63-602NN. PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION — CERTAIN BUSINESS PROPERTY. (1) Provided that there is a plant investment that meets all tax incentive criteria as defined in subsection (2) of this section, the board of county commissioners may exempt all or a part of the change from the base value attributable directly to the plant investment.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) "Base value" means the assessed value on the county’s property rolls of property associated with the plant investment from the year immediately preceding the year representing the beginning of the project period during which a plant investment pursuant to this section occurs.

(b) "Building or structural components of buildings" means real property improvements to land as defined in section 63-201(11), Idaho Code, that are owned or leased by the taxpayer and located in Idaho within the boundaries of the project site.

(c) "Defined project" means a written plan presented to the county commissioners by a taxpayer outlining projected investment in new plant for new plant and building facilities during a project period and located at a project site.

(d) "Plant investment" means investment in new or existing plant and building facilities. Such plant and building facilities include buildings or structural components of buildings, related parking facilities, food service facilities, business office facilities and other building facilities directly related to the business making the plant investment. Plant investment also includes investments in the personal property associated with the plant and its facilities.

(e) "Project period" means the period of time beginning at the earlier of a physical change to the project site or the first employment of new employees or contractors located in Idaho who are related to the activities at the project site.

(f) "Project site" means an area or areas at which the affected plant and building facilities are located and at which the tax incentive criteria have been or will be met and which are either:

(i) A single geographic area located in this state at which the affected plant and building facilities owned or leased by the taxpayer are located; or

(ii) One (1) or more geographic areas located in this state if eighty percent (80%) or more of the plant investment is made at one (1) of the areas.

(g) "Tax incentive criteria" means the following conditions:

(i) The board of county commissioners shall by ordinance establish an investment amount not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) at all project sites within the county for which the exemption and all exemptions thereafter granted shall apply, thereby providing uniformity to all taxpayers;

(ii) The plant investment will bring significant economic benefits to the county; and

(iii) The plant or building facilities will be for nonretail purposes that are either commercial or industrial.

(3) The board of county commissioners may grant the property tax exemption for the defined project for a period of up to five (5) years. The agreement shall be considered a contract arrangement between the county and the taxpayer for the exemption time period granted by the board of county commissioners and the annual approval provision contained in subsection (3) of section 63-602, Idaho Code, shall not apply to the exemption provided in this section as long as the contract enumerated in this section is valid and in force and effect. If, within the project period, the use or nature of the defined project or investment in the new plant changes such that the project would no longer qualify for the tax exemption, the board of county commissioners may unilaterally terminate the agreement and withdraw the tax exemption.

(4) When considering whether to grant the property tax exemption, the board of county commissioners may consider trade secrets, as defined in section 74-107(1), Idaho Code, in executive session as allowed in section 74-206(1)(d), Idaho Code.

(5) Before granting a property tax exemption under this section, the board of county commissioners shall hold a public meeting regarding whether to grant the exemption. The board of county commissioners shall provide a summary of the application under consideration, a written notice of the time, date and location of the public meeting, and an invitation to participate in the meeting to all affected taxing districts, urban renewal agencies and the Idaho department of commerce at least five (5) calendar days before the meeting.

(6) Property exempted under this section shall not be included on any new construction roll prepared by the county assessor in accordance with section 63-301A, Idaho Code, until the exemption ceases.

(7) The legislature declares this exemption necessary and just.

History:

[63-602NN, added 2008, ch. 327, sec. 1, p. 897; am. 2010, ch. 133, sec. 2, p. 284; am. 2017, ch. 263, sec. 1, p. 655.]