[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Medford 6-13-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-8. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Council 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:21-1et seq.), throughout areas designated, or to be designated, as in need of redevelopment.
This article authorizes, but does not require, the Township of Medford to grant exemptions and abatements to commence and take effect in the 2007 tax year and thereafter.
[Amended 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]
The Township Council is hereby authorized, at its discretion, to enter into tax agreements for an exemption and/or abatement from taxation of new construction and improvements of commercial structures, industrial structures, dwellings and multiple dwellings located within areas designated in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation 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.
[Added 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]
A. 
Exemptions for improvements to dwellings. Within a designated area for rehabilitation, the Tax Assessor, upon the timely receipt of the property application (pursuant to § 131-4) for a property more than 20 years old, and verification of the information contained therein, shall, in determining the value of the real property, regard the first $25,000 of true value or the improvement as not increasing the taxable value of the property for a period of five years. Certain housing improvements to accommodate disabled persons shall also qualify for tax exemption under this section, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:21-6.2.
B. 
Exemptions for improvements to multiple dwellings, mixed use, commercial and industrial structures. Within a designated area for rehabilitation, improvements to multiple dwellings, mixed use, commercial and industrial structures are eligible for tax exemption for a period of five years commencing with the completion of an improvement. The Assessor's full and true value of the improvements shall be regarded as not increasing the value of the property notwithstanding that the value of the property to which the improvement is made is increased thereby. During the exemption period, the assessment on the property shall not he less than the assessment existing thereon immediately prior to the improvements, unless there is damage to the structure through action or the elements sufficient to warrant a reduction.
Applicants for tax exemption and abatement for a new construction of commercial structures, industrial structures and multiple dwellings pursuant to § 131-3 of this chapter shall provide the Township Council with an application setting forth certain information. A copy of the application is attached hereto as Exhibit A.[1]
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 dwellings' units respecting low- or moderate-income housing;
J. 
A cost benefit analysis, if requested by the Township Manager, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Township Council that the granting of tax abatement will, on balance, promote commerce and the generation of future tax ratables for Medford Township.
[Amended 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said application is on file in the Township's offices.
The governing body of the Township of Medford 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 Council 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 Medford 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 Medford 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 Council.
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.
[Amended 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]
No exemption or abatement shall be granted or tax agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter except upon written application therefor filed with the Tax Assessor. Every application shall be on the form on file in the Township's offices and shall be filed with the Assessor before the commencement of the construction project for 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 Council in accordance with § 131-5 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.
[Added 8-6-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-11]
Except upon application and a showing by the property owner of convening circumstances to the Township Council, no renewal of exemption or abatement shall be granted at the conclusion of the five-year exemption/abatement term.