as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to taxation; modifying the taxation of 1.3 property used for low-income rental housing; 1.4 appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 1.5 sections 273.124, by adding a subdivision; 273.13, 1.6 subdivision 25; 290A.03, subdivision 11; and 469.040, 1.7 subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in 1.8 Minnesota Statutes, chapters 273; and 462A; repealing 1.9 Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 273.1317; and 1.10 273.1318. 1.11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.12 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 273.124, is 1.13 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 1.14 Subd. 19. [LEASE-PURCHASE PROGRAM.] Qualifying buildings 1.15 and appurtenances, together with the land on which they are 1.16 located, are classified as homesteads, if the following 1.17 qualifications are met: 1.18 (1) the property is leased for up to a five-year period by 1.19 the occupant under a lease-purchase program administered by the 1.20 Minnesota housing finance agency or a housing and redevelopment 1.21 authority under sections 469.001 to 469.047; 1.22 (2) the occupant's income is no greater than 80 percent of 1.23 the county or area median income, adjusted for family size; 1.24 (3) the building consists of one or two dwelling units; 1.25 (4) the lease agreement provides that part of the lease 1.26 payment is escrowed as a nonrefundable down payment on the 1.27 housing; 1.28 (5) the administering agency verifies the occupant's income 2.1 eligibility and certifies to the county assessor that the 2.2 occupant meets the income standards; and 2.3 (6) the property owner applies to the county assessor by 2.4 May 30 of each year. 2.5 For purposes of this subdivision, "qualifying buildings and 2.6 appurtenances" means a one or two unit residential building 2.7 which was unoccupied, abandoned, and boarded for at least six 2.8 months. 2.9 Sec. 2. [273.126] [QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME RENTAL HOUSING.] 2.10 Subdivision 1. [QUALIFYING RULES.] The market value of a 2.11 rental housing unit qualifies for assessment under class 4d if: 2.12 (1) it is occupied by individuals meeting the income limits 2.13 under subdivision 2; 2.14 (2) a rent restriction agreement under subdivision 3 2.15 applies; 2.16 (3) the unit meets the minimum housing quality standards 2.17 under subdivision 4; and 2.18 (4) the Minnesota housing finance agency certifies to the 2.19 local assessor that the unit qualifies. 2.20 Subd. 2. [INCOME LIMITS.] (a) In order to qualify under 2.21 class 4d, a unit must be occupied by an individual or 2.22 individuals whose income is at or below 60 percent of the median 2.23 area gross income. If the resident's income met the requirement 2.24 when the resident first occupied the unit, the income of the 2.25 resident continues to qualify unless the income exceeds 85 2.26 percent of the median area gross income. 2.27 (b) For purposes of this section, "median area gross income" 2.28 means the greater of (1) the median gross income for the area 2.29 determined under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 2.30 1986, as amended through December 31, 1996, or (2) the median 2.31 gross income for the state. The median gross income must be 2.32 adjusted for family size. 2.33 (c) The owner or manager of the property may comply with 2.34 this subdivision by obtaining written statements from the 2.35 residents, at least annually, that their incomes are at or below 2.36 the limit. 3.1 Subd. 3. [RENT RESTRICTIONS.] (a) In order to qualify 3.2 under class 4d, a unit must be subject to a rent restriction 3.3 agreement with the housing finance agency for a period of at 3.4 least five years. The agreement must be in effect and apply to 3.5 the rents to be charged for the year in which the property taxes 3.6 are payable. The agreement must provide that the restrictions 3.7 apply to each year of the period, regardless of whether the unit 3.8 is occupied by an individual with qualifying income or whether 3.9 class 4d applies. The rent restriction agreement must provide 3.10 for rents for the unit to be no higher than the rents permitted 3.11 under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 3.12 amended through December 31, 1996. The definition of median 3.13 gross income specified in this section applies. 3.14 (b) Notwithstanding the maximum rent levels permitted, any 3.15 unit qualifying under class 4d must be made available to a 3.16 family with a section 8 certificate. 3.17 (c) If the owner or manager does not comply with the rent 3.18 restriction agreement, the provisions of subdivision 5 apply. 3.19 The additional taxes for purposes of subdivision 5 for a 3.20 violation are the lesser of (1) increased taxes under 3.21 subdivision 4 for any year of the period in which class 4 3.22 applied or (2) 150 percent of the rent charged in excess of the 3.23 rent restriction agreement. 3.24 Subd. 4. [MINIMUM HOUSING STANDARDS.] In order to qualify 3.25 under class 4d, a unit must be certified by the housing finance 3.26 agency to meet the minimum housing standards established under 3.27 section 462A.071. 3.28 Subd. 5. [ADDITIONAL TAXES.] Notwithstanding the 3.29 provisions of section 273.01, 274.01, or any other law, if the 3.30 assessor determines that the provisions of this section have not 3.31 been met for any period during which a unit was classified under 3.32 class 4d, an additional tax is imposed. The additional tax 3.33 equals the tax which would have been imposed if the property had 3.34 not been classified under class 4d, and the tax actually 3.35 imposed, during the period of noncompliance. The additional tax 3.36 must be extended against the property on the tax list for the 4.1 current year. No interest or penalties may be levied on 4.2 additional taxes if timely paid. The tax imposed by this 4.3 subdivision is a lien upon the property assessed to the same 4.4 extent and for the same duration as other taxes imposed on the 4.5 property. 4.6 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 273.13, 4.7 subdivision 25, is amended to read: 4.8 Subd. 25. [CLASS 4.] (a) Class 4a is residential real 4.9 estate containing four or more units and used or held for use by 4.10 the owner or by the tenants or lessees of the owner as a 4.11 residence for rental periods of 30 days or more. Class 4a also 4.12 includes hospitals licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.56, 4.13 other than hospitals exempt under section 272.02, and contiguous 4.14 property used for hospital purposes, without regard to whether 4.15 the property has been platted or subdivided. Class 4a property 4.16 in a city with a population of 5,000 or less, that is (1) 4.17 located outside of the metropolitan area, as defined in section 4.18 473.121, subdivision 2, or outside any county contiguous to the 4.19 metropolitan area, and (2) whose city boundary is at least 15 4.20 miles from the boundary of any city with a population greater 4.21 than 5,000 has a class rate of 2.3 percent of market value for 4.22 taxes payable in 1996 and thereafter. All other class 4a 4.23 property has a class rate of 3.4 percent of market value for 4.24 taxes payable in 1996 and thereafter. For purposes of this 4.25 paragraph, population has the same meaning given in section 4.26 477A.011, subdivision 3. 4.27 (b) Class 4b includes: 4.28 (1) residential real estate containing less than four 4.29 units, other than seasonal residential, and recreational; 4.30 (2) manufactured homes not classified under any other 4.31 provision; 4.32 (3) a dwelling, garage, and surrounding one acre of 4.33 property on a nonhomestead farm classified under subdivision 23, 4.34 paragraph (b). 4.35 Class 4b property has a class rate of 2.8 percent of market 4.36 value for taxes payable in 1992, 2.5 percent of market value for 5.1 taxes payable in 1993, and 2.3 percent of market value for taxes 5.2 payable in 1994 and thereafter. 5.3 (c) Class 4c property includes: 5.4(1) a structure that is:5.5(i) situated on real property that is used for housing for5.6the elderly or for low- and moderate-income families as defined5.7in Title II, as amended through December 31, 1990, of the5.8National Housing Act or the Minnesota housing finance agency law5.9of 1971, as amended, or rules promulgated by the agency and5.10financed by a direct federal loan or federally insured loan made5.11pursuant to Title II of the Act; or5.12(ii) situated on real property that is used for housing the5.13elderly or for low- and moderate-income families as defined by5.14the Minnesota housing finance agency law of 1971, as amended, or5.15rules adopted by the agency pursuant thereto and financed by a5.16loan made by the Minnesota housing finance agency pursuant to5.17the provisions of the act.5.18This clause applies only to property of a nonprofit or5.19limited dividend entity. Property is classified as class 4c5.20under this clause for 15 years from the date of the completion5.21of the original construction or substantial rehabilitation, or5.22for the original term of the loan.5.23(2) a structure that is:5.24(i) situated upon real property that is used for housing5.25lower income families or elderly or handicapped persons, as5.26defined in section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937,5.27as amended; and5.28(ii) owned by an entity which has entered into a housing5.29assistance payments contract under section 8 which provides5.30assistance for 100 percent of the dwelling units in the5.31structure, other than dwelling units intended for management or5.32maintenance personnel. Property is classified as class 4c under5.33this clause for the term of the housing assistance payments5.34contract, including all renewals, or for the term of its5.35permanent financing, whichever is shorter; and5.36(3) a qualified low-income building as defined in section6.142(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended6.2through December 31, 1990, that (i) receives a low-income6.3housing credit under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of6.41986, as amended through December 31, 1990; or (ii) meets the6.5requirements of that section and receives public financing,6.6except financing provided under sections 469.174 to 469.179,6.7which contains terms restricting the rents; or (iii) meets the6.8requirements of section 273.1317. Classification pursuant to6.9this clause is limited to a term of 15 years. The public6.10financing received must be from at least one of the following6.11sources: government issued bonds exempt from taxes under6.12section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended6.13through December 31, 1993, the proceeds of which are used for6.14the acquisition or rehabilitation of the building; programs6.15under section 221(d)(3), 202, or 236, of Title II of the6.16National Housing Act; rental housing program funds under Section6.178 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 or the market rate6.18family graduated payment mortgage program funds administered by6.19the Minnesota housing finance agency that are used for the6.20acquisition or rehabilitation of the building; public financing6.21provided by a local government used for the acquisition or6.22rehabilitation of the building, including grants or loans from6.23federal community development block grants, HOME block grants,6.24or residential rental bonds issued under chapter 474A; or other6.25rental housing program funds provided by the Minnesota housing6.26finance agency for the acquisition or rehabilitation of the6.27building.6.28For all properties described in clauses (1), (2), and (3)6.29and in paragraph (d), the market value determined by the6.30assessor must be based on the normal approach to value using6.31normal unrestricted rents unless the owner of the property6.32elects to have the property assessed under Laws 1991, chapter6.33291, article 1, section 55. If the owner of the property elects6.34to have the market value determined on the basis of the actual6.35restricted rents, as provided in Laws 1991, chapter 291, article6.361, section 55, the property will be assessed at the rate7.1provided for class 4a or class 4b property, as appropriate.7.2Properties described in clauses (1)(ii), (3), and (4) may apply7.3to the assessor for valuation under Laws 1991, chapter 291,7.4article 1, section 55. The land on which these structures are7.5situated has the class rate given in paragraph (b) if the7.6structure contains fewer than four units, and the class rate7.7given in paragraph (a) if the structure contains four or more7.8units. This clause applies only to the property of a nonprofit7.9or limited dividend entity.7.10(4) a parcel of land, not to exceed one acre, and its7.11improvements or a parcel of unimproved land, not to exceed one7.12acre, if it is owned by a neighborhood real estate trust and at7.13least 60 percent of the dwelling units, if any, on all land7.14owned by the trust are leased to or occupied by lower income7.15families or individuals. This clause does not apply to any7.16portion of the land or improvements used for nonresidential7.17purposes. For purposes of this clause, a lower income family is7.18a family with an income that does not exceed 65 percent of the7.19median family income for the area, and a lower income individual7.20is an individual whose income does not exceed 65 percent of the7.21median individual income for the area, as determined by the7.22United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. For7.23purposes of this clause, "neighborhood real estate trust" means7.24an entity which is certified by the governing body of the7.25municipality in which it is located to have the following7.26characteristics:7.27(a) it is a nonprofit corporation organized under chapter7.28317A;7.29(b) it has as its principal purpose providing housing for7.30lower income families in a specific geographic community7.31designated in its articles or bylaws;7.32(c) it limits membership with voting rights to residents of7.33the designated community; and7.34(d) it has a board of directors consisting of at least7.35seven directors, 60 percent of whom are members with voting7.36rights and, to the extent feasible, 25 percent of whom are8.1elected by resident members of buildings owned by the trust; and8.2(5)(1) except as provided in subdivision 22, paragraph 8.3 (c), real property devoted to temporary and seasonal residential 8.4 occupancy for recreation purposes, including real property 8.5 devoted to temporary and seasonal residential occupancy for 8.6 recreation purposes and not devoted to commercial purposes for 8.7 more than 250 days in the year preceding the year of 8.8 assessment. For purposes of this clause, property is devoted to 8.9 a commercial purpose on a specific day if any portion of the 8.10 property is used for residential occupancy, and a fee is charged 8.11 for residential occupancy. Class 4c also includes commercial 8.12 use real property used exclusively for recreational purposes in 8.13 conjunction with class 4c property devoted to temporary and 8.14 seasonal residential occupancy for recreational purposes, up to 8.15 a total of two acres, provided the property is not devoted to 8.16 commercial recreational use for more than 250 days in the year 8.17 preceding the year of assessment and is located within two miles 8.18 of the class 4c property with which it is used. Class 4c 8.19 property classified in this clause also includes the remainder 8.20 of class 1c resorts. Owners of real property devoted to 8.21 temporary and seasonal residential occupancy for recreation 8.22 purposes and all or a portion of which was devoted to commercial 8.23 purposes for not more than 250 days in the year preceding the 8.24 year of assessment desiring classification as class 1c or 4c, 8.25 must submit a declaration to the assessor designating the cabins 8.26 or units occupied for 250 days or less in the year preceding the 8.27 year of assessment by January 15 of the assessment year. Those 8.28 cabins or units and a proportionate share of the land on which 8.29 they are located will be designated class 1c or 4c as otherwise 8.30 provided. The remainder of the cabins or units and a 8.31 proportionate share of the land on which they are located will 8.32 be designated as class 3a. The first $100,000 of the market 8.33 value of the remainder of the cabins or units and a 8.34 proportionate share of the land on which they are located shall 8.35 have a class rate of three percent. The owner of property 8.36 desiring designation as class 1c or 4c property must provide 9.1 guest registers or other records demonstrating that the units 9.2 for which class 1c or 4c designation is sought were not occupied 9.3 for more than 250 days in the year preceding the assessment if 9.4 so requested. The portion of a property operated as a (1) 9.5 restaurant, (2) bar, (3) gift shop, and (4) other nonresidential 9.6 facility operated on a commercial basis not directly related to 9.7 temporary and seasonal residential occupancy for recreation 9.8 purposes shall not qualify for class 1c or 4c; 9.9(6)(2) real property up to a maximum of one acre of land 9.10 owned by a nonprofit community service oriented organization; 9.11 provided that the property is not used for a revenue-producing 9.12 activity for more than six days in the calendar year preceding 9.13 the year of assessment and the property is not used for 9.14 residential purposes on either a temporary or permanent basis. 9.15 For purposes of this clause, a "nonprofit community service 9.16 oriented organization" means any corporation, society, 9.17 association, foundation, or institution organized and operated 9.18 exclusively for charitable, religious, fraternal, civic, or 9.19 educational purposes, and which is exempt from federal income 9.20 taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3), (10), or (19) of the 9.21 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 9.22 1990. For purposes of this clause, "revenue-producing 9.23 activities" shall include but not be limited to property or that 9.24 portion of the property that is used as an on-sale intoxicating 9.25 liquor or 3.2 percent malt liquor establishment licensed under 9.26 chapter 340A, a restaurant open to the public, bowling alley, a 9.27 retail store, gambling conducted by organizations licensed under 9.28 chapter 349, an insurance business, or office or other space 9.29 leased or rented to a lessee who conducts a for-profit 9.30 enterprise on the premises. Any portion of the property which 9.31 is used for revenue-producing activities for more than six days 9.32 in the calendar year preceding the year of assessment shall be 9.33 assessed as class 3a. The use of the property for social events 9.34 open exclusively to members and their guests for periods of less 9.35 than 24 hours, when an admission is not charged nor any revenues 9.36 are received by the organization shall not be considered a 10.1 revenue-producing activity; 10.2(7)(3) post-secondary student housing of not more than one 10.3 acre of land that is owned by a nonprofit corporation organized 10.4 under chapter 317A and is used exclusively by a student 10.5 cooperative, sorority, or fraternity for on-campus housing or 10.6 housing located within two miles of the border of a college 10.7 campus; and 10.8(8)(4) manufactured home parks as defined in section 10.9 327.14, subdivision 3. 10.10 Class 4c property has a class rate of 2.3 percent of market 10.11 value, except that (i) for each parcel of seasonal residential 10.12 recreational property not used for commercial purposes under 10.13 clause(5)(1) the first $72,000 of market value on each parcel 10.14 has a class rate of 1.75 percent for taxes payable in 1997 and 10.15 1.5 percent for taxes payable in 1998 and thereafter, and the 10.16 market value of each parcel that exceeds $72,000 has a class 10.17 rate of 2.5 percent, and (ii) manufactured home parks assessed 10.18 under clause(8)(4) have a class rate of two percentfor taxes10.19payable in 1996, and thereafter. 10.20 (d) Class 4d propertyincludes:10.21(1) a structure that is:10.22(i) situated on real property that is used for housing for10.23the elderly or for low and moderate income families as defined10.24by the Farmers Home Administration;10.25(ii) located in a municipality of less than 10,00010.26population; and10.27(iii) financed by a direct loan or insured loan from the10.28Farmers Home Administration. Property is classified under this10.29clause for 15 years from the date of the completion of the10.30original construction or for the original term of the loan.10.31The class rates in paragraph (c), clauses (1), (2), and (3)10.32and this clause apply to the properties described in them, only10.33in proportion to occupancy of the structure by elderly or10.34handicapped persons or low and moderate income families as10.35defined in the applicable laws unless construction of the10.36structure had been commenced prior to January 1, 1984; or the11.1project had been approved by the governing body of the11.2municipality in which it is located prior to June 30, 1983; or11.3financing of the project had been approved by a federal or state11.4agency prior to June 30, 1983. For those properties, 4c or 4d11.5classification is available only for those units meeting the11.6requirements of section 273.1318.11.7Classification under this clause is only available to11.8property of a nonprofit or limited dividend entity.11.9In the case of a structure financed or refinanced under any11.10federal or state mortgage insurance or direct loan program11.11exclusively for housing for the elderly or for housing for the11.12handicapped, a unit shall be considered occupied so long as it11.13is actually occupied by an elderly or handicapped person or, if11.14vacant, is held for rental to an elderly or handicapped person.11.15(2) For taxes payable in 1992, 1993, and 1994, only,11.16buildings and appurtenances, together with the land upon which11.17they are located, leased by the occupant under the community11.18lending model lease-purchase mortgage loan program administered11.19by the Federal National Mortgage Association, provided the11.20occupant's income is no greater than 60 percent of the county or11.21area median income, adjusted for family size and the building11.22consists of existing single family or duplex housing. The lease11.23agreement must provide for a portion of the lease payment to be11.24escrowed as a nonrefundable down payment on the housing. To11.25qualify under this clause, the taxpayer must apply to the county11.26assessor by May 30 of each year. The application must be11.27accompanied by an affidavit or other proof required by the11.28assessor to determine qualification under this clause.11.29(3) Qualifying buildings and appurtenances, together with11.30the land upon which they are located, leased for a period of up11.31to five years by the occupant under a lease-purchase program11.32administered by the Minnesota housing finance agency or a11.33housing and redevelopment authority authorized under sections11.34469.001 to 469.047, provided the occupant's income is no greater11.35than 80 percent of the county or area median income, adjusted11.36for family size, and the building consists of two or less12.1dwelling units. The lease agreement must provide for a portion12.2of the lease payment to be escrowed as a nonrefundable down12.3payment on the housing. The administering agency shall verify12.4the occupants income eligibility and certify to the county12.5assessor that the occupant meets the income criteria under this12.6paragraph. To qualify under this clause, the taxpayer must12.7apply to the county assessor by May 30 of each year. For12.8purposes of this section, "qualifying buildings and12.9appurtenances" shall be defined as one or two unit residential12.10buildings which are unoccupied and have been abandoned and12.11boarded for at least six monthsis qualifying low-income rental 12.12 housing certified to the assessor by the housing finance agency 12.13 under sections 273.126 and 462A.071. Class 4d includes land in 12.14 proportion to the total market value of the building that is 12.15 qualifying low-income rental housing. For all properties 12.16 qualifying as class 4d, the market value determined by the 12.17 assessor must be based on the normal approach to value using 12.18 normal unrestricted rents. 12.19 Class 4d property has a class rate oftwoone percent of 12.20 market valueexcept that property classified under clause (3),12.21shall have the same class rate as class 1a property. 12.22 (e)Residential rental property that would otherwise be12.23assessed as class 4 property under paragraph (a); paragraph (b),12.24clauses (1) and (3); paragraph (c), clause (1), (2), (3), or12.25(4), is assessed at the class rate applicable to it under12.26Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 273.13, if it is found to be a12.27substandard building under section 273.1316. Residential rental12.28property that would otherwise be assessed as class 4 property12.29under paragraph (d) is assessed at 2.3 percent of market value12.30if it is found to be a substandard building under section12.31273.1316.12.32(f)Class 4e property consists of the residential portion 12.33 of any structure located within a city that was converted from 12.34 nonresidential use to residential use, provided that: 12.35 (1) the structure had formerly been used as a warehouse; 12.36 (2) the structure was originally constructed prior to 1940; 13.1 (3) the conversion was done after December 31, 1995, but 13.2 before January 1, 2003; and 13.3 (4) the conversion involved an investment of at least 13.4 $25,000 per residential unit. 13.5 Class 4e property has a class rate of 2.3 percent, provided 13.6 that a structure is eligible for class 4e classification only in 13.7 the 12 assessment years immediately following the conversion. 13.8 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 290A.03, 13.9 subdivision 11, is amended to read: 13.10 Subd. 11. [RENT CONSTITUTING PROPERTY TAXES.] "Rent 13.11 constituting property taxes" means the amount of gross rent 13.12 actually paid in cash, or its equivalent, which is attributable 13.13 (a) to the property tax paid on the unit or (b) to the amount 13.14 paid in lieu of property taxes, in any calendar year by a 13.15 claimant for the right of occupancy of the claimant's Minnesota 13.16 homestead in the calendar year, and which rent constitutes the 13.17 basis, in the succeeding calendar year of a claim for relief 13.18 under this chapter by the claimant. The amount of rent 13.19 attributable to property taxes paid or payments in lieu made on 13.20 the unit shall be determined by multiplying the gross rent paid 13.21 by the claimant for the calendar year for the unit by a 13.22 fraction, the numerator of which is the net tax on the property 13.23 where the unit is located and the denominator of which is the 13.24 total scheduled rent. In no case may the rent constituting 13.25 property taxes exceed 50 percent of the gross rent paid by the 13.26 claimant during that calendar year.In the case ofIf a 13.27 claimantwhoresides in (1) a unit classified as class 4d under 13.28 section 273.13, (2) a unit for which(1)a rent subsidy is paid 13.29 to, or for, the claimant based on the income of the claimant or 13.30 the claimant's family, or(2)(3) a unit for which a subsidy is 13.31 paid to a public housing authority that owns or operates the 13.32 claimant's rental unit, pursuant to United States Code, title 13.33 42, section 1437c, 20 percent of gross rent actually paid in 13.34 cash or its equivalentshall beis the claimant's "rent 13.35 constituting property taxes paid." For purposes of this 13.36 subdivision, "rent subsidy" does not include any housing 14.1 assistance received under aid to families with dependent 14.2 children, general assistance, Minnesota supplemental assistance, 14.3 supplemental security income, or similar income maintenance 14.4 programs. 14.5 Sec. 5. [462A.071] [CERTIFICATION OF HOUSING QUALIFYING 14.6 FOR REDUCED PROPERTY TAX RATE.] 14.7 Subdivision 1. [CERTIFICATION.] By June 30 of each year, 14.8 the agency must certify to local assessors the units of 14.9 low-income rental properties that qualify for class 4d under 14.10 sections 273.126 and 273.13. In making these certifications, 14.11 the agency may rely on the application and supporting 14.12 information supplied by the property owner as to compliance with 14.13 the income limits under subdivision 2 and satisfaction of the 14.14 minimum housing quality standards under subdivision 4. 14.15 Subd. 2. [APPLICATION.] (a) In order to qualify for 14.16 certification under subdivision 1, the owner or manager of the 14.17 property must annually apply to the agency. The application 14.18 must be in the form prescribed by the agency, contain the 14.19 information required by the agency, and be submitted by the date 14.20 and time specified by the agency. 14.21 (b) Each application must include: 14.22 (1) the property tax identification number; 14.23 (2) the number, type, and size of units the applicant seeks 14.24 to qualify as low-income housing under class 4d; 14.25 (3) the number, type, and size of units in the property for 14.26 which the applicant is not seeking qualification, if any; 14.27 (4) a certification that the property has been inspected by 14.28 a qualified inspector within the past three years and meets the 14.29 minimum housing quality standards or is exempt from the 14.30 inspection requirement under subdivision 4; 14.31 (5) information documenting compliance with the income 14.32 limits; 14.33 (6) an executed agreement to restrict rents meeting the 14.34 requirements specified by the agency or executed leases for the 14.35 units for which qualification as low-income housing as class 4d 14.36 under section 273.13 is sought and the rent schedule; and 15.1 (7) any additional information the agency deems appropriate 15.2 to require. 15.3 (c) The applicant must pay a per-unit application fee to be 15.4 set by the agency. The application fee charged by the agency 15.5 must approximately equal the costs of processing and reviewing 15.6 the applications. The fee must be deposited in the general fund. 15.7 Subd. 3. [AGREEMENT TO RESTRICT RENTS.] The agency may 15.8 prescribe one or more standard form agreements to restrict rents 15.9 that meet the requirements of section 273.126, subdivision 3. 15.10 The agency may require applicants to execute a rent restriction 15.11 agreement in this form as a condition of entering an agreement 15.12 to restrict rents. 15.13 Subd. 4. [MINIMUM HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS.] (a) To 15.14 qualify for taxation as class 4d property under section 273.13, 15.15 a unit must meet the housing maintenance code of the local unit 15.16 of government in which the unit is located, if such a code has 15.17 been adopted, or the housing quality standards adopted by the 15.18 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. 15.19 (b) In order to meet the minimum housing quality standards, 15.20 a building must be inspected by an independent designated 15.21 inspector at least once every three years. The inspector must 15.22 certify that the building complies with the minimum standards. 15.23 The property owner must pay the cost of the inspection. 15.24 (c) The agency may exempt from the inspection requirement 15.25 housing units that are financed by a governmental entity and 15.26 subject to regular inspection or other compliance checks with 15.27 regard to minimum housing quality. 15.28 Written certification must be supplied, however, showing 15.29 that these exempt units have been inspected within the last 15.30 three years and comply with the requirements under the public 15.31 financing or local requirements. 15.32 Subd. 5. [HOUSING INSPECTORS.] (a) Housing inspections 15.33 required by this section may be conducted by any persons 15.34 employed by or under contract with a state agency or a local 15.35 unit of government to conduct property inspections in connection 15.36 with a state or federal housing program or by persons charged by 16.1 the governing body of a political subdivision with the 16.2 responsibility of enforcing provisions of local housing law, 16.3 building, or housing maintenance code. The inspector must be 16.4 independent of the owner or manager of the inspected property. 16.5 (b) The agency must maintain a list of persons eligible to 16.6 conduct housing inspections under this section. 16.7 (c) The agency may provide housing inspection services 16.8 under this section and may set and charge appropriate fees for 16.9 the services. The fees are deposited in the general fund. 16.10 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 469.040, 16.11 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 16.12 Subd. 3. [STATEMENT FILED WITH ASSESSOR; PERCENTAGE TAX ON 16.13 RENTALS.] Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 1, after 16.14 a housing project or a housing development project carried on 16.15 under sections 469.016 to 469.026 has become occupied, in whole 16.16 or in part, an authority shall file with the assessor, on or 16.17 before April 15 of each year, a statement of the aggregate 16.18 shelter rentals of that project collected during the preceding 16.19 calendar year. Unless a greater amount has been agreed upon 16.20 between the authority and the governing body or bodies for which 16.21 the authority was created, in whose jurisdiction the project is 16.22 located, five percent of the aggregate shelter rentals shall be 16.23 charged to the authority as a service charge for the services 16.24 and facilities to be furnished with respect to that project. 16.25 The service charge shall be collected from the authority in the 16.26 manner provided by law for the assessment and collection of 16.27 taxes. The amount so collected shall be distributed to the 16.28 several taxing bodies in the same proportion as the tax rate of 16.29 each bears to the total tax rate of those taxing bodies. The 16.30 governing body or bodies for which the authority has been 16.31 created, in whose jurisdiction the project is located, may agree 16.32 with the authority for the payment of a service charge for a 16.33 housing project or a housing development project in an amount 16.34 greater than five percent of the aggregate annual shelter 16.35 rentals of any project, upon the basis of shelter rentals or 16.36 upon another basis agreed upon. The service charge may not 17.1 exceed the amount which would be payable in taxes were the 17.2 property not exempt. If such an agreement is made, the service 17.3 charge so agreed upon shall be collected and distributed in the 17.4 manner above provided. If the project has become occupied, or 17.5 if the land upon which the project is to be constructed has been 17.6 acquired, the agreement shall specify the location of the 17.7 project for which the agreement is made. "Shelter rental" means 17.8 the total rentals of a housing project exclusive of any charge 17.9 for utilities and special services such as heat, water, 17.10 electricity, gas, sewage disposal, or garbage removal. "Service 17.11 charge" means payment in lieu of taxes. The records of each 17.12housingproject shall be open to inspection by the proper 17.13 assessing officer. 17.14 Sec. 7. [TRANSITION CLASS RATES.] 17.15 Subdivision 1. [APPLICATION.] (a) The class rates under 17.16 this section apply for property taxes payable in 1999 to 2003 17.17 for the market value of properties 17.18 (1)(i) which were classified as class 4c or class 4d for 17.19 taxes payable in 1998, or 17.20 (ii) which are constructed or substantially rehabilitated 17.21 during calendar year 1997 and would qualify as class 4c or class 17.22 4d for taxes payable in 1999, and 17.23 (2) which do not qualify as class 4d property as a result 17.24 of the amendments in this act to Minnesota Statutes, section 17.25 273.13, subdivision 25. 17.26 (b) To qualify for the class rates under this section, the 17.27 building's owner must annually certify to the assessor in 17.28 writing that the property, building, or unit continues to 17.29 qualify under the laws in effect and applicable to its 17.30 classification for taxes payable in 1998. 17.31 (c) A property no longer qualifies under this section: 17.32 (1) if it is transferred or sold; or 17.33 (2) if loans, that have a principal amount equal to more 17.34 than 25 percent of the property's market value and that are 17.35 secured by the property, are refinanced. 17.36 Subd. 2. [CLASS 4C PROPERTIES.] For the market value of 18.1 properties that were classified as class 4c for taxes payable in 18.2 1998 and which no longer qualify as a result of the amendments 18.3 to Minnesota Statutes, section 273.13, subdivision 25, the 18.4 following class rates apply: 18.5 (1) for taxes payable in 1999, a class rate of 2.5 percent; 18.6 (2) for taxes payable in 2000, a class rate of 2.8 percent; 18.7 (3) for taxes payable in 2001, a class rate of 3.1 percent; 18.8 (4) for taxes payable in 2002, a class rate of 3.4 percent. 18.9 Subd. 3. [CLASS 4D PROPERTIES.] For the market value of 18.10 properties that were classified as class 4d for taxes payable in 18.11 1998 and which no longer qualify as a result of the amendments 18.12 to Minnesota Statutes, section 273.13, subdivision 25, the 18.13 following class rates apply: 18.14 (1) for taxes payable in 1999, a class rate of 2.2 percent; 18.15 (2) for taxes payable in 2000, a class rate of 2.5 percent; 18.16 (3) for taxes payable in 2001, a class rate of 2.8 percent; 18.17 (4) for taxes payable in 2002, a class rate of 3.1 percent; 18.18 (5) for taxes payable in 2003, a class rate of 3.4 percent. 18.19 Sec. 8. [APPROPRIATIONS.] 18.20 $450,000 is appropriated for fiscal years 1997 and 1998 18.21 from the general fund to the housing finance agency for purposes 18.22 of administering the certification of qualifying low-income 18.23 residential properties for property taxation under class 4d. 18.24 Sec. 9. [REPEALER.] 18.25 Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 273.1317; and 273.1318, 18.26 are repealed. 18.27 Sec. 10. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 18.28 Sections 1 to 3 and 9, are effective for property taxes 18.29 payable in 1999 and thereafter. Section 4 is effective 18.30 beginning for rents based on property taxes payable in 1999.