2014-007 - Approve amendments to the Paris Economic Development Corporation tax abatement policy.

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(Updated 2- 10 -14) Paris, Texas Economic Development Corporation POLICY STATEMENT CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES FOR TAX ABATEMENT APPENDIX A Term Definition Abatement or Tax The full or partial exemption from ad valorem taxes of certain real and tangible personal Abatement property in a Reinvestment Zone designated for economic development purposes. Agreement or The written legal agreement for tax abatement between a property owner and /or lessee and Agreements the City of Paris, Lamar County and Paris Junior College. Authorized A facility may be eligible for abatement if it is a facility used for manufacturing, research, Commercial or regional distribution, regional services, regional tourist entertainment, other basic industry, or Industrial Facility any primary jobs creating industry (see definitions below). All authorized facility definitions include buildings and structures, including fixed machinery and equipment used in operating the facility. Authorized The City Council of the City of Paris may also designate areas of the City where residential Residential Facility properties may be considered for abatement of City taxes only. The City of Paris will approve their residential abatement policies, criteria and guidelines separate from these policies. Manufacturing The purpose of which is or will be the manufacture of tangible goods or materials or Facility the processing of such goods or materials by physical or chemical change. Facilities primarily engaged in assembling component parts of manufactured products are also considered manufacturing facilities. Regional Used primarily to receive, store, service, or distribute goods or materials where a Distribution majority of the goods or services are distributed to points at least 100 miles from its Facility location in the Taxing Jurisdictions of Paris and Lamar County. Regional Used in providing amusement /entertainment through the admission of the general public Tourist where the majority of users reside at least 100 miles from the Taxing Jurisdictions and Entertainment where the majority of users are likely to stay in the Taxing Jurisdictions for more than Facility one day and will therefore likely utilize local restaurants and hotel/motel accommodations. Research Used primarily for research or experimentation to improve or develop new tangible Facility goods or materials or to improve or develop the production processes thereto. Other Basic or Not elsewhere described, used for the production of products or services which result in Service the creation of new jobs and bring new wealth into the Taxing Jurisdictions (e.g. Industry healthcare - related industries). Primary Jobs Any industry creating "primary jobs" defined as a job that is available at a company for Creating which a majority of the products or services of that company are ultimately exported to Industry regional, statewide, national, or international markets infusing new dollars into the local economy. Base Year The assessed value of eligible property as of January 1, preceding the date of execution of the Value agreement plus the agreed upon value of eligible property improvements made after January 1, but before the execution of the agreement. The Base Year Value may be adjusted either up or down from year to year as per renditions by the Lamar County Appraisal District. Employer The owner or lessee of property, who is applying for tax abatement and who will provide jobs and capital investment within the Reinvestment Zone or within the Enterprise Zone. Reinvestment An area where the Taxing Jurisdictions have decided to influence development patterns Zone and attract major investments that will contribute to the development of the area through the use of tax abatement for specified improvements. These statues are found in Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. Enterprise Zone An area of land designated as such under Chapter 2303 of the Texas Government Code. Job or Jobs A "job" is when an individual works 40 hours per week for an employer, and in the position the individual is provided the benefits normally offered by the employer, such as health insurance, vacation and some form of retirement benefit. A job is not a position filled for the employer as a worker or employee of an employment agency or employment service. "Jobs" also includes "Full -time Equivalent Jobs" defined below.