(a) The Council of the City of Chardon ("City Council") has granted or will grant exemptions from taxation under the Ohio Revised Code and hereby creates a Tax Incentive Review Council ("TIRC"). The TIRC shall consist of the following members who shall each serve a four year term: the City Manager or designee, a member of City Council appointed by the President of Council, the Geauga County Auditor or the Auditor's designee, the Finance Director, a person appointed by the Board of Education of Chardon Local School District, and two members of the public appointed by the President of the City Council with the concurrence of the City Council, at least one of whom is African-American, Hispanic, or Native American.
(b) The Geauga County Auditor or the Geauga County Auditor's designee shall serve as the chairperson of the TIRC. The TIRC shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The TIRC shall select a vice-chairperson to serve for a term of four years at the first meeting. Attendance by a majority of the members of the Council constitutes a quorum to conduct the TIRC's business.
(c) The Tax Incentive Review Council shall annually review all agreements granting exemptions from property taxation under Chapters 725 or 1728 or under sections 3735.671, 5709.28, 5709.62, 5709.63, or 5709.632 of the Ohio Revised Code, and any performance or audit reports required to be submitted pursuant to those agreements. The TIRC shall review all agreements granting tax exemptions that continue to be in force and are applicable to the real property taxes for the current year.
(d) The TIRC shall determine whether the owner of the exempted property has complied with the agreement. The TIRC may consider fluctuations in the business cycle unique to the owner's business when determining compliance.
(e) The Tax Incentive Review Council shall annually review all exemptions from property taxation resulting from the declaration of public purpose improvements pursuant to sections 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Ohio Revised Code. The review shall include exemptions that continue to be in force and applicable to the current year's real property taxes. With respect to each improvement for which an exemption is granted, the TIRC shall determine the increase in the true value of parcels of real property on which improvements have been undertaken as a result of the exemption; the value of improvements exempted from taxation as a result of the exemption; and the number of new employees or employees retained on the site of the improvement as a result of the exemption.
(f) Upon the request of the Tax Incentive Review Council, the Geauga County Auditor, the housing officer appointed pursuant to section 3735.66 of the Ohio Revised Code, the owner of a new or remodeled structure or improvement, and the City Council shall supply the TIRC with information reasonably necessary for the Council to make the determinations required under this section, including returns or reports filed pursuant to sections 5711.02, 5711.13, and 5727.08 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(g) The Tax Incentive Review Council shall annually review the compliance of each recipient of a tax exemption under Chapter 725, or 1728, or section 3735.67, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.62, 5709.63, 5709.632, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Ohio Revised Code with the nondiscriminatory hiring policies developed by the City of Chardon under section 5709.832 of the Ohio Revised Code. Upon request, the recipient shall provide the TIRC with any information necessary to perform its review. After its review, the TIRC may submit to the City Council written recommendations for enhancing compliance with the nondiscriminatory hiring policies
(h) The Tax Incentive Review Council may request from the recipient of a tax exemption under Chapter 725 or 1728, or section 3735.67, 5709.28, 5709.40, 5709.41, 5709.62, 5709.63, 5709.632, 5709.73, or 5709.78 of the Ohio Revised Code such information the TIRC deems reasonably necessary to perform its review under this section. The request shall be in writing and shall be served upon the recipient personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested. The recipient shall provide to the Council the information requested within ten days after receipt of the request.
(i) On or before the first day of April of each year, the TIRC shall submit its written recommendations to the City Council for continuation, modification, or cancellation of each agreement.
(j) Within sixty days after receipt of the written recommendations of the Tax Incentive Review Council, the City Council shall hold a meeting and vote to accept, reject, or modify all or any portion of the recommendations.
(Ord. 2884. Passed 7-9-15.)