Virginia Law

Article 4.2. Local Enterprise Zone Development Taxation Program.

As used in this article, unless the context clearly shows otherwise, the term or phrase:

"Base assessed value" means the assessed value of real estate or machinery and tools within a local enterprise zone as shown upon the records of the local assessing officer on January 1 of the year preceding the effective date of the ordinance establishing the local enterprise zone development taxation.

"Current assessed value" means the annual assessed value of real estate or machinery and tools in a local enterprise zone as shown upon the records of the local assessing officer.

"Enterprise zone" means an area designated by the Governor as an enterprise zone pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 59.1-538 et seq.) of Title 59.1.

"Local enterprise zone" means an enterprise zone designated as a local enterprise zone by an ordinance adopted pursuant to § 58.1-3245.8.

"Tax increment" means all or a portion of the amount by which the current assessed value of real estate or machinery and tools, or both, in a local enterprise zone exceeds the base assessed value.

1997, c. 314; 2005, cc. 863, 884.

It is hereby found and declared that the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth are dependent upon the continual encouragement, development, growth, and expansion of the private sector within the Commonwealth and that there are certain areas in the Commonwealth that need the attention of local governments to attract private sector investment. Local government efforts to encourage private investment in areas designated by the Governor as enterprise zones will complement the efforts of the Commonwealth to stimulate business and industrial growth in such areas. It is essential to the public interest that governing bodies of counties, cities, and towns have authority to use tax increments to encourage private investment in local enterprise zones.

1997, c. 314.

A. The governing body of any county, city, or town may adopt a local enterprise zone development taxation program by passing an ordinance designating an enterprise zone located within its boundaries as a local enterprise zone; however, an ordinance may designate an area as a local enterprise zone contingent upon the designation of the area as an enterprise zone pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 59.1-538 et seq.) of Title 59.1. If the county, city, or town contains more than one enterprise zone, such ordinance may designate one or more as a local enterprise zone. If an enterprise zone is located in more than one county, city, or town, the governing body may designate the portion of the enterprise zone located within its boundaries as a local enterprise zone. An ordinance designating a local enterprise zone shall provide that all or a specified percentage of the real estate taxes, machinery and tools taxes, or both, in the local enterprise zone shall be assessed, collected and allocated in the following manner:

1. The local assessing officer shall record in the appropriate books both the base assessed value and the current assessed value of the real estate or machinery and tools, or both, in the local enterprise zone.

2. Real estate taxes or machinery and tools taxes attributable to the lower of the current assessed value or base assessed value of real estate or machinery and tools located in a local enterprise zone shall be allocated by the treasurer or director of finance as they would be in the absence of such ordinance.

3. All or the specified percentage of the increase in real estate taxes or machinery and tools taxes, or both, attributable to the difference between (i) the current assessed value of such property and (ii) the base assessed value of such property shall be allocated by the treasurer or director of finance and paid into a special fund entitled the "Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund" to be used as provided in § 58.1-3245.10. Such amounts paid into the fund shall not include any additional revenues resulting from an increase in the tax rate on real estate or machinery and tools after the adoption of a local enterprise zone development taxation ordinance, nor shall it include any additional revenues merely resulting from an increase in the assessed value of real estate or machinery and tools which were located in the zone prior to the adoption of a local enterprise zone development taxation ordinance unless such property is improved or enhanced.

B. The governing body shall hold a public hearing on the need for a local enterprise zone development taxation program in the county, city, or town prior to adopting a local enterprise zone development taxation ordinance. Notice of the public hearing shall be published three times in each newspaper of general circulation in such county, city, or town, with the first publication appearing no more than 35 days before and the third publication appearing no less than seven days before the hearing. The notice shall include the time, place and purpose of the public hearing; define local enterprise zone development taxation; indicate the proposed boundaries of the local enterprise zone; state whether all or a specified percentage of real property or machinery or tools, or both, will be subject to local enterprise zone development taxation; and describe the purposes for which funds in the Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund are authorized to be used.

1997, c. 314; 2005, cc. 863, 884; 2023, cc. 506, 507; 2024, cc. 225, 242.

The governing body shall transmit to the local assessing officer and treasurer or director of finance a copy of the local enterprise zone development taxation ordinance, a description of all real estate or machinery and tools, or both, located within the local enterprise zone, a map indicating the boundaries of the local enterprise zone and the manner of collecting and allocating real estate taxes or machinery and tools taxes pursuant to this article.

1997, c. 314.

A. Any county, city, or town which adopts a local enterprise zone development taxation program may use funds in the Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund for any one or more of the following purposes:

1. To provide enhanced law-enforcement and other governmental services, including financing transportation projects, as may be appropriate to secure and promote private investment in the local enterprise zone;

2. To make grants to chambers of commerce and similar organizations within such county, city, or town in order to secure and promote economic development within the local enterprise zone; or

3. To make grants to any industrial development authority created by the governing body pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 15.2-4900 et seq.) of Title 15.2, in order to secure and promote economic development within the local enterprise zone.

B. Any revenues in the Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund which are not used for a purpose authorized by subsection A shall be deemed "surplus funds." At the end of the tax year, all surplus funds may be paid into the general fund of the county, city, or town in which the local enterprise zone is located.

1997, c. 314.

The existence of a local enterprise zone shall terminate, and the Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund shall dissolve, upon the earliest to occur of (i) the passage by the governing body of an ordinance repealing the local enterprise zone taxation ordinance or (ii) the termination of designation of the area as an enterprise zone. When the Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund is dissolved, any revenue remaining in the Fund shall be paid into the general fund of the county, city, or town.

Upon dissolving the Local Enterprise Zone Development Fund, the real estate or machinery and tools, or both, shall be assessed and taxes collected in the same manner as applicable in the year preceding the adoption of the local enterprise zone development taxation ordinance.

1997, c. 314.

The governing body of any county, city, or town may also adopt a local enterprise zone development taxation program for a technology zone, as described in § 58.1-3850, a defense production and support services zone, as described in § 58.1-3853, or a green development zone, as described in § 58.1-3854, located within its boundaries, regardless of whether such technology zone, defense production and support services zone, or green development zone has been designated by the Governor as an enterprise zone pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 59.1-538 et seq.) of Title 59.1. Such program for a technology zone, defense production and support services zone, or green development zone shall be adopted by local ordinance. All other provisions in this article as they relate to a local enterprise zone development taxation program for enterprise zones shall apply to such program for technology, defense production and support services, or green development zone.

2002, c. 449; 2005, cc. 863, 884; 2011, cc. 875, 877; 2012, c. 91; 2017, c. 27.