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<section article="gtp" article_name="Tax - Property" number="9-306" title_number="9" title_name="Property Tax Credits and Property Tax Relief" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Counties to Which General Provisions Are Applicable">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The governing body of Calvert County and of a municipal corporation in Calvert County shall grant a tax credit under this section against the county and municipal corporation property tax imposed on:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>real property that is owned by the Calvert Arundel Medical Facility, Incorporated; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>agricultural land, not including any improvements, that is located in an agricultural preservation district.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The governing body of Calvert County shall grant a property tax credit under this section against the county tax imposed on:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>real property that is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>owned by a nonprofit community or civic improvement association or corporation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>used only for a community, civic, educational, or library purpose, if:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>unless the compensation is used only to improve or maintain the property, the use is not contingent on the payment of compensation; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>unless the compensation is used only to improve or maintain the property, failure to pay compensation is not a reason to deny admission to or use of the property;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>real property that is owned by the Calvert County Sportsmen’s Club, Incorporated; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>real property that is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>located in the 2nd election district of Calvert County;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>actually used for the Calvert County Fair; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>known as the Calvert County Fairgrounds.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on a building that is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>located on land that qualifies for an agricultural use assessment; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>used in connection with an activity that is recognized by the Department as an approved agricultural activity.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on real property that is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>owned by the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Incorporated; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>leased to the United States Postal Service for use as a post office.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on real property that is owned by the Calvert Post No. 85, the American Legion Department of Maryland, Incorporated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on real property that is owned by members of volunteer fire and rescue companies.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The governing body of Calvert County may provide, by law, for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the amount and duration of the tax credit under this subsection; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the criteria for qualifying for the tax credit under this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on real property owned by an expanding or new business that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>employs at least 25 new additional full–time employees, the salaries for which must be greater than the county annual average salary in the economic development target market sector, as determined by the county; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>acquires at least $2,500,000 in land, improvements to the land, or equipment in the county.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the expanding or new business is engaged in the generation of electricity or liquefaction of natural gas, the credit under this section may be granted against the county property tax imposed on personal property, operating personal property, real property, or operating real property owned by the expanding or new business.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The tax credit under this section shall be granted to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a business that owns the land and building it occupies within the county; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any party responsible for paying the real property taxes on all or part of the land or building.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The amount of the credit may not exceed 50% of the amount of property tax due in any taxable year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The governing body of Calvert County may define, fix, or limit the amount, terms, scope, and duration of any credit provided for or affirmed under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In this subsection the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Commerce zone” means a priority funding area in Calvert County designated by the governing body of Calvert County as a commerce zone.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>“New or expanded premises” means commercial or industrial real property, including a building or part of a building that has not been previously occupied, where a business entity locates to conduct business.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on real property owned by a business entity that meets the requirements specified under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>To qualify for a property tax credit under this subsection, a business entity shall obtain new or expanded premises in a commerce zone by purchasing newly constructed premises, constructing new premises, or causing new premises to be constructed.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If a business entity meets the requirements under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the property tax credit granted under this subsection shall equal a percentage of the amount of county property tax imposed on the assessment of the new or expanded premises, as follows:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>50% for each of the first 5 taxable years;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>25% in taxable years 6 and 7;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>15% in taxable years 8 through 10; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>0% for each taxable year thereafter.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The governing body of Calvert County may provide, by law, for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the specific eligibility requirements for the tax credit authorized under this subsection;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any additional limitations on eligibility for the credit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>any other provision necessary to implement the credit.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The governing body of Calvert County may grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county property tax imposed on real property that was formerly used solely as a tobacco barn if the real property:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is located on land that is subject to a tobacco buyout agreement; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>is located on land that qualifies for an agricultural use assessment; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is used in connection with an activity that is recognized by the Department as an approved agricultural activity.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In authorizing a credit under this subsection, the governing body of the county may provide, by law, for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the amount of the credit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the duration of the credit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>any other provision necessary to administer the credit.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
