Daniel Leaderman reports that Prince
George's County Executive Baker seeks tax break for projects that spur growth.
According to the Gazette article the county executive claims that the measure
would give Prince George's County another tool to attract business.[1]
The legislation, PG 418-12, Prince
George's County - Property Tax - Exemption for Economic Development Projects is
sponsored by Delegation Chair Griffith at the request of the County Executive.[2]
To compete with other cities and
counties and attract businesses Prince George's County could offer incentives
to businesses to locate to a particular area. Among the possible incentives are
tax abatements, loan guarantees, municipal bonds and tax increment incentives.[3]
For a company to invest in a particular location, it must assess the risks of
conducting business there and not somewhere else. Jurisdictions use economic
development incentives to attract and retain business in the expectation of inducing
the production of goods or services that drive a local economy towards
prosperity. It should be kept in mind as noted by De La Cerda." that much
research shows that economic development incentives do not bring prosperity to
local economies; rather, using incentives results in unfair competition among
businesses. Businesses begin pitting cities and counties against each other in battles
of who can provide the better development incentive."[4]
PG 418-12 would provide property
tax reductions for projects located "...within one–half mile of a
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority transit station or one–half-
mile of a Maryland area regional commuter transit station, as measured from the
main entrance of the building to the nearest entrance of the transit
station"[5] , revitalization
tax credit districts, and designated urban renewal areas. The legislation would
permit consideration of relief from property taxes over a fixed period time for
real estate development projects that consist of newly constructed or
rehabilitated commercial or multifamily residential property if the real estate development project consists
of at least one of the following:
- a hotel project a private capital investment of equity and debt combined of at least $20,000,000 that will provide at least 100 full–time equivalent job opportunities; and
- an office building project with private capital investment of equity and debt combined of at least $20,000,000 that provides at least 150 full–time equivalent job opportunities
- a retail facility with a private capital investment of equity and debt combined of at least $10,000,000 that provides at least 100 full–time equivalent job opportunities
- multifamily residential facility with a private capital investment of equity and debt combined of at least $5,000,000
- an off–street parking facility that a. contains at least 250 parking spaces and has a private capital investment of equity and debt combined of at least $2,500,000
County executive Baker is on the
right track. PG 418-12 needs careful consideration
and review, but could be a helpful tool for the adaptive re-use and
revitalization of our established communities . Now we need to dream big - of
projects more than just parking garages like hi-tech agroscience research
centers, alternative energy industries and information technology companies.[6]
·
Prince George's: County of Limited
Vision -
[1] Daniel
Leaderman. December 28, 2011. Baker seeks break for projects that spur
growth. [accessed December 30, 2011] http://www.gazette.net/article/20111228/NEWS/799999613/1029/baker-seeks-property-tax-break-for-projects-that-spur-growth-jobs%26template%3dgazette&template=gazette
[2] Synopsis
PG 418-12 [accessed December 30, 2011] http://www.princegeorgeshousedelegation.com/legislation/bill-history?local=PG%20418-12
For the purpose of providing certain exemptions from
county property tax under certain circumstances for certain economic
development projects located in certain designated focus areas in Prince
George's County; setting forth certain requirements in order to qualify for the
property tax exemption; requiring certain annual reports on projects for which
Prince George's County has entered in payment in lieu of taxes agreements;
defining certain terms; and generally relating to a property tax exemption for
certain property located in Prince George's County.
[3] De
La Cerda, Joeseph E., "Economic Development: An Economic Impact Analysis
of Tax Incentives on a Local Economy" (2010). Applied Research Projects,
Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 341. [accessed December 30, 2011] http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/341
[4] Ibid.
Discussion: Overall, the
research indicates that the construction and opening of
Cabela’s had a significant
impact on the immediate surge in sales tax revenue. Although, minus
the secondary benefits to
quality of life and stronger business presence, the presence of Cabela’s
did not lead to a significant
increase in the trend of sales tax revenue after Cabela’s opened.
[5] Op. cit. PG 418-12
[6] I note that this legislation does not address
small business needs and hope that some incentives for small and medium size
business might be considered
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