2008 Minnesota Statutes

469.169 SELECTION OF ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Subdivision 1.Submission of applications.

By August 31 of each year, a municipality seeking designation of an area as an enterprise zone shall submit an application to the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish procedures and forms for the submission of applications for enterprise zone designation.

Subd. 2.Applications; contents.

The applications for designation as an enterprise zone shall contain, at a minimum:

(1) verification that the area is eligible for designation pursuant to section 469.168;

(2) a development plan, outlining the types of investment and development within the zone that the municipality expects to take place if the incentives and tax reductions specified under clauses (4) and (5) are provided, the specific investment or development reasonably expected to take place, any commitments obtained from businesses, the projected number of jobs that will be created, the anticipated wage level of those jobs, and any proposed targeting of the jobs created, including affirmative action plans if any. This clause does not apply to an application for designation as a border city zone;

(3) the municipality's proposed means of assessing the effectiveness of the development plan or other programs to be implemented within the zone once they have been implemented;

(4) the specific form of tax reductions, authorized by section 469.171, subdivision 1, proposed to be granted to businesses, the duration of the tax reductions, an estimate of the total state taxes likely to be forgone as a result, and a statement of the relationship between the proposed tax reductions and the type of investment or development sought or expected to be attracted to or maintained in the area if it is designated as a zone;

(5) the municipality's contribution to the zone as required by subdivision 5;

(6) any additional information required by the commissioner; and

(7) any additional information that the municipality considers relevant to the designation of the area as an enterprise zone.

Subd. 3.Evaluation of applications.

The commissioner shall review and evaluate the applications submitted pursuant to subdivision 2 and shall determine whether each area is eligible for designation as an enterprise zone. In determining whether an area is eligible under section 469.168, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), if unemployment, employment, income, or other necessary data are not available for the area from the federal departments of labor or commerce or the state demographer, the commissioner may rely upon other data submitted by the municipality if the commissioner determines it is statistically reliable or accurate. The commissioner, together with the commissioner of revenue, shall prepare an estimate of the amount of state tax revenue which will be foregone for each application if the area is designated as a zone.

By October 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit to the Legislative Advisory Commission a list of the areas eligible for designation as enterprise zones, along with recommendations for designation and supporting documentation. In making recommendations for designation, the commissioner shall consider and evaluate the applications pursuant to the following criteria:

(1) the pervasiveness of poverty, unemployment, and general distress in the area;

(2) the extent of chronic abandonment, deterioration, or reduction in value of commercial, industrial, or residential structures in the area and the extent of property tax arrearages in the area;

(3) the prospects for new investment and economic development in the area with the tax reductions proposed in the application relative to the state and local tax revenue which would be foregone;

(4) the competing needs of other areas of the state;

(5) the municipality's proposed use of other state and federal development funds or programs to increase the probability of new investment and development occurring;

(6) the extent to which the projected development in the zone will provide employment to residents of the economic hardship area, and particularly individuals who are unemployed or who are economically disadvantaged as defined in the federal Job Training Partnership Act of 1982, Volume 96, Statutes at Large, page 1322;

(7) the funds available pursuant to subdivision 7; and

(8) other relevant factors that the commissioner specifies in the commissioner's recommendations.

The commissioner shall submit a separate list of the areas entitled to designation as federally designated zones and border city zones along with recommendations for the amount of funds to be allocated to each area.

Subd. 4.LAC recommendations.

By October 15, the Legislative Advisory Commission shall submit to the commissioner its advisory recommendations regarding the designation of enterprise zones. By October 30 of each year the commissioner shall make the final designation of the areas as enterprise zones, pursuant to section 469.167, subdivision 1. In making the designation, the commissioner may make modifications in the design of or limitations on the tax reductions contained in the application necessary because of the funding limitations under subdivision 7.

Subd. 5.Local contribution.

No area may be designated as an enterprise zone unless the municipality agrees to make a qualifying local contribution in the form of a property tax reduction for employment property as provided by section 469.170 for any business qualifying for a state tax reduction pursuant to this section. A qualifying local contribution may in the alternative be a local contribution or investment out of other municipal funds, but excluding any special federal grants or loans, equivalent to the property tax reduction. In concluding the agreement with the municipality the commissioner may require that the local contribution will be made in a specified ratio to the amount of the state credits authorized. If the local contribution is to be used to fund additional reductions in state taxes, the commissioner and the governing body of the municipality shall enter an agreement for timely payment to the state to reimburse the state for the amount of tax revenue foregone as a result. The qualifying local contribution for development within the portion of an enterprise zone that is located in a town that has been added by boundary amendment to an enterprise zone that is located within five municipalities and was designated in 1984 shall be provided by the town.

Subd. 6.Limitations; number of designations.

(a) In each of the years 1983 and 1984, the commissioner shall designate at least two but not more than five areas as enterprise zones. No designations shall be made after December 31, 1984.

(b) No more than one area may be designated as an enterprise zone in any county, except that two areas may be designated in a county containing a city of the first class.

(c) No more than two areas in a congressional district may be designated as an enterprise zone in 1984.

This subdivision shall not apply to federally designated zones or border city zones.

Subd. 7.Funding limitations.

The maximum amount of the tax reductions which may be authorized pursuant to designations of enterprise zones is $36,400,000. The maximum amount of this total that may be authorized by the commissioner for tax reductions pursuant to section 469.171, subdivision 1, that will reduce tax revenues which otherwise would have been received during fiscal years 1984 and 1985 is $9,000,000. Of the total limitation and the 1984-1985 biennial limitation the commissioner shall allocate to border city zones an amount equal to $16,610,940 and $5,000,000 respectively. These funds shall be allocated among such zones on a per capita basis except that the maximum allocation to any one city is $6,610,940 and no city's allocation shall exceed $210 on a per capita basis. An amount sufficient to fund the state-funded property tax credits, the refundable income tax credits, and the sales tax exemption, as authorized pursuant to this section is appropriated to the commissioner of revenue. Upon designation of an enterprise zone the commissioner shall certify the total amount available for tax reductions in the zone for its duration. The amount certified shall reduce the amount available for tax reductions in other enterprise zones. If subsequent estimates indicate or actual experience shows that the approved tax reductions will result in amounts of tax reductions in excess of the amount certified for the zone, the commissioner shall implement a plan to reduce the available tax reductions in the zone to an amount within the sum certified for the zone. If subsequent estimates indicate or actual experience shows that the approved tax reductions will result in amounts of tax reductions below the amount certified, the difference shall be available for certification in other zones or used in connection with an amended plan of tax reductions for the zone as the commissioner determines appropriate. If the tax reductions authorized result in reduced revenues for a dedicated fund, the commissioner of finance shall transfer equivalent amounts to the dedicated fund from the general fund as necessary. Of the $36,400,000 in tax reductions authorized under this subdivision, an additional $800,000 in tax reductions may be authorized within an enterprise zone located within five municipalities that was designated by the commissioner in 1984.

Subd. 8.Additional enterprise zone allocations.

(a) In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivision 7, the commissioner may allocate $600,000 for tax reductions pursuant to section 469.171, subdivisions 1 to 8, to hardship area zones or border city zones. Of this amount, a minimum of $200,000 must be allocated to an area added to an enterprise zone pursuant to Laws 1986, chapter 465, article 2, section 3. Allocations made pursuant to this subdivision may not be used to reduce a tax liability, or increase a tax refund, prior to July 1, 1987. Limits on the maximum allocation to a zone imposed by subdivision 7 do not apply to allocations made under this subdivision.

(b) A city encompassing an enterprise zone, or portion of an enterprise zone, qualifies for an additional allocation under this subdivision if the following requirements are met:

(1) the city encompassing an enterprise zone, or portion of an enterprise zone, has signed contracts with qualifying businesses that commit the city's total initial allocation received pursuant to subdivision 7; and

(2) the city encompassing an enterprise zone, or portion of an enterprise zone, submits an application to the commissioner requesting an additional allocation for tax reductions authorized by section 469.171, subdivisions 1 to 8. The application must identify a specific business expansion project which would not take place but for the availability of enterprise zone tax incentives.

(c) The commissioner shall use the following criteria when determining which qualifying cities shall receive an additional allocation under this subdivision and the amount of the additional allocation the city is to receive:

(1) additional allocations to qualifying cities under this subdivision shall be made within 60 days of receipt of an application;

(2) applications from cities with the highest level of economic distress, as determined using criteria listed in section 469.168, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5), shall receive priority for an additional allocation under this subdivision;

(3) if the commissioner determines that two cities submitting applications within one week of each other have equal levels of economic distress, the application from the city with the business prospect which will have the greatest positive economic impact shall receive priority for an additional allocation. Criteria used by the commissioner to determine the potential economic impact a business would have shall include the number of jobs created and retained, the amount of private investment which will be made by the business, and the extent to which the business would help alleviate the economic distress in the immediate community; and

(4) the commissioner shall determine the amount of any additional allocation a city may receive. The commissioner shall base the amount of additional allocations on the commissioner's determination of the amount of tax incentives which are necessary to ensure the business prospect will expand in the city. No single allocation under this subdivision may exceed $100,000. No city may receive more than $250,000 under this subdivision.

Subd. 9.Additional border city allocations.

In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 and 8, the commissioner may allocate $1,100,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state, and $300,000 to the border city enterprise zone in the city of Duluth. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border by evaluating which cities' applications for allocations relate to business prospects that have the greatest positive economic impact. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Limitations on allocations under section 469.169, subdivision 7, do not apply to this allocation.

Subd. 10.Additional border city allocations.

In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7, 8, and 9, the commissioner may allocate $1,500,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Limitations on allocations under section 469.169, subdivision 7, do not apply to this allocation.

Subd. 11.Additional border city allocations.

In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 10, the commissioner may allocate $1,500,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Limitations on allocations under section 469.169, subdivision 7, do not apply to this allocation.

Subd. 12.Additional zone allocations.

(a) In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 11, the commissioner shall allocate tax reductions to border city enterprise zones located on the western border of the state. The cumulative total amount of tax reductions for all years of the program under sections 469.1731 to 469.1735, is limited to:

(1) for the city of Breckenridge, $394,000;

(2) for the city of Dilworth, $118,200;

(3) for the city of East Grand Forks, $788,000;

(4) for the city of Moorhead, $591,000; and

(5) for the city of Ortonville, $78,800.

Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions provided in section 469.1732 or 469.1734 or for reimbursements under section 469.1735, subdivision 3, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary to enable a business to expand within a city or to attract a business to a city. Limitations on allocations under subdivision 7 do not apply to this allocation.

(b) The limit in the allocation in paragraph (a) for a municipality may be waived by the commissioner if the commissioner of revenue finds that the municipality must provide an incentive under section 469.1732 or 469.1734 that, by itself or when aggregated with all other tax reductions granted by the municipality under those provisions, exceeds the municipality's maximum allocation under paragraph (a), in order to obtain or retain a business in the city that would not occur in the municipality without the incentive. The limit may be waived only if the commissioner finds that the business for which the tax incentives are to be provided:

(1) requires a private capital investment of at least $1,000,000 within the city;

(2) employs at least 25 new or additional full-time equivalent employees within the city; and

(3) pays its employees at the location in the city wages that, on the average, will exceed the average wage paid in the county in which the municipality is located.

Subd. 13.Additional enterprise zone allocations.

In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 11, the commissioner may allocate $500,000 for tax reductions pursuant to enterprise zone designations, as designated in Laws 1997, chapter 231, article 16, section 26. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the enterprise zone. Limitations on allocations under subdivision 7 do not apply to this allocation.

Subd. 14.Additional border city allocations.

In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 12, the commissioner may allocate $1,500,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Limitations on allocations under subdivision 7, do not apply to this allocation.

Subd. 15.Additional border city allocations.

In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 14, the commissioner shall allocate $1,500,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or for other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Any portion of the allocation provided in this section may alternatively be used for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734. If, at the end of the biennium, the total amount allowable under this section has not been expended, a city that has expended its allocation may submit a request for an additional allocation for qualifying reductions from the amount remaining. If more than one city exceeds their allocation and the additional qualifying amounts exceed the balance remaining, the commissioner shall allocate the amount remaining to each qualifying city in proportion to its request for additional allocation. Limitations on allocations under subdivision 7 do not apply to this allocation.

Subd. 16.Additional border city allocations.

(a) In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 15, the commissioner shall allocate $750,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or for other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Any portion of the allocation provided in this paragraph may alternatively be used for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734.

(b) The commissioner shall allocate $750,000 for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734 to cities with border city enterprise zones located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall allocate this amount among the cities on a per capita basis. Any portion of the allocation provided in this paragraph may alternatively be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171.

Subd. 17.Additional border city allocations.

(a) In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 16, the commissioner shall allocate $750,000 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or for other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. Any portion of the allocation provided in this paragraph may alternatively be used for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734.

(b) The commissioner shall allocate $750,000 for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734 to cities with border city enterprise zones located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall allocate this amount among the cities on a per capita basis. Any portion of the allocation provided in this paragraph may alternatively be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171.

Subd. 18. Additional border city allocations; 2008.

(a) In addition to tax reductions authorized in subdivisions 7 to 17, the commissioner shall allocate $352,500 for tax reductions to border city enterprise zones in cities located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall make allocations to zones in cities on the western border on a per capita basis. Allocations made under this subdivision may be used for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171, or for other offsets of taxes imposed on or remitted by businesses located in the enterprise zone, but only if the municipality determines that the granting of the tax reduction or offset is necessary in order to retain a business within or attract a business to the zone. The city alternatively may elect to use any portion of the allocation provided in this paragraph for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734.

(b) The commissioner shall allocate $352,500 for tax reductions under section 469.1732 or 469.1734 to cities with border city enterprise zones located on the western border of the state. The commissioner shall allocate this amount among the cities on a per capita basis. The city alternatively may elect to use any portion of the allocation provided in this paragraph for tax reductions as provided in section 469.171.

History:

1987 c 291 s 170; 1993 c 375 art 17 s 18; 1995 c 264 art 5 s 10,11; 1996 c 471 art 7 s 6,7; 1997 c 231 art 16 s 20; 1998 c 389 art 12 s 2,3; art 16 s 23; 1999 c 243 art 16 s 26,27; 1Sp2001 c 5 art 15 s 2; 1Sp2003 c 21 art 10 s 1; 1Sp2005 c 3 art 7 s 11; 2008 c 154 art 9 s 1