§ 102-238. Ad valorem tax exemption—Project Zeus.

(a)

An economic development ad valorem tax exemption is hereby granted to Project Zeus (hereafter referred to as "the company"), for:

(1)

One hundred percent of the assessed value of:

a.

All improvements to real property made by or for the use of a new business as determined by the property appraiser for the first year after substantial completion of those improvements; and

b.

All tangible personal property of such new business in place during that first year; or

2.

One hundred percent of the assessed value of:

a.

All added improvements to real property made to facilitate the expansion of an existing business in the first year of assessment after substantial completion of those improvements; and

b.

The net increase in all tangible personal property acquired to facilitate such expansion of an existing business during that first year.

(b)

The total amount of revenue available to the county from ad valorem tax sources for the current fiscal year is $201,341,291.88; $149,013.00 is lost to the county for the current fiscal year by virtue of exemptions currently in effect from previous years.

(c)

The tax exemption hereby granted shall be for a term of ten years commencing with the first year the new or expanded facility and tangible personal property are added to the assessment roll.

(d)

In accordance with the findings of the board of county commissioners and the property appraiser, the property hereby exempted from ad valorem tax exemption meets the definition of either a new business or expansion of an existing business, as defined by F.S. § 196.0125(14) or (15).

(e)

The company shall submit to the county manager at the beginning of each year an annual report providing evidence of continued compliance with the definition of an expansion of an existing business for each of the ten years during which the company is eligible to receive ad valorem tax exemption. If the annual report is not received, or if the annual report indicates the company no longer meets the criteria of F.S. § 196.012(14) or (15), the county manager shall make a report to the board of county commissioners for consideration of revocation of the ordinance granting the tax exemption.

(f)

If the county manager or designee receives written notice that the company qualifying for an ad valorem tax abatement under the authority of this section has decided not to undertake or complete the new business or expansion of an existing business, including improvements to real property or acquisition of taxable tangible personal property, or has not timely provided the number of jobs qualifying the new business or expansion of an existing business for the ad valorem tax exemption granted under this section, the exemption granted shall be void, shall not take effect and shall not be implemented. If such a notice is received, the foregoing provision shall be self-executing and no further action of the board of county commissioners will be required to void the granted exemption. Upon the county's receipt of any such notice, the county manager or designee shall forward the notice to the property appraiser along with a copy of this subsection of the ordinance.

(g)

If, upon discovery of the company's failure to qualify for the ad valorem tax exemption granted by this section, the board of county commissioners may revoke the ordinance from which this section derived, and the company shall reimburse those county ad valorem taxes abated in favor of the company for that period of time that it was determined that the company no longer met the criteria of F.S. § 196.012(14) or (15), whichever was applicable to the exemption granted by this section.

(Ord. No. 2016-21, § 1, 10-4-16)