238.3995 Airport development zones.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Airport development project" means a business that locates or expands in an area designated as an airport development zone in this state.

(b) “Full-time job" has the meaning given in s. 238.30 (2m).

(c) “Target population" has the meaning given in s. 238.30 (6).

(d) “Tax benefits" means the development zones capital investment credit under ss. 71.07 (2dm), 71.28 (1dm), and 71.47 (1dm) and the development zones credit under ss. 71.07 (2dx), 71.28 (1dx), and 71.47 (1dx).

(2) Designation of an airport development zone.

(a) Subject to pars. (c) and (e), the corporation may designate an area as an airport development zone if the corporation determines all of the following:

1. That an airport development project is desired for the area, as evidenced by a resolution of the governing body of each county, city, village, and town in which territory of the airport development zone will be located.

2. That the airport development project serves a public purpose.

3. That the airport development project will likely retain or increase employment in the state.

4. That the airport development project is not likely to occur or continue without the corporation designation of the area as an airport development zone.

5. That the airport development project will likely positively affect the area.

6. That an airport is located in the area designated as an airport development zone, that the airport has at least 2 runways at the time of the designation, and that the airport's primary runway is at least 5,000 feet in length and its secondary runway is at least 3,000 feet in length.

(b) In making a determination under par. (a), the corporation shall consider all of the following:

1. The extent of poverty, unemployment, or other factors contributing to general economic hardship in the area.

2. The prospects for new investment and economic development in the area.

3. The amount of investment that is likely to result from the airport development project.

4. The number of full-time jobs that are likely to be created as a result of the airport development project.

5. The number of full-time jobs that are likely to be available to the target population as a result of the project.

6. The competitive effect of designating the area as an airport development zone on other businesses in the area.

7. The needs of other areas of the state.

8. Any other factors that the corporation considers relevant.

(c)

1. The corporation may not designate as an airport development zone, or as any part of an airport development zone, an area that is located within the boundaries of an area that is designated as a development zone under s. 238.31, as a development opportunity zone under s. 238.395, or as an enterprise development zone under s. 238.397.

2. The corporation shall give the department of transportation the opportunity to review and comment on any proposed designation under this subsection and the department of transportation may deny any such designation if the department of transportation determines that the designation would compromise the airport's safety or utility. The department of transportation may also review and comment on any land use or compatibility issues related to any proposed designation under this subsection.

3. A proposed designation under this subsection shall comply with all relevant local ordinances.

(d) Notwithstanding pars. (a) to (c), and except as provided in par. (e), the corporation shall designate as an airport development zone the area within the boundaries of Adams, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Oneida, Portage, Price, Shawano, Taylor, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood, and Vilas counties.

(e) No area may be designated as an airport development zone under this subsection on or after March 6, 2009.

(3) Duration of designation; limits on tax benefits.

(a) When the corporation designates an area as an airport development zone, the corporation shall specify the length of time, not to exceed 84 months, that the designation is effective, subject to par. (d). The corporation shall notify each person certified for tax benefits in an airport development zone, the department of revenue, the department of transportation, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, and the governing body of each county, city, village, town, and federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in which territory of the airport development zone is located of the designation of and expiration date of the airport development zone.

(b) When the corporation designates an area as an airport development zone, the corporation shall establish a limit, not to exceed $3,000,000, for tax benefits applicable to the airport development zone, except that the corporation shall limit the amount of tax benefits applicable to the airport development zone designated under sub. (2) (d) to $750,000. The total tax benefits applicable to all airport development zones may not exceed $9,000,000, less any amount allocated to technology zones under s. 238.23 (2) (b) and to agricultural development zones under s. 238.398 (2) (b), and except that the total amount allocated to all technology zones under s. 238.23 (2) (b) and to all agricultural development zones under s. 238.398 (2) (b), may not exceed $6,000,000. The corporation may not reallocate amounts as provided under this paragraph on or after January 1, 2010, except that the corporation may, after 48 months from the month of any designation under this section, evaluate the area designated as an airport development zone and reallocate the amount of available tax benefits.

(c) Annually, the corporation shall estimate the amount of forgone state revenue because of tax benefits claimed by persons in each airport development zone.

(d)

1. Notwithstanding the length of time specified by the corporation under par. (a), the designation of an area as an airport development zone shall expire 90 days after the day on which the corporation determines that the forgone tax revenues estimated under par. (c) will equal or exceed the limit established for the airport development zone.

2. The corporation shall immediately notify each person certified for tax benefits in an airport development zone, the department of revenue, the department of transportation, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, and the governing body of each county, city, village, town, and federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in which territory of the airport development zone is located of a change in the expiration date of the airport development zone under this paragraph.

(4) Certification for tax benefits.

(a) A person that intends to operate a place of business in an airport development zone may submit to the corporation an application and a business plan. The business plan shall include all of the following:

1. The name and address of the person's business for which tax benefits will be claimed.

2. The appropriate Wisconsin tax identification number of the person.

3. The names and addresses of other locations outside of the airport development zone where the person conducts business and a description of the business activities conducted at those locations.

4. The amount that the person proposes to invest in the place of business or to spend on the construction, rehabilitation, repair, or remodeling of a building in the airport development zone.

5. The estimated total investment of the person in the airport development zone.

6. The estimated number of full-time jobs that will be created, retained, or substantially upgraded as a result of the person's place of business in the airport development zone in relation to the amount of tax benefits estimated for the person.

7. The person's plans to make reasonable attempts to hire employees from the target population.

8. The estimated number of full-time jobs that will be filled by members of the target population.

10. Any other information required by the corporation or the department of revenue.

(am) A person that intends to operate a business in the airport development zone designated under sub. (2) (d) may submit to the corporation an application and a business plan that includes all of the information required under par. (a). In approving business plans submitted under this paragraph, the corporation shall give higher priority to airport development projects located or proposed to be located in areas that have a low median household income, as determined by the corporation.

(ar) The corporation may not accept or approve any applications or business plans submitted under par. (a) on or after March 6, 2009.

(b)

1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the corporation approves a business plan under par. (a) or (am), the corporation shall certify the person as eligible for tax benefits. The corporation shall notify the department of revenue within 30 days of certifying a person under this paragraph.

2. No person may be certified under this paragraph on or after March 6, 2009.

(c) The corporation shall revoke a person's certification under par. (b) when the designation of the applicable airport development zone expires or if the person does any of the following:

1. Supplies false or misleading information to obtain the tax benefits.

2. Leaves the airport development zone to conduct substantially the same business outside of the airport development zone.

3. Ceases operations in the airport development zone and does not renew operation of the business or a similar business in the airport development zone within 12 months.

(d) The corporation shall notify the department of revenue within 30 days after revoking a certification under par. (c).

(e) The tax benefits for which a person is certified as eligible under par. (b) are not transferable to another person, business, or location, except to the extent permitted under section 383 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(5) Verification of information. The corporation annually shall verify information submitted to the corporation under ss. 71.07 (2dm) and (2dx), 71.28 (1dm) and (1dx), and 71.47 (1dm) and (1dx) as it relates to airport development zones.

History: 2005 a. 487; 2007 a. 96 s. 131; 2007 a. 183; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 32 s. 3438; Stats. 2011 s. 238.3995.