediate school district, all or a portion, to be determined

on the basis of the tax rates being utilized to compute the amount

of state aid, shall be paid to the state treasury to the credit of

the state school aid fund established by section 11 of article IX

of the state constitution of 1963.

(5) The amount of commercial rehabilitation tax described in

~~subsection~~ subsections (2)(a) and (8)(a) that would otherwise be

disbursed to a local school district for school operating purposes,

and all of the amount described in ~~subsection~~ subsections (2)(b)

and (8)(b), shall be paid instead to the state treasury and

credited to the state school aid fund established by section 11 of

article IX of the state constitution of 1963.

(6) The officer or officers shall send a copy of the amount of

disbursement made to each unit under this section to the commission

on a form provided by the commission.

(7) A qualified facility located in a renaissance zone under

the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to

125.2696, is exempt from the commercial rehabilitation tax levied

under this act to the extent and for the duration provided pursuant

to the Michigan renaissance zone act, 1996 PA 376, MCL 125.2681 to

125.2696, except for that portion of the commercial rehabilitation

tax attributable to a special assessment or a tax described in

section 7ff(2) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL

211.7ff. The commercial rehabilitation tax calculated under this

subsection shall be disbursed proportionately to the taxing unit or

units that levied the special assessment or the tax described in

section 7ff(2) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL

211.7ff.

(8) The amount of the commercial rehabilitation tax, in each

year, for a qualified retail food establishment that was issued a

certificate on or before December 31, 2009, shall be determined by

adding the results of both of the following calculations: