[Adopted 3-14-1977 by Ord. No. 77-003; amended in its entirety 7-6-2021 by Ord. No. 21-006]
The terms used in this article shall have the same meaning given to them in Act 57 of 2018 or as hereafter provided in this section, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. As used in this article:
ACT 57
Act 57 of the Public Acts of 2018, as amended.
AUTHORITY
The Monroe Downtown Development Authority established by this article.
BOARD and BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Authority, the governing body of the Authority.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Mayor.
CITY
The City of Monroe, Michigan.
COUNCIL and CITY COUNCIL
The City Council of Monroe.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT TAX
The tax authorized by this article pursuant to Act 57 to be imposed by the Authority in the downtown area.
DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
The Downtown District referred to in this article as now existing or hereafter amended.
The City Council hereby determines that it is necessary for the best interests of the City to halt property value deterioration and increase property tax valuation where possible in the business district of the City, to eliminate the causes of that deterioration and to promote economic growth by establishing a Downtown Development Authority pursuant to Act 57.
There is hereby established, pursuant to Act 57, a Downtown Development Authority in and for the City. The Authority shall be a public body corporate and shall be known and exercise its powers under the title of "Monroe Downtown Development Authority." The Authority may adopt a seal, may sue and be sued in any court of this state and shall possess all of the powers necessary to carry out the purposes of its incorporation as provided in this article and Act 57. The enumeration of a power in this article or in Act 57 shall not be construed as a limitation upon the general powers of the Authority.
The Authority shall be under supervision and control of a Board of Directors consisting of the chief executive officer of the City and not less than eight nor more than 12 members as provided in Act 57. The members shall be appointed by the chief executive officer subject to approval by the Council and shall hold office for the terms provided in Act 57. Every member shall hold office until the member's successor is appointed.
Except as specifically otherwise provided in this article, the Authority shall have all powers provided by law subject to the limitations established by law and herein contained.
A. 
The fiscal year of the Authority shall begin on July 1 of each year and end on June 30 of the following year, or such other fiscal year as may hereafter be adopted by the City.
B. 
The Board of Directors shall annually prepare a budget and shall submit it to the Council on the same date that the proposed budget for the City is required by the City Charter to be submitted to the Council. The Board shall not finally adopt a budget for any fiscal year until the budget has been approved by the City Council. The Board may, however, temporarily adopt a budget in connection with the operation of any improvements which have been financed by revenue bonds where required to do so by the ordinance authorizing the revenue bonds.
C. 
The Authority shall submit financial reports to the Council at the same time and on the same basis as departments of the City are required to submit reports. The Authority shall be audited annually by the same independent auditors auditing the City, and copies of the audit report shall be filed with the Council.
A. 
The Authority is hereby authorized by the City to impose an ad valorem tax on all taxable property in the Downtown District for the purposes provided in Act 57. The tax shall not exceed two mills on the value of taxable property in the Downtown District as finally equalized.
B. 
In order to impose the tax, the Board of Directors shall include in its budget each year an estimate of the amount necessary to be raised from the downtown development tax. The amount of tax imposed shall not exceed the amount necessary as estimated in the budget and approved by the City Council. The Board shall certify to the proper tax assessing official of the City the amount so determined in the same manner and at the same time as general City taxes are certified for collection.
C. 
The City shall collect the downtown development tax at the same time and in the same manner as other City taxes are collected. The tax shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Authority and credited to the general fund of the Authority for the purposes provided in Act 57.