[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 1]
The Property Tax Rebate Program shall be established and called
the "Shop Newark Property Tax Rebate Program".
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 2]
The Property Tax Reward Program will be administered by a vendor
to coordinate the program. The vendor shall be responsible to register
interested businesses and patrons and market the program.
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 3]
The vendor will be responsible for the following:
a. Program Promotion:
1. Design Property Tax Reward Cards in accordance with the City's design
specifications for program registration and distribution to participants;
and
2. Assist in production of marketing program; and
3. Attend meetings with the Association/City including program kick
off with local businesses.
b. Entering into agreements with merchants and establishing all terms
including but not limited to:
4. Percentage of transaction credit to Consumer; and
5. Incorporate language indicating voluntary nature of program and legal
indemnification language provided by City.
c. Design and host web portal to register and enter into agreements
with consumers establishing all terms including but not limited to:
1. Percentage of transaction credit to consumer;
2. Timing of posting of credits (annually);
3. Develop reposts to reconcile to the City's tax system;
4. Policy regarding data privacy and sharing of information for marketing
purposes;
5. Specific limits and restrictions relative to program participation;
(a)
A taxpayer must be current on his/her property tax bill in order
to participate;
(b)
No refunds will be issued. Credits on accounts that are current
will result in prepayments of property taxes for future periods;
(d)
Not responsible for impact of program participation on mortgage
escrow calculations;
(e)
Not responsible for any changes in property ownership.;
(f)
Participants cannot be in bankruptcy, third party liens or municipal
liens; and
(g)
Post language indicating voluntary nature of program and legal
indemnification language provided by the City, if any.
d. Provide consumers with on-line reporting capabilities.
e. Establish FDIC insured dedicated bank account(s) for the Shop Newark
program. No funds for any other program or purpose shall be co-mingled.
A copy of the statement for such accounts shall be provided to the
City upon request.
f. Receive annual file of delinquent tax payers, from the Tax Collector.
Generate an annual download file in accordance with City specifications,
including necessary flags and filters to ensure that delinquent accounts
are rejected. The file shall be transmitted to the City on or about
June 1, 2017, so that adjustments can be reflected in the third quarter
billing of the annual tax bill.
g. Initiate an annual wire transfer to City-specified account. The amount
of the wire transfer must equal the total dollar amount of valid transactions
to be posted to Consumer accounts.
h. Coordinate with the City to give authorized personnel ability to
review/accept/reject annual downloads prior to generating wire transfer.
i. Provide transaction and account reconciliation reporting capabilities
in accordance with City specifications.
j. Provide customer service support Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.
to 6:00 p.m. EST for merchants, consumers and city.
k. All programming and system implementation costs to ensure process
automation and compliance with all relevant State and Local laws,
rules and regulations.
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 4]
a. The Department of Economic and Housing Development and/or designee
will provide dedicated bank account information for annual wire transfer.
b. The Department of Economic and Housing Development and/or designee
will provide software merchant contact information to facilitate program
implementation.
c. The Department of Economic and Housing Development and/or designee
will provide access to staffing resources for program testing.
d. The Department of Economic and Housing Development and/or designee
will acquire and distribute reward cards and window clings.
e. The Department of Economic and Housing Development and/or designee
will provide ongoing program marketing and promotion.
f. The Department of Economic and Housing Development and/or designee
will update Administrator regarding any known changes in status of
participating merchants.
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 5]
The Mayor and/or Deputy Mayor/Director of the Department of
Economic and Housing Development and the Director of Finance of the
City are each hereby authorized to execute any documents necessary
to implement the program.
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 6]
The Director of Finance will prepare the Dedication of Rider
Resolution and establish the necessary Trust Fund for the rebated
funds. The vendor will deposit 70% of the rebate funds into the established
Trust Fund.
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 7]
The maximum fee that the vendor can collect for managing the
program is 30% of the rewards granted by merchants to consumers.
[Ord. 6 PSF-C, 12-21-2016 § 8]
The City shall establish the necessary reporting requirements
for any payment of taxes made to the City by the vendor. The City
shall not be responsible for any impact of program participation on
mortgage escrow calculations. The City shall not be responsible for
any changes in property ownership.