§ 5-57. Assessor authorized to freeze assessment of rehabilitated properties.

To better achieve the rehabilitation of blighted property the city assessor is authorized to freeze the assessment of any property that was the object of an enforcement action by any member of the code enforcement committee and has been substantially rehabilitated. Upon recommendation by the code enforcement committee and approval by the city council, the city assessor shall freeze the assessment of any property that has been substantially rehabilitated to reflect the property assessment as of a date determined by the city council that is prior to rehabilitation. Said freeze shall be applicable upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and shall remain in effect for a period of five (5) years. No property owner shall receive this benefit if it was determined that the property owner or the property owner's spouse, business partner or other entity associated with the property owner caused any condition or violation of any code or regulation that required enforcement. If, however, the property becomes the object of an enforcement action by any member of the code enforcement committee during the five-year period, the adjusted assessment may be revoked by the city assessor. The application for a tax freeze benefit shall be applied for within twelve (12) months of the date a building permit application was granted for the work to improve said property to receive a tax assessment or as recommended by the code enforcement committee. The code enforcement committee can recommend the granting of extensions of time to apply only with significant circumstances which prove that the applicant could not have applied within one year.

With regard to unimproved land, to better achieve the rehabilitation and construction upon vacant lots within the city, the city assessor is authorized to assign an assessment of any property that was the object of an enforcement action by any member of the code enforcement committee and has been substantially in a manner as described herein. Upon recommendation by the code enforcement committee and approval by the city council, the city assessor shall assign an assessment schedule so that the taxes due on said property shall be payable at a rate of fifty (50) percent of total taxes due in tax year one (1); sixty (60) percent of total tax due in tax year two (2); seventy (70) percent of total tax due in tax year three (3); eighty (80) percent of total tax due in tax year four (4); ninety (90) percent of total tax due in tax year five (5); and one hundred (100) percent taxable thereafter. Said abatement shall be applicable upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. No property owner shall receive this benefit if it was determined that the property owner or the property owner's spouse, business partner or other entity associated with the homeowner caused any condition or violation of any code or regulation that required enforcement. If, however the property becomes the object of an enforcement action by any member of the code enforcement committee during the five-year tax abatement period, the adjusted assessment may be revoked by the city assessor. The application for a tax relief shall be applied for within twelve (12) months of the date of the building permit application was granted for the work to improve the property. The code enforcement committee can grant an extension of time to apply only with significant circumstances that demonstrates why the applicant could not apply within the twelve-month deadline.

(Ord. of 10-13-98; Ord. of 4-8-08; Ord. of 10-14-08; Ord. of 6-9-09; Ord. of 11-13-12; Ord. of 4-10-18)