Ordinance 12-1986 ORDINANCE NO. 12 -1956
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA,
CALLING A REFERENDUM ON WHETHER TO AUTHORIZE
THE CITY COMMISSION TO GRANT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 3, FLORIDA
CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 196.1995, FLORIDA
STATUTES; PROVIDING FINDINGS, AUTHORITY FOR THIS
ORDINANCE AND FOR AUTHORIZATON TO GRANT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD VALOREM TAX
EXEMPTIONS; PROVIDING FOR REFERENDUM BALLOT
TITLE AND QUESTION AND DIRECTION TO CITY CLERIC;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERARILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Longwood desires to foster and maintain a local economic
development climate that results in a healthy business sector and sustains a quality of life desired
by the residents of our community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Longwood desires to adopt incentives that enable the
community to advance opportunities for quality, sustainable economic development; and
WHEREAS, a prosperous economic base supports self - sufficiency for maintaining
quality municipal services, maximizing economic multiplier effects, and improving the
community's overall quality of living; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission recognizes the need to have' the ability to provide
economic development incentives; and
WHEREAS, one mechanism for fostering and maintaining a positive economic climate
for the expansion of existing businesses and to incentivize new business growth in the City is to
provide for certain property tax exemptions as permitted under Section 196.1995, Florida
Statutes, upon receipt of authorization to do so from the voters of the City by proper referendum;
and
WHEREAS, the development and granting of ad valorem tax exemptions to qualifying
businesses will provide the City of Longwood with an additional economic development
incentive which will enhance the desirability of the City of Longwood for new businesses and
expansions of existing businesses; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article VII, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution and Section
196.1995, Florida Statutes, the Commission of the City of Longwood is authorized to call a
referendum within its jurisdiction to determine whether its respective jurisdiction may grant
economic development ad valorem tax exemptions to qualifying new businesses and expansions
of existing businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to call a referendum pursuant to Section
196.1995, Florida Statutes, in order to determine whether the City Commission should be
granted the authority to grant economic development ad valorem tax exemptions to qualifying
new businesses and expansions of existing businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires for such referendum to be held on November
6, 2012 during the City's regular election.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS The above "Whereas" clauses are adopted by the City Commission
(Commission) of the City of Longwood, Florida as the Commission's legislative findings for
adopting this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. AUTHORITY OF 'THIS ORDINANCE The City Commission of the City of
Longwood has the authority to adopt this Ordinance pursuant to Article VIII of the Florida
Constitution, Chapter 166, Florida. Statutes, the City of Longwood Charter, Section 196.1995,
Florida Statutes, Section 101.161, Florida Statutes, and other applicable provisions of law.
SECTION 3. AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD
VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS Pursuant to Section 196.1995, Florida Statues, and subject
to voter approval by referendum, the Commission is authorized to and may grant by Ordinance
economic development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses relocating in the City of
Longwood and to expansions of existing businesses located in the City of Longwood for up to
100% of the City ad valorem tax levied for a period of up to ten (10) years; provided the
exemption does not apply to taxes levied for the payment of bonds or to taxes authorized by a
vote of the electors pursuant to Section 9 and Section 12, Article VII of the Florida Constitution.
SECTION 4. BALLOT TITLE AND QUESTION The ballot title and question for the
referendum held on November 6, 2012 shall read as follows:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION AUTHORITY
Shall the City Commission of the City of Longwood be authorized to grant, pursuant to Section
3, Article VII of the Florida Constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses, and
expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create new, full -time jobs in the City of
Longwood?
Yes — For authority to grant exemptions.
No — Against authority to grant exemptions.
SECTION 5. DIRECTION TO CITY CLERK The City Clerk shall publish a notice of said
referendum in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Longwood as required by law.
The City Clerk shall promptly notify the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections of the
adoption of this Ordinance and transmit a certified copy of this Ordinance to the Supervisor of
Elections. The City Clerk is hereby directed to take all appropriate steps to see to it that the
referendum called by this Ordinance is placed on the ballot for the next regular City election held
on November 6, 2012 and that such referendum is held.
SECTION 6. REFERENDA RESULTS. If a majority of the votes cast during the election
period. for the referendum are for the Commission to grant exemptions, such proposition shall be
approved and the City Commission shall be authorized to grant economic development ad
valorem tax exemptions by Ordinance as specified hi Section I of this Ordinance and pursuant to
Section 196.1995, Florida Statutes. If the majority of the votes cast during the election period
for the referendum are against the authority for the Commission ad valorem exemptions, the City
Commission shall not be authorized to grant ad valorem. tax exemptions pursuant to Section
196.11995, Florida Statutes.
SECTION 7. SEVERABILITY If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase of this
Ordnance or the particular application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Ordinance which can be given
effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the
Ordinance are declared severable.
SECTION S. EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its
adoption.
FIRST READING: a" r z-
SECOND READING:
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS � DAY OF c3-y_ 2012.
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
ATTE,� '
< �c
Sarah M. Mirus, MMC, MBA, City Cleric Brian D. Sackett, Ma r
Approved as to foi7n and legality for the use and reliance of the City of Longwood, Florida only:
Darttl W. Lan , Ci A ne