(A) The legislative authority of a county, township, or municipal corporation that grants an exemption from taxation under Chapter 725. or 1728. or under section 3735.67, 5709.28, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.45, 5709.62, 5709.63, 5709.632, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Revised Code shall create a tax incentive review council. The council shall consist of the following members:

(1) In the case of a municipal corporation eligible to designate a zone under section 5709.62 of the Revised Code, the chief executive officer or that officer's designee; a member of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation, appointed by the president of the legislative authority or, if the chief executive officer of the municipal corporation is the president, appointed by the president pro tempore of the legislative authority; the county auditor or the county auditor's designee; the chief financial officer of the municipal corporation or that officer's designee; an individual appointed by the board of education of each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school district to which the instrument granting the exemption applies; and two members of the public appointed by the chief executive officer of the municipal corporation with the concurrence of the legislative authority. At least four members of the council shall be residents of the municipal corporation, and at least one of the two public members appointed by the chief executive officer shall be a minority. As used in division (A)(1) of this section, a "minority" is an individual who is African-American, Hispanic, or Native American.

(2) In the case of a county or a municipal corporation that is not eligible to designate a zone under section 5709.62 or 5709.632 of the Revised Code, three members appointed by the board of county commissioners; two members from each municipal corporation to which the instrument granting the tax exemption applies, appointed by the chief executive officer with the concurrence of the legislative authority of the respective municipal corporations; two members of each township to which the instrument granting the tax exemption applies, appointed by the board of township trustees of the respective townships; the county auditor or the county auditor's designee; and an individual appointed by the board of education of each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school district to which the instrument granting the tax exemption applies. At least two members of the council shall be residents of the municipal corporations or townships to which the instrument granting the tax exemption applies.

(3) In the case of a township in which improvements are declared a public purpose under section 5709.73 of the Revised Code, the board of township trustees; the county auditor or the county auditor's designee; and an individual appointed by the board of education of each city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school district to which the instrument granting the exemption applies.

(B) The county auditor or the county auditor's designee shall serve as the chairperson of the council. The council shall meet at the call of the chairperson. At the first meeting of the council, the council shall select a vice-chairperson. Attendance by a majority of the members of the council constitutes a quorum to conduct the business of the council.

(C)

(1) Annually, the tax incentive review council shall review all agreements granting exemptions from property taxation under Chapter 725. or 1728. or under section 3735.671, 5709.28, 5709.62, 5709.63, or 5709.632 of the Revised Code, and any performance or audit reports required to be submitted pursuant to those agreements. The review shall include agreements granting such exemptions that were entered into prior to July 22, 1994, that continue to be in force and applicable to the current year's property taxes.

With respect to each agreement, other than an agreement entered into under section 5709.28 of the Revised Code, the council shall determine whether the owner of the exempted property has complied with the agreement, and may take into consideration any fluctuations in the business cycle unique to the owner's business.

With respect to an agreement entered into under section 5709.28 of the Revised Code, the council shall consist of the members described in division (A)(2) of this section and shall determine whether the agreement complies with the requirements of section 5709.28 of the Revised Code and whether a withdrawal, removal, or conversion of land from an agricultural security area established under Chapter 931. of the Revised Code has occurred in a manner that makes the exempted property no longer eligible for the exemption.

On the basis of the determinations, on or before the first day of September of each year, the council shall submit to the legislative authority written recommendations for continuation, modification, or cancellation of each agreement.

(2) Annually, the tax incentive review council shall review all exemptions from property taxation resulting from the declaration of public purpose improvements pursuant to section 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.45, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Revised Code. The review shall include such exemptions that were granted prior to July 22, 1994, that continue to be in force and applicable to the current year's property taxes. With respect to each improvement for which an exemption is granted, the council shall determine the increase in the true value of parcels of real property on which improvements have been undertaken as a result of the exemption; the value of improvements exempted from taxation as a result of the exemption; and the number of new employees or employees retained on the site of the improvement as a result of the exemption.

Upon the request of a tax incentive review council, the county auditor, the housing officer appointed pursuant to section 3735.66 of the Revised Code, the owner of a new or remodeled structure or improvement, and the legislative authority of the county, township, or municipal corporation granting the exemption shall supply the council with any information reasonably necessary for the council to make the determinations required under division (C) of this section, including returns or reports filed pursuant to sections 5711.02, 5711.13, and 5727.08 of the Revised Code.

(D) Annually, the tax incentive review council shall review the compliance of each recipient of a tax exemption under Chapter 725. or 1728. or section 3735.67, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.45, 5709.62, 5709.63, 5709.632, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Revised Code with the nondiscriminatory hiring policies developed by the county, township, or municipal corporation under section 5709.832 of the Revised Code. Upon the request of the council, the recipient shall provide the council any information necessary to perform its review. On the basis of its review, the council may submit to the legislative authority written recommendations for enhancing compliance with the nondiscriminatory hiring policies.

(E) A legislative authority that receives from a tax incentive review council written recommendations under division (C)(1) or (D) of this section shall, within sixty days after receipt, hold a meeting and vote to accept, reject, or modify all or any portion of the recommendations.

(F) A tax incentive review council may request from the recipient of a tax exemption under Chapter 725. or 1728. or section 3735.67, 5709.28, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.45, 5709.62, 5709.63, 5709.632, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Revised Code any information reasonably necessary for the council to perform its review under this section. The request shall be in writing and shall be sent to the recipient by certified mail. Within ten days after receipt of the request, the recipient shall provide to the council the information requested.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 233, §1, eff. 8/5/2016.

Effective Date: 03-11-2004; 05-18-2005