Okaloosa County BOCC — June 7, 2016 — Public Hearing Request - Adoption of the Capacity Expansion Charge — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: June 7, 2016 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Roland Sims Jr. SUBJECT: Public Hearing Request - Adoption of the Capacity Expansion Charge Deferral Ordinance DEPARTMENT: County Administrator BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Previously staff was directed to review the possibility of creating a deferral program for the payment of Water and Sewer Capacity Expansion Charges. Staff, working with the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, has proposed a deferral program for Water and Sewer Capacity Charges that would be available to assist in economic development efforts in the County. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: Previously staff was directed to review the possibility of creating a deferral program for the payment of Water and Sewer Capacity Expansion Charges. Staff, working with the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, has proposed a deferral program for Water and Sewer Capacity Charges that would be available to assist in economic development efforts in the County. Under the proposed Ordinance, non-residential businesses which have applied for and received an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption by the County and which are certified by the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County as a high impact economic development project within a target industry business as established under the provisions of section 288.0106, Florida Statutes. A high impact economic development project shall be a project which creates one hundred (100) new high impact jobs and/or will provide a capital investment of at least ten million dollars ($10,000,000). If the non-residential business qualifies for the deferral, they will be allowed to pay the water and sewer capacity expansion charges on their utility bill, once service is instituted, and pay the amount due over a period of three years in equal monthly payments. Ten percent of the total amount owed will be required to be paid up front. If the non- residential business fails to pay, then the remaining amount owed may be collected on the ad valorem tax bill for the property as a non-ad valorem assessment. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove the scheduling of a public hearing for the adoption of the Capacity Expansion Charge Deferral Ordinance. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the scheduling of a public hearing for the adoption of an Ordinance authorizing the granting of deferrals of Capacity Expansion Charges for economic development purposes at the Board’s July 6th, 2016 meeting and direct staff to advertise the Ordinance as required by law. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator