First Substitute S.B. 230

Senator John L. Valentine proposes to substitute the following bill:

1 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AMENDMENT
2 2000 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: John L. Valentine
5 AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS; MODIFYING THE DEFINITION OF
6 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; MODIFYING THE MAKEUP OF THE TAXING AGENCY
7 COMMITTEE; ALLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CHOOSE NOT TO LOSE TAX
8 INCREMENT FUNDS; AND MAKING TECHNICAL CHANGES.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 17A-2-1202, as last amended by Chapter 320, Laws of Utah 1995
12 17A-2-1247.5, as last amended by Chapters 21 and 194, Laws of Utah 1999
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 17A-2-1202 is amended to read:
15 17A-2-1202. Definitions.
16 As used in this part:
17 (1) "Agency" means the legislative body of a community when designated by the
18 legislative body itself to act as a redevelopment agency.
19 (2) "Base tax amount" means that portion of taxes that would be produced by the rate upon
20 which the tax is levied each year by or for all taxing agencies upon the total sum of the taxable
21 value of the taxable property in a redevelopment project area as shown upon the assessment roll
22 used in connection with the taxation of the property by the taxing agencies, last equalized before
23 the effective date of the:
24 (a) ordinance approving the plan for projects for which a preliminary plan has been
25 prepared prior to April 1, 1993, and for which all of the following have occurred prior to July 1,

26 1993: the agency blight study has been completed, and a hearing under Section 17A-2-1221 has
27 in good faith been commenced by the agency; or
28 (b) the first approved project area budget for projects for which a preliminary plan has
29 been prepared after April 1, 1993, and for which any of the following have occurred after July 1,
30 1993: the completion of the agency blight study, and the good faith commencement of the hearing
31 by the agency under Section 17A-2-1221 ; and
32 (c) as adjusted by Sections 17A-2-1250.5 , 17A-2-1251 , 17A-2-1252 , and 17A-2-1253 .
33 (3) "Blighted area" or "blight" means:
34 (a) for projects for which a preliminary plan has been prepared prior to April 1, 1993, and
35 for which all of the following have occurred prior to July 1, 1993: the agency blight study has been
36 completed, and a hearing under Section 17A-2-1221 has in good faith been commenced by the
37 agency, an area used or intended to be used for residential, commercial, industrial, or other
38 purposes or any combination of such uses which is characterized by two or more of the following
39 factors:
40 (i) defective design and character of physical construction;
41 (ii) faulty interior arrangement and exterior spacing;
42 (iii) high density of population and overcrowding;
43 (iv) inadequate provision for ventilation, light, sanitation, open spaces, and recreation
44 facilities;
45 (v) age, obsolescence, deterioration, dilapidation, mixed character, or shifting of uses;
46 (vi) economic dislocation, deterioration, or disuse, resulting from faulty planning;
47 (vii) subdividing and sale of lots of irregular form and shape and inadequate size for proper
48 usefulness and development;
49 (viii) laying out of lots in disregard of the contours and other physical characteristics of
50 the ground and surrounding conditions;
51 (ix) existence of inadequate streets, open spaces, and utilities; and
52 (x) existence of lots or other areas which are subject to being submerged by water.
53 (b) For projects for which a preliminary plan has been prepared after April 1, 1993, and
54 for which any of the following have occurred after July 1, 1993: the completion of the agency
55 blight study, and the good faith commencement of the hearing by the agency under Section
56 17A-2-1221 , when a finding of blight is required, an area with buildings or improvements, used

57 or intended to be used for residential, commercial, industrial, or other urban purposes or any
58 combination of these uses, which:
59 (i) contains buildings and improvements, not including out-buildings, on at least 50% of
60 the number of parcels and the area of those parcels is at least 50% of the project area; and
61 (ii) is unfit or unsafe to occupy or may be conducive to ill health, transmission of disease,
62 infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, or crime because of any three or more of the following
63 factors:
64 (A) defective character of physical construction;
65 (B) high density of population and overcrowding;
66 (C) inadequate provision for ventilation, light, sanitation, and open spaces;
67 (D) mixed character and shifting of uses which results in obsolescence, deterioration, or
68 dilapidation;
69 (E) economic deterioration or continued disuse;
70 (F) lots of irregular form and shape and inadequate size for proper usefulness and
71 development, or laying out of lots in disregard of the contours and other physical characteristics
72 of the ground and surrounding conditions;
73 (G) existence of inadequate streets, open spaces, and utilities;
74 (H) existence of lots or other areas which are subject to being submerged by water; and
75 (I) existence of any hazardous or solid waste defined as any substance defined, regulated,
76 or listed as "hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "hazardous wastes," "toxic waste,"
77 "pollutant," "contaminant," or "toxic substances," or identified as hazardous to human health or
78 the environment under state or federal law or regulation.
79 (c) For purposes of Subsection (3)(b), if a developer involved in the project area
80 redevelopment or economic development causes any of the factors of blight listed in Subsection
81 (3)(b)(ii), the developer-caused blight may not be used as one of the three required elements of
82 blight. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any blight caused by owners or tenants who
83 may become developers under the provisions of Section 17A-2-1214 shall not be subject to this
84 Subsection (3)(c).
85 (4) "Bond" means any bonds, notes, interim certificates, debentures, or other obligations
86 issued by an agency.
87 (5) "Community" means a city, county, town, or any combination of these.

88 (6) "Economic development" means:
89 (a) the planning or replanning, design or redesign, development or redevelopment,
90 construction or reconstruction, rehabilitation, business relocation or any combination of these,
91 within all or part of a project area; and
92 (b) (i) the provision of office, industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution,
93 parking, public or other facilities, or improvements as may benefit the state or the community in
94 order for a public or private employer to create additional jobs within the state[.]; or
95 (ii) the provision of high density housing adjacent to a public or private institution of
96 higher education in a city of the first class.
97 (7) "Federal government" means the United States or any of its agencies or
98 instrumentalities.
99 (8) "Legislative body" means the city council, city commission, county legislative body,
100 or other legislative body of the community.
101 (9) "Planning commission" means a city, town, or county planning commission established
102 pursuant to law or charter.
103 (10) "Project area" or "redevelopment project area" means an area of a community within
104 a designated redevelopment survey area, the redevelopment of which is necessary to eliminate
105 blight or provide economic development and which is selected by the redevelopment agency
106 pursuant to this part.
107 (11) "Project area budget" means, for projects for which a preliminary plan has been
108 prepared after April 1, 1993, and for which any of the following have occurred after July 1, 1993:
109 the completion of the agency blight study, and the good faith commencement of the hearing by the
110 agency under Section 17A-2-1221 , a multiyear budget for the redevelopment plan prepared by the
111 redevelopment agency showing:
112 (a) the base year taxable value of the project area;
113 (b) the projected tax increment of the project area, including the amount of any tax
114 increment shared with other taxing districts which shall include:
115 (i) the tax increment expected to be used to implement the redevelopment plan including
116 the estimated amount of tax increment to be used for land acquisition, public, and infrastructure
117 improvements, and loans, grants, or tax incentives to private and public entities; and
118 (ii) the total principal amount of bonds expected to be issued by the redevelopment agency

119 to finance the project;
120 (c) the tax increment expected to be used to cover the cost of administering the project area
121 plan;
122 (d) a legal description for the portion of the project area from which tax increment will be
123 collected pursuant to Section 17A-2-1247.5 , if the area from which tax increment is to be collected
124 is less than the entire project area; and
125 (e) for properties to be sold, the expected total cost of the property to the agency and the
126 expected sales price to be paid by the purchaser.
127 (12) "Public body" means the state, or any city, county, district, authority, or any other
128 subdivision or public body of the state, their agencies, instrumentalities, or political subdivisions.
129 (13) (a) "Redevelopment" means the planning, development, replanning, redesign,
130 clearance, reconstruction, or rehabilitation, or any combination of these, of all or part of a project
131 area, and the provision of residential, commercial, industrial, public, or other structures or spaces
132 that are appropriate or necessary to eliminate blight in the interest of the general welfare, including
133 recreational and other facilities incidental or appurtenant to them.
134 (b) "Redevelopment" includes:
135 (i) the alteration, improvement, modernization, reconstruction, or rehabilitation, or any
136 combination of these, of existing structures in a project area;
137 (ii) provision for open space types of use, such as streets and other public grounds and
138 space around buildings, and public or private buildings, structures and improvements, and
139 improvements of public or private recreation areas and other public grounds; and
140 (iii) the replanning or redesign or original development of undeveloped areas as to which
141 either of the following conditions exist:
142 (A) the areas are stagnant or improperly utilized because of defective or inadequate street
143 layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, shape, accessibility, or usefulness, or for other causes;
144 or
145 (B) the areas require replanning and land assembly for reclamation or development in the
146 interest of the general welfare.
147 (14) "Redevelopment plan" means a plan developed by the agency and adopted by
148 ordinance of the governing body of a community to guide and control redevelopment and
149 economic development undertakings in a specific project area.

150 (15) "Redevelopment survey area" or "survey area" means an area of a community
151 designated by resolution of the legislative body or the governing body of the agency for study by
152 the agency to determine if blight exists if redevelopment is planned, and if a redevelopment or
153 economic development project or projects within the area are feasible.
154 (16) "Taxes" include all levies on an ad valorem basis upon land, real property, personal
155 property, or any other property, tangible or intangible.
156 (17) "Taxing agencies" mean the public entities, including the state, any city, county, city
157 and county, any school district, special district, or other public corporation, which levy property
158 taxes within the project area.
159 (18) "Tax increment" means that portion of the levied taxes each year in excess of the base
160 tax amount which excess amount is to be paid into a special fund of an agency.
161 Section 2. Section 17A-2-1247.5 is amended to read:
162 17A-2-1247.5. Tax increment financing -- Project area budget approval -- Payment
163 of additional tax increment.
164 (1) This section applies to projects for which a preliminary plan has been adopted on or
165 after July 1, 1993.
166 (2) (a) A taxing agency committee shall be created for each redevelopment or economic
167 development project. The committee membership shall be selected as follows:
168 (i) (A) for a project area whose project area budget is adopted before May 1, 2000, two
169 representatives appointed by the school district in the project area; or
170 (B) for a project area whose project area budget is adopted on or after May 1, 2000, two
171 representatives appointed by resolution of the school district in the project area if the school
172 district chooses to appoint representatives to the taxing agency committee;
173 (ii) two representatives appointed by resolution of the county commission or county
174 council for the county in which the project area is located;
175 (iii) two representatives appointed by resolution of the city or town's legislative body in
176 which the project area is located if the project is located within a city or town;
177 (iv) (A) for a project area whose project area budget is adopted before May 1, 2000, a
178 representative approved by the State School Board; or
179 (B) if the school district in the project area chooses to appoint representatives under
180 Subsection (2)(a)(i)(B) for a project area whose project area budget is adopted on or after May 1,

181 2000, a representative approved by the State School Board; and
182 (v) one representative who shall represent all of the remaining governing bodies of the
183 other local taxing agencies that levy taxes upon the property within the proposed project area. The
184 representative shall be selected by resolution of each of the governing bodies of those taxing
185 agencies within 30 days after the notice provided in Subsection 17A-2-1256 (3).
186 (b) If the project is located within a city or town, a quorum of a taxing agency committee
187 consists of five members. If the project is not located within a city or town, a quorum consists of
188 four members.
189 (c) A taxing agency committee formed in accordance with this section has the authority
190 to:
191 (i) represent all taxing entities in a project area and cast votes that will be binding on the
192 governing boards of all taxing entities in a project area;
193 (ii) negotiate with the agency concerning the redevelopment plan;
194 (iii) approve or disapprove project area budgets under Subsection (3); and
195 (iv) approve an exception to the limits on the value and size of project areas imposed by
196 Section 17A-2-1210 , or the time and amount of tax increment financing under this section.
197 (3) (a)(i) If the project area budget does not allocate 20% of the tax increment for housing
198 as provided in Subsection 17A-2-1264 (2)(a):
199 (A) an agency may not collect any tax increment for a project area until after the agency
200 obtains the majority consent of a quorum of the taxing agency committee for the project area
201 budget; and
202 (B) a project area budget adopted under Subsection (3)(a)(i)(A) may be amended if the
203 agency obtains the majority consent of a quorum of the taxing agency committee.
204 (ii) If the project area budget allocates 20% of the tax increment for housing as provided
205 in Subsection 17A-2-1264 (2)(a):
206 (A) an agency may not collect tax increment from all or part of a project area until after:
207 (I) the Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund Board, established under Title 9, Chapter 4, Part
208 7, Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund, has certified the project area budget as complying with the
209 requirements of Section 17A-2-1264 ; and
210 (II) the agency's governing body has approved and adopted the project area budget by a
211 two-thirds vote; and

212 (B) a project area budget adopted under Subsection (3)(a)(ii)(A) may be amended if:
213 (I) the Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund Board, established under Title 9, Chapter 4, Part
214 7, Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund, certifies the amendment as complying with the requirements
215 of Section 17A-2-1264 ; and
216 (II) the agency's governing body approves and adopts the amendment by a two-thirds vote.
217 (b)Within 30 days after the approval and adoption of a project area budget, each agency
218 shall file a copy of the budget with the county auditor, the State Tax Commission, the state auditor,
219 and each property taxing entity affected by the agency's collection of tax increment under the
220 project area budget.
221 (c) (i) Beginning on January 1, 1997, before an amendment to a project area budget is
222 approved, the agency shall advertise and hold one public hearing on the proposed change in the
223 project area budget.
224 (ii) The public hearing under Subsection (3)(c)(i) shall be conducted according to the
225 procedures and requirements of Subsection 17A-2-1222 (2), except that if the amended budget
226 allocates a greater proportion of tax increment to a project area than was allocated to the project
227 area under the previous budget, the advertisement shall state the percentage allocated under the
228 previous budget and the percentage allocated under the amended budget.
229 (d) If an amendment is not approved, the agency shall continue to operate under the
230 previously approved, unamended project area budget.
231 (4) (a) [An] Except as provided in Subsections (6) and (8), an agency may collect tax
232 increment from all or a part of a project area. The tax increment shall be paid to the agency in the
233 same manner and at the same time as payments of taxes to other taxing agencies to pay the
234 principal of and interest on loans, moneys advanced to, or indebtedness, whether funded, refunded,
235 assumed, or otherwise, to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, the redevelopment or economic
236 development project and the housing projects and programs under Sections 17A-2-1263 and
237 17A-2-1264 .
238 (b) (i) An agency may elect to be paid:
239 (A) if 20% of the project area budget is not allocated for housing as provided in Subsection
240 17A-2-1264 (2)(a):
241 (I) 100% of annual tax increment for 12 years; or
242 (II) 75% of annual tax increment for 20 years; or

243 (B) if 20% of the project area budget is allocated for housing as provided in Subsection
244 17A-2-1264 (2)(a):
245 (I) 100% of annual tax increment for 15 years; or
246 (II) 75% of annual tax increment for 24 years.
247 (ii) Tax increment paid to an agency under this Subsection (4)(b) shall be paid for the
248 applicable length of time beginning the first tax year the agency accepts tax increment from a
249 project area.
250 (c) An agency may receive a greater percentage of tax increment or receive tax increment
251 for a longer period of time than that specified in Subsection (4)(b) if the agency obtains the
252 majority consent of the taxing agency committee.
253 (5) (a) The redevelopment plan shall provide that the portion of the taxes, if any, due to
254 an increase in the tax rate by a taxing agency after the date the project area budget is approved by
255 the taxing agency committee may not be allocated to and when collected paid into a special fund
256 of the redevelopment agency according to the provisions of Subsection (4) unless the taxing
257 agency committee approves the inclusion of the increase in the tax rate at the time the project area
258 budget is approved. If approval of the inclusion of the increase in the tax rate is not obtained, the
259 portion of the taxes attributable to the increase in the rate shall be distributed by the county to the
260 taxing agency imposing the tax rate increase in the same manner as other property taxes.
261 (b) The amount of the tax rate to be used in determining tax increment shall be increased
262 or decreased by the amount of an increase or decrease as a result of:
263 (i) a statute enacted by the Legislature, a judicial decision, or an order from the State Tax
264 Commission to a county to adjust or factor its assessment rate under Subsection 59-2-704 (2);
265 (ii) a change in exemption provided in Utah Constitution Article XIII, Section 2, or Section
266 59-2-103 ;
267 (iii) an increase or decrease in the percentage of fair market value, as defined under
268 Section 59-2-102 ; or
269 (iv) a decrease in the certified tax rate under Subsection 59-2-924 (2)(c) or (2)(d)(i).
270 (c) (i) Notwithstanding the increase or decrease resulting from Subsection (5)(b), the
271 amount of money allocated to, and when collected paid to the agency each year for payment of
272 bonds or other indebtedness may not be less than would have been allocated to and when collected
273 paid to the agency each year if there had been no increase or decrease under Subsection (5)(b).

274 (ii) For a decrease resulting from Subsection (5)(b)(iv), the taxable value for the base year
275 under Subsection 17A-2-1202 (2) or 17A-2-1247 (2)(a), as the case may be, shall be reduced for any
276 year to the extent necessary, including below zero, to provide an agency with approximately the
277 same amount of money the agency would have received without a reduction in the county's
278 certified tax rate if:
279 (A) in that year there is a decrease in the certified tax rate under Subsection 59-2-924 (2)(c)
280 or (2)(d)(i);
281 (B) the amount of the decrease is more than 20% of the county's certified tax rate of the
282 previous year; and
283 (C) the decrease results in a reduction of the amount to be paid to the agency under Section
284 17A-2-1247 or 17A-2-1247.5 .
285 (6) (a) For redevelopment plans first adopted before May 4, 1993, beginning January 1,
286 1994, all of the taxes levied and collected upon the taxable property in the redevelopment project
287 under Section 59-2-906.1 which are not pledged to support bond indebtedness and other
288 contractual obligations are exempt from the provisions of Subsection (4).
289 (b) For redevelopment plans first adopted after May 3, 1993, beginning January 1, 1994,
290 all of the taxes levied and collected upon the taxable property in the redevelopment project under
291 Section 59-2-906.1 are exempt from the provisions of Subsection (4).
292 (7) (a) In addition to the amounts and periods that an agency may elect to be paid tax
293 increment under Subsection (4)(b), an agency may elect to be paid 100% of annual tax increment
294 for an additional period, as provided in Subsection (7)(b), beyond those periods provided under
295 Subsection (4)(b), without the approval of the taxing agency committee, if the tax increment
296 funding for the additional period is used:
297 (i) for an agency in a city in which is located all or a portion of an interchange on I-15 or
298 that would directly benefit from an interchange on I-15, to pay some or all of the cost of the
299 installation, construction, or reconstruction of:
300 (A) an interchange on I-15; or
301 (B) frontage and other roads connecting to the interchange, as determined by the
302 Department of Transportation created under Section 72-1-201 and the Transportation Commission
303 created under Section 72-1-301 ; or
304 (ii) for an agency in a city of the first class, to pay some or all of the cost of the land for

305 and installation and construction of a recreational facility, as defined in Subsection 59-12-702 (3),
306 or a cultural facility, including parking and infrastructure improvements related to the recreational
307 or cultural facility.
308 (b) The additional period for which an agency may be paid 100% of annual tax increment
309 under Subsection (7)(a) is an additional:
310 (i) 13 years, for an agency that initially elected to be paid under Subsection (4)(b)(i)(A)(I);
311 (ii) five years, for an agency that initially elected to be paid under Subsection
312 (4)(b)(i)(A)(II);
313 (iii) ten years, for an agency that initially elected to be paid under Subsection
314 (4)(b)(i)(B)(I); and
315 (iv) one year, for an agency that initially elected to be paid under Subsection
316 (4)(b)(i)(B)(II).
317 (c) This Subsection (7) applies only to an agency established by a city in which:
318 (i) for an agency in a city in which is located all or a portion of an interchange on I-15 or
319 that would directly benefit from an interchange on I-15, the installation, construction, or
320 reconstruction of an interchange on I-15 or frontage or other roads connecting to the interchange
321 has begun on or before June 30, 2000; and
322 (ii) for an agency in a city of the first class, the installation or construction of a recreational
323 facility, as defined in Subsection 59-12-702 (3), or a cultural facility has begun on or before June
324 30, 2000.
325 (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subsection (7), a school district may not
326 receive less tax increment because of application of the other provisions of this Subsection (7) than
327 it would have received without those provisions.
328 (8) For a project area whose project area budget is adopted on or after May 1, 2000, all of
329 the taxes levied and collected upon taxable property in the redevelopment project by a school
330 district are exempt from the provisions of Subsection (4) if the school district chooses under
331 Subsection (2)(a)(i)(B) not to appoint representatives to the taxing agency committee.