(a) Definitions.
(1) In this section, “qualified data center”, “qualified data center personal property”, and “qualified position” have the meanings stated in § 11-239 of the Tax-General Article of the State Code.
(2) “Qualified data center" includes centers in multiple locations in Anne Arundel County owned and operated by the same person or entity.
(b) Creation. Pursuant to § 7-248 of the Tax-Property Article of the State Code, assessments of qualified data center personal property used in a qualified data center subject to County property tax may be reduced as set forth in subsection (c).
(c) Eligibility; duration; amount of reduction in assessment. Qualified data center personal property used in a qualified data center with at least $10 million of total investment in the qualified data center and that created a total of at least 10 qualified positions may qualify for a 15-year reduction in assessment for purposes of County personal property taxes as follows:
(1) a 100% reduction in assessment for the first five taxable years; and
(2) a 50% reduction in assessment for years 6 through 15.
(d) Application or renewal.
(1) The Office of Finance and the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation shall develop an application form and establish procedures to administer the personal property tax assessment reduction under this section. At a minimum, the application form shall require:
(i) the qualified data center to provide a copy of the personal property tax return filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; and
(ii) certification from the qualified data center as to the amount of the investment and the number of qualified positions.
(2) An application for, or renewal of, the reduction in assessment shall be filed no later than April 15 immediately before the taxable year for which the reduction in assessment is sought. If the application or renewal is filed after April 15, the reduction in assessment shall be disallowed for the tax year being applied for but shall be treated as an application or renewal for reduction in assessment for the following taxable year.
(3) The submitted application shall be reviewed and approved or rejected by the Office of Finance and the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation.
(e) Term.
(1) The term of the reduction in assessment begins in the tax year for which the application is first approved.
(2) The term of the reduction in assessment does not restart with additional investment in qualified data center personal property or the addition of qualified positions.
(f) Termination. The reduction of assessment terminates upon the earlier of the following:
(1) the required investment is no longer met;
(2) the required number of qualified positions is no longer met; or
(3) the qualified data center is no longer doing business in the County.
(g) Annual Report.
(1) By September 1 of each year, the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation shall report to the County Executive and the County Council on the implementation of the personal property assessment reduction under this section.
(2) The report shall include, for each qualified data center receiving a reduction in assessment during the previous fiscal year:
(i) the name of the recipient;
(ii) the number of qualified positions created and currently occupied as a result of the activity that qualified the recipient for the reduction in assessment; and
(iii) the amount of the reduction of the County’s personal property tax resulting from the reduction of assessment.
(Bill No. 13-22)