§ 62-49. Purpose and intent.

The public health, safety, comfort, economy, order, convenience and general welfare require the harmonious, orderly and progressive development of new businesses and expansion of existing businesses within Florida and its incorporated municipalities and counties. In furtherance of this general purpose, counties by F.S. chs. 125, 163, 192, 196 and 214, Florida Statutes, and Florida Department of Revenue Rules, Chapter 12D-7, Florida Administrative Code, are authorized and empowered to adopt, amend or revise and enforce measures relating to economic development ad valorem tax exemptions for new businesses and expansion of existing businesses. It is the intent of this division to secure or to ensure:

(1)

The establishment of criteria for granting such exemptions to certain types of businesses or industries or for denying exemptions on a rational, nonarbitrary, nondiscriminatory basis by the board.

(2)

No precedent shall be implied or inferred by the granting of an exemption to a new or expanding business. Applications for exemptions shall be considered by the board on a case-by-case basis for each application, after consideration of the property appraiser's report on that application.

(3)

Any exemption granted shall apply up to 100 percent of all assessed value of all improvements to real property made by or for the use of a new business and all tangible personal property of such new business, or up to 100 percent of the assessed value of all added improvements to real property which additions are made to facilitate the expansion of an existing business and of the net increase in all tangible personal property acquired to facilitate such expansion of an existing business.

(4)

Any exemption shall be up to a full ten-year period from the time the exemption is granted.

(5)

No exemption shall be granted on the land which new or expanded businesses are to be located.

(6)

No exemption shall be granted on school or water management district taxes, or on taxes levied for payment of bonds or taxes authorized by a vote of the electors of Okeechobee County pursuant to Sections 9 or 12, Article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Florida.

(Ord. No. 2015-0001, § 4, 1-22-15)