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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 10-18.2 High-performance inclusionary housing tax credit.">
  <section prefix="§" num="10-18.2" heading="High-performance inclusionary housing tax credit.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Definitions.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">In &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt;, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Affordable unit.">“Affordable unit” means a dwelling unit that is required by City Code &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; to be provided to a family earning an income that is either:<para num="(i)">low income;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">moderate income;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">very low income; or</para>
        <para num="(iv)">extremely low income.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)" heading="AMI.">“AMI” means the area median income for the metropolitan region that encompasses Baltimore City, as published and annually updated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.</para>
      <para num="(4)" heading="Extremely low income.">“Extremely low income” means a household income below 30% AMI.</para>
      <para num="(5)" heading="High-performance.">“High-performance” means a high-performance building as defined in &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gtp|9-242"&gt;State Tax-Property Article § 9-242 &lt;/cite&gt;{“High performance buildings”}.</para>
      <para num="(6)" heading="Low income.">“Low income” means a household income at or below 60% AMI.</para>
      <para num="(7)" heading="Market-rate rental housing project.">“Market-rate rental housing project” means a multi-family dwelling:<para num="(i)">that contains 20 or more rental units; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">in which none of the rental units are subject to governmental restrictions on the amount of rent charged or on the tenant’s income level, except to the extent specifically required by City Code &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(8)" heading="Moderate income.">“Moderate income” means a household income at or below 80% AMI.</para>
      <para num="(9)" heading="Newly constructed or converted.">“Newly constructed or converted” means a high-performance market-rate rental housing project:<para num="(i)">that is either:<para num="(A)">newly constructed on a vacant lot, cleared site, or parking lot;</para>
          <para num="(B)">converted from a non-residential use; or</para>
          <para num="(C)">a wholly renovated structure; and</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(ii)">for which:<para num="(A)">the cost of the construction or conversion exceeds $60,000 per rental unit; and</para>
          <para num="(B)">a 1st occupancy permit following substantial completion of the construction or conversion is issued after January 1, 2024.</para>
        </para>
      </para>
      <para num="(10)" heading="Very low income.">“Very low income” means a household income at or below 50% AMI.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Program goal.">The goal of this program is to facilitate those inclusionary housing requirements established under &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; of the City Code.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Credit granted.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">
        <para num="(i)">In accordance with State Tax - Property Article § 9-242 {“High performance buildings”}, a High-Performance Inclusionary Housing Tax Credit is granted against the City property tax imposed on eligible newly constructed or converted high-performance market-rate rental housing projects that provide affordable units as required by &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; of the City Code.</para>
        <para num="(ii)">The tax credit described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be equal to the actual amount of the difference between the market rate rent and the rental rate for each affordable unit in the months in which that affordable unit was rented.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Timing of credit.">The tax credit detailed in paragraph (1) of this subsection commences with the first full year tax bill issued for the property after the Department of Finance has received a complete application for the tax credit and documentation of the actual rent charged in the prior year for the completed project.</para>
      <para num="(3)" heading="Measures.">
        <para num="(i)">The accounting year for the calculation of the difference between the market rate rent and the rent for each affordable unit is January 1 to December 31 of each calendar year.</para>
        <para num="(ii)">All accounting required under this subtitle shall be submitted to the Department of Finance by January 15 following the termination of the previous accounting year.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Credit.">The amount of the tax credit described under subsection (c)(1) of &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; shall be deducted from the next July property tax bill after verification by the Department of Finance.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Credit limits.">
      <para num="(1)">The tax credit granted under &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; may not, alone or combined with any other credit, exceed the amount of the property tax imposed on the property in any tax year.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The tax credit granted under &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; only applies to the required units outlined in City Code &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Eligibility requirements.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">To receive the tax credit, the owner of the high-performance market-rate rental housing project must:<para num="(i)">apply to the Department of Finance for the credit in the form and format required under paragraph (2) of this subsection;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">provide the Department of Finance an accounting of how many rental units are set aside as affordable units;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">demonstrate to the Department of Finance compliance with &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; of the City Code; and</para>
        <para num="(iv)">demonstrate to the Department of Finance the difference between the market rent that would have been charged for a market rate rental unit and the rent charged for an affordable unit.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Application.">
        <para num="(i)">The owner shall:<para num="(A)">submit the application for the tax credit to the Department of Finance in the form and format required by the Department of Finance; and</para>
          <para num="(B)">pay the application fee as set by the Board of Estimates.</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(ii)">If the property is transferred at any time, the new owner shall file an application to continue the credit in the form required by the Department of Finance.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(g)" heading="Ineligibility.">The tax credit granted under &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; does not apply to any project that proposes more than 20% of its units be set aside for renters earning 60% of AMI or below.</para>
    <para num="(h)" heading="Additional requirements.">A tax credit granted under &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; shall:<para num="(1)">be subject to eligibility requirements no less stringent than those applicable to credits authorized under State Tax – Property Article § 9-242 {“High performance buildings”};</para>
      <para num="(2)">before a period of 30 years for each property, starting with the first full year tax bill issued for the property after the Department of Finance has received a complete application for the tax credit and documentation of the actual rent charged in the prior year for the completed project</para>
      <para num="(3)">be fully transferrable to a new owner for the remaining credit period; and</para>
      <para num="(4)">terminate if, during the credit period, the project:<para num="(i)">fails to maintain its high-performance rating; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">fails to provide the affordable units required by &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; of the City Code.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(i)" heading="Continuing eligibility.">The property owner shall ensure that, during the credit period, the project for which the credit was granted is:<para num="(1)">in full compliance with the &lt;cite data-path="|codes"&gt;City Building, Fire, and Related Codes Article&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
      <para num="(2)">maintains its high-performance rating; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">continues to provide affordable units as required by &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; of the City Code.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(j)" heading="Tax subsidy duplication allowed.">The tax credit authorized by &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; may apply to any property for which any other tax subsidy from the City is being received or has been applied for, whether:<para num="(1)">in the form of a tax credit,</para>
      <para num="(2)">in the form of a payment in lieu of taxes agreement; or</para>
      <para num="(3)">in form of tax increment financing.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(k)" heading="Administration.">The Director of Finance may:<para num="(1)">subject to &lt;cite data-path="|general|4"&gt;Title 4 {“Administrative Procedure Act - Regulations”} of the City General Provisions Article&lt;/cite&gt;, adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
      <para num="(2)">settle disputed claims arising in connection with the credit authorized by &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt;; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">delegate powers, duties, or functions in connection with the administration of the credit authorized by &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; to any employee or agency of the City.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(l)" heading="Annual report.">
      <para num="(1)">Each fiscal year, the estimated amount of all tax credits received by property owners under &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt;:<para num="(i)">shall be reported by the Director of Finance as a tax expenditure; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">shall be included by the Department of Finance in the City’s budget publications for any subsequent fiscal year with the estimated or actual City property tax revenue.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">On or before July 1 of each year, the Director of Finance shall submit a report that includes an analysis of the tax credit and its findings to the:<para num="(i)">Board of Estimates;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">Mayor; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">City Council.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)">Every 2 years the Department of Finance and the Department of Housing and Community Development shall conduct a study and submit a report to the Board of Estimates, Mayor, and City Council that:<para num="(i)">evaluates the impact of the tax credit established by &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt;;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">states a conclusion about whether the program goal established in subsection (b) of &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; is being met; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">makes recommendations to modify &lt;cite data-path="|28|II|10|10-18.2"&gt;this section&lt;/cite&gt; to better meet the program goal.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(m)">Termination of program.
The Department of Finance may accept applications for the credit for a period of time that is concurrent with the term of the inclusionary housing requirements established by &lt;cite data-path="|13|I|2B"&gt;Article 13, Subtitle 2B {“Inclusionary Housing Requirements”}&lt;/cite&gt; of the City Code.</para>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
