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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT (FILE# 20-0768)
(Business and Economic Development Committee 1/15/2020)
Sponsored by: DONNA MILLER, County Commissioners
AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 74, ARTICLE II, REAL PROPERTY TAXATION
WHEREAS, the Cook County Property Tax Incentive program is one of the most effective tools to attract and retain businesses in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the program is particularly important in areas that have economic stagnation and high property tax rates such as exists in the Southland; and
WHEREAS, part of the changes included a shift in the affidavit requirements of the incentive program, which changed from a 3-year requirement to an annual requirement. This change created an administrative burden on small businesses; and
WHEREAS, the County seeks to minimize administrative burden and facilitate new business creation while maintaining compliance with tax incentive requirements; and
WHEREAS, extending the assessment year waiver would allow time to bring businesses into compliance with the incentive requirements;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that Chapter 74 - Taxation, Article II - Real Property Taxation, Division 2 - Classification System for Assessment, Section 74-75, of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 74-75. - Incentive classification affidavit requirement waiver.
(a) This Section shall apply to existing incentives classifications, pending applications and eligibility/renewal applications submitted during the 2017, and 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 assessment year years. The Assessor's Office shall liberally construe this Section to effectuate its intent as set forth in subsections (b) and (c) below.
(b) Compliance with the existing affidavit requirements of Sections 74-71(a)(2) and (a)(8), 74-71(b)(7), 74-71(c)(2), 74-72 and 74-74 (b) and (d) shall be waived for the 2017, and 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 assessment years. Such waiver shall be lifted at the beginning of the 2019 2022 assessment year and the affidavit requirements of Sections 74-71, 74-72 and 74-74 that are then in effect shall be effective for the 2019 2022 assessment year and subsequent assessment years.
(c) Existing incentives classifications, pending applications and eligibility/renewal applications submitted during the 2017, and 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 assessment year years shall not be suspended, revoked or terminated for failure to comply with the affidavit requirements of Sections 74-71(a)(2) and (a)(8), 74-71(b)(7), 74-71(c)(2), 74-72 and 74-74(b) and (d), and all affidavits submitted pursuant to such Sections shall be considered void for any purpose.
Effective Date: This Ordinance Amendment shall be effective upon passage.
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