<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gtp" article_name="Tax - Property" number="9-315" 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 Howard County may grant, by law, a property tax credit under this section against the county property tax imposed on:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>property that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is owned by any community association;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>is used for community, civic, educational, library, or park purposes; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>is not a swimming pool, tennis court, or similar recreational facility;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>real property that is subject to the county’s agricultural land preservation program;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, real property that is new construction or an improvement to real property owned or occupied by a commercial or industrial business that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is currently or will be doing business in Howard County;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>will employ at least 12 additional full–time local employees by the second year in which the credit is allowed, not including any employee filling a job created when a job function is shifted from an existing location in the State to the location of the new construction or improvement; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>makes a substantial investment in Howard County, which may be:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the acquisition of a building, land, or equipment that totals at least $2,000,000; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the creation of 10 positions with salaries greater than the current average annual wage in Howard County;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>subject to subsection (b) of this section, real property that is used as a therapeutic riding facility by a nonprofit organization that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>provides services to disabled individuals; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>has at least 85% of its clients who are disabled individuals;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>subject to subsection (b) of this section, owner–occupied residential real property that is jointly owned by an individual and the Howard County Housing Commission; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>subject to subsection (b) of this section, residential or commercial real property that has suffered damage caused by a natural disaster.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In establishing a tax credit under subsection (a)(3) through (6) of this section, the governing body of Howard County:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall develop criteria necessary to implement the credit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>shall designate an agency to administer the credit; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>may specify:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the amount and duration of the credit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the qualifications and application procedures for the credit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>any other requirement or procedure for the granting or administration of the credit that the governing body considers appropriate.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A property tax credit under subsection (a)(3) of this section may not exceed the amount of county property tax imposed on the increase in assessment that is due to the new construction or improvements made to the property of the person applying for the credit.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a property tax credit under subsection (a)(3) of this section is granted for property leased or rented by a commercial or industrial business allowed under this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the amount of the tax credit allowed shall pass through to the commercial or industrial business that conducts the activity that qualifies for the credit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the term of the tax credit may not exceed the term of the lease and may not exceed 10 years.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The governing body of Howard County may grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county property tax imposed on real property that is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>located in designated geographic regions of the county;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>owned by specified classes of persons; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>renovated, upgraded, or rehabilitated in accordance with eligibility criteria established by the county.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The governing body of Howard County, by law, may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>specify the geographic areas of the county, classes of owners, and types of improvements to property eligible for the tax credit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>establish the amount and duration of the tax credit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>establish additional eligibility criteria for the tax credit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>provide for any other provision necessary to carry out the tax credit under this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “dwelling” has the meaning stated in § 9–105 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the governing body of Howard County may grant, by law, a property tax credit against the county property tax imposed on a dwelling that is owned by an individual:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>who has resided in the dwelling for at least 30 consecutive years;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>whose combined income, as defined in § 9–104 of this title, does not exceed $75,000; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>who is at least 65 years old.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The amount of the tax credit granted under this subsection shall equal 100% of any increase in the property tax imposed on the dwelling that is attributable to a county property tax rate that exceeds $1.014 for each $100 of assessment.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The governing body of Howard County may establish, by law:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the duration of the tax credit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>additional eligibility criteria for the tax credit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>regulations and procedures for the application and uniform processing of requests for the tax credit; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>any other provision necessary to carry out the tax credit.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
