City of Round Rock - File #: 2020-0013

• File #: 2020-0013
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Approved
• File created: 12/16/2019
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 1/9/2020
• Final action: 1/9/2020
• Title: Consider public testimony regarding, and an ordinance amending Zoning and Development Code, Chapter 10, Article VIII, Section 10-57, Code of Ordinances (2018 Edition), regarding partial tax exemptions for historically significant sites. (First Reading)*

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/9/2020	1	City Council	approve the first reading	Pass
1/9/2020	1	City Council	dispense with the second reading and adopt	Pass

Title

Consider public testimony regarding, and an ordinance amending Zoning and Development Code, Chapter 10, Article VIII, Section 10-57, Code of Ordinances (2018 Edition), regarding partial tax exemptions for historically significant sites. (First Reading)*

Body

These revisions provide clarification regarding the partial tax exemptions for historically significant sites after Senate Bill 2 was passed earlier this year. Section 25 of Senate Bill 2 requires that the taxing unit (the City) provide written notice of the repeal or reduction of an exemption to the owner not later than five years before the date the governing body repeals or reduces the exemption. The new language proposed for the Code of Ordinances clarifies that SB2 relates only to changes to the partial tax exemption program overall, not the annual tax exemption application status for an individual property. Owners are still required to meet the requirements set forth in the code to qualify for the exemption, including preservation and maintenance standards. If an owner no longer meets the requirements by code for the partial tax exemption program, the City is not required to provide the exemption. However, if the City chooses to repeal or reduce the historic tax exemption program, the City must give the owner five years notice of the repeal or reduction. This Code amendment ensures that only properties that qualify for the program receive the partial tax exemption. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended this amendment at their meeting on 12-04-19. No members of the public commented on the proposed amendment.