[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Shamong 3-8-2016 by Ord. No.
2016-3. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Committee hereby determines to utilize the authority granted
under Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph 6, of the New Jersey Constitution
to establish the eligibility of residential dwellings, multiple dwellings,
condominiums and cooperatives, commercial and industrial structures
for exemptions and abatements permitted by P.L. 1991, c. 441 (See
N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq.), throughout areas designated, or to be
designated, as in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation.
This chapter authorizes, but does not require, the Township
of Shamong to grant exemptions and abatements to commence and take
effect in the 2016 tax year and thereafter.
The Township Committee is hereby authorized, at its discretion,
to enter into tax agreements for an exemption and abatement from taxation
of new construction of commercial structures, industrial structures
and multiple dwellings located within areas designated in need of
redevelopment by the Planning Board in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1
et seq., the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, and other New Jersey
statutes.
Applicants for tax exemption and abatement for a new construction of commercial structures, industrial structures and multiple dwellings pursuant to § 152-3 of this chapter shall provide the Township Committee with an application setting forth certain information. A copy of the application will be available and on file with the Township Clerk's office.
A.
A general description of a project for which exemption and abatement
is sought.
B.
A legal description of all real estate necessary for the project.
C.
Plans, drawings and other documents as may be required by the governing
body to demonstrate the structure and design of the project.
D.
A description of the number, classes and type of employees to be
employed at the project site within two years of completion of the
project.
E.
A statement of the reasons for seeking tax exemption and abatement
on the project and a description of the benefits to be realized by
the applicant, if a tax agreement is granted.
F.
Estimates of the cost of completing such project.
G.
A statement showing:
(1)
The real property taxes currently being assessed at the project site;
(2)
Estimated tax payments that would be made annually by the applicant
on the project during the period of the agreement; and
(3)
Estimated tax payments that would be made by the applicant on the
project during the first full year following the termination of the
tax agreement.
H.
If the project is a commercial or industrial structure, a description
of any lease agreement between the applicant and proposed users of
the project and a history and description of the user's businesses.
I.
If the project is a multiple dwelling, a description of the number
and types of dwelling units to be provided, a description of the common
elements or general common elements, and a statement of the proposed
initial rentals or sales prices of the dwelling units according to
type and of any rental lease or resale restrictions to apply to the
dwelling units respecting low- or moderate-income housing.
J.
Such other pertinent information as the governing body may require
on a case-to-case basis.
The governing body of the Township of Shamong may enter into
a written agreement with an applicant for the exemption and abatement
of local property taxes. The agreement shall provide for the applicant
to pay the municipality in lieu of full property taxes an amount annually
to be computed by one, but in no case a combination, of the following
formulas authorized by N.J.S.A. 40A:21-10:
A.
Cost basis. The agreement may provide for the applicant to pay to
the municipality in lieu of full property tax payments an amount equal
to 2% of the cost of the project or improvement. For the purposes
of the agreement, "the cost of the project" means only the cost or
fair market value of direct labor and all materials used in the construction,
expansion or redevelopment of all buildings, structures and facilities
at the project site, including the costs, if any, of land acquisition
and land preparation, provision of access roads, utilities, drainage
facilities and parking facilities, together with architectural, engineering,
legal surveying, testing and contractors' fees associated with
the project, which the applicant shall cause to be certified and verified
to the governing body by an independent and qualified architect following
the completion of the project.
B.
Gross revenue basis. The agreement may provide for the applicant
to pay to the municipality in lieu of full property tax payments an
amount annually equal to 5% of the annual gross revenues from the
project. For the purposes of the agreement, "annual gross revenues"
means the total annual gross rental and other income payable to the
owner of the project from the project. If, in any leasing, any real
estate taxes or assessments on property included in the project, any
premiums for fire or other insurance on or concerning property included
in the project, or any operating or maintenance expenses ordinarily
paid by the landlord are to be paid by the tenant, then those payments
shall be computed and deemed to be part of the rent and shall be included
in the annual gross revenue. The tax agreement shall establish the
method of computing the revenues and may establish a method of arbitration
by which either the landlord or tenant may dispute the amount of payments
so included in the annual gross revenue.
C.
Tax phase-in basis. The agreement may provide for the applicant to
pay to the municipality in lieu of full property tax payments an amount
equal to a percentage of taxes otherwise due, according to the following
schedule:
(1)
In the first full tax year after completion, the Committee may authorize
no payment in lieu of taxes otherwise due.
(2)
In the second tax year, an amount not less than 20% of taxes otherwise
due.
(3)
In the third tax year, an amount not less than 40% of taxes otherwise
due.
(4)
In the fourth tax year, an amount not less than 60% of taxes otherwise
due.
(5)
In the fifth tax year, an amount not less than 80% of taxes otherwise
due.
The following procedure shall be applied to applications for
exemption and abatement:
A.
The Assessor shall determine on October 1 of the year following the
date of the completion of an improvement, conversion or construction
the true taxable value thereof.
B.
All tax agreements entered into pursuant to this chapter shall be
in effect for no more than the five full tax years next following
the date of completion of the project. This chapter shall not preclude
the governing body from entering into a financial agreement for a
tax exemption and/or abatement pursuant to the Long-Term Tax Exemption
Law or any other statute authorizing a tax exemption and/or abatement
for a period longer than five years.
C.
As a condition to granting an exemption or abatement, a property
owner shall be required to waive the filing of any tax appeal for
the subject property for the life of the exemption/abatement.
The Township Clerk, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:21-11, shall forward
a copy of all tax agreements entered into pursuant to this chapter
to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the
Department of Community Affairs within 30 days of the date of execution.
If, during any tax year prior to the termination of the tax
agreement, the property owner ceases to operate or disposes of the
property, or fails to meet the conditions for qualifying for the abatement,
the local property taxes due for all the prior years subject to abatement
and for the current year shall be payable as if no exemption or abatement
has been granted. The Tax Collector of the Township of Shamong shall
notify the property owner within 15 days of the date of disqualification
of the amount of taxes due. In the event that the subject property
has been transferred to a new owner, and it is determined that the
new owner will continue to use the property pursuant to the qualifying
conditions, no tax shall be due; the exemption and abatement shall
continue and the agreement shall remain in effect.
The Township of Shamong hereby determines that an additional
improvement, conversion or construction completed on a property already
granted a previous exemption or abatement pursuant to this chapter
during the period in which the previous exemption or abatement is
in effect may qualify for an additional exemption or abatement. The
additional improvement, conversion or construction may be considered
as separate for purposes of calculating the exemption and abatement,
except that the assessed value of any previous improvement, conversion
or construction may be added to the assessed valuation as it was prior
to that improvement, conversion or construction for the purpose of
determining the assessed value of the property for which any additional
abatement is to be subtracted. Any additional exemption or abatement
must be reviewed and approved by the Township Committee.
No exemption or abatement shall be granted or tax agreement
entered into pursuant to this chapter for any property for which property
taxes and/or other municipal charges are delinquent or remain unpaid,
or for which penalties for nonpayment of taxes are due. As a condition
to granting an exemption or abatement, a property owner shall be required
to waive the filing of any tax appeal for the subject property for
the life of the exemption/abatement.
No exemption or abatement shall be granted pursuant to this
chapter except upon written application therefor filed with the Tax
Assessor. Every application shall be on the form available in the
Township Clerk's office and shall be filed with the Assessor
within 30 days, including Saturdays and Sundays, following the completion
of the improvements, conversion, alteration or construction.
At the termination of an agreement for tax abatement or exemption
authorized pursuant to this chapter, the project shall be subject
to all applicable real property taxes, as provided by state laws and
regulations and local ordinances, provided that nothing herein shall
be deemed to prohibit the project or improvement at the termination
of the agreement for tax exemption or abatement from qualifying for
and receiving the full benefits of any other tax preference provided
by law.
Every application for exemption, or exemption and abatement, within a municipality adopting the provisions of this act, which is filed within the time specified, shall be approved and allowed by the Assessor to the degree that the application is consistent with the tax agreement executed by Township Committee in accordance with § 152-5 hereof. The granting of an exemption, or exemption and abatement, or tax agreement shall be recorded and made a permanent part of the official tax records of the taxing district, which record shall contain a notice of the termination date thereof.
The exemption and abatement of real property taxes provided
by the Township pursuant to this chapter shall apply to property taxes
levied for municipal purposes, school purposes, county government
purposes and for the purpose of funding any other property tax exemptions
or abatements.
In order to qualify for the abatement or exemption set forth
herein, the underlying improvement must be equal to or greater than
$0.
