(a) An applicant must provide a statement of benefits to the designating body. If the designating body requires information from the applicant for economic revitalization area status for use in making its decision about whether to designate an economic revitalization area, the applicant shall provide the completed statement of benefits form to the designating body before the hearing required by section 2.5(c) of this chapter. Otherwise, the statement of benefits form must be submitted to the designating body before the initiation of the redevelopment or rehabilitation, or a new agricultural improvement for which the person desires to claim a deduction under this chapter. The department of local government finance shall prescribe a form for the statement of benefits. The statement of benefits must include the following information:

1. (1) A description of the proposed redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement.
2. (2) An estimate of the number of individuals who will be employed or whose employment will be retained by the person as a result of the redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement and an estimate of the annual salaries of these individuals.

3. (3) An estimate of the value of the redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement.

   With the approval of the designating body, the statement of benefits may be incorporated in a designation application. Notwithstanding any other law, a statement of benefits is a public record that may be inspected and copied under IC 5-14-3-3 .

(b) The designating body must review the statement of benefits required under subsection (a). The designating body shall determine whether an area should be designated an economic revitalization area or whether a deduction should be allowed, based on (and after it has made) the following findings:

1. (1) Whether the estimate of the value of the redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement is reasonable for projects of that nature.
2. (2) Whether the estimate of the number of individuals who will be employed or whose employment will be retained can be reasonably expected to result from the proposed described redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement.
3. (3) Whether the estimate of the annual salaries of those individuals who will be employed or whose employment will be retained can be reasonably expected to result from the proposed described redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement.
4. (4) Whether any other benefits about which information was requested are benefits that can be reasonably expected to result from the proposed described redevelopment or rehabilitation, or new agricultural improvement.

5. (5) Whether the totality of benefits is sufficient to justify the deduction.

   A designating body may not designate an area an economic revitalization area or approve a deduction unless the findings required by this subsection are made in the affirmative.

(c) Except as provided in subsections (a) through (b), the owner of property which is located in an economic revitalization area is entitled to a deduction from the assessed value of the property. For all economic revitalization areas, the period is the number of years determined under section 17 of this chapter. The owner is entitled to a deduction if:

1. (1) the property has been rehabilitated;
2. (2) the property is located on real estate which has been redeveloped; or

3. (3) the property is a new agricultural improvement.

   The owner is entitled to the deduction for the first year, and any successive year or years, in which an increase in assessed value resulting from the rehabilitation or redevelopment, or new agricultural improvement occurs and for the following years determined under section 17 of this chapter.

(d) The designating body's determination must be made:

1. (1) as part of the resolution adopted under section 2.5 of this chapter; or

2. (2) by resolution adopted within sixty (60) days after receiving a copy of a property owner's certified deduction application from the county auditor. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the county auditor, who shall make the deduction as provided in section 5 of this chapter.

   A determination about the number of years the deduction is allowed that is made under subdivision (1) is final and may not be changed by following the procedure under subdivision (2).

(e) Except for deductions related to redevelopment or rehabilitation of real property in a county containing a consolidated city, a deduction for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of real property may not be approved for the following facilities:

1. (1) Private or commercial golf course.
2. (2) Country club.
3. (3) Massage parlor.
4. (4) Tennis club.
5. (5) Skating facility (including roller skating, skateboarding, or ice skating).
6. (6) Racquet sport facility (including any handball or racquetball court).
7. (7) Hot tub facility.
8. (8) Suntan facility.
9. (9) Racetrack.

10. (10) Any facility the primary purpose of which is:

    1. (A) retail food and beverage service;
    2. (B) automobile sales or service; or

    3. (C) other retail;

       unless the facility is located in an economic development target area established under section 7 of this chapter.

11. (11) Residential, unless:

    1. (A) the facility is a multifamily facility that contains at least twenty percent (20%) of the units available for use by low and moderate income individuals;
    2. (B) the facility is located in an economic development target area established under section 7 of this chapter; or
    3. (C) the area is designated as a residentially distressed area.

12. (12) A package liquor store that holds a liquor dealer's permit under IC 7.1-3-10 or any other entity that is required to operate under a license issued under IC 7.1 .

    As added by Acts 1977, P.L.69, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1979, P.L.56, SEC.7; P.L.71-1983, SEC.4; P.L.62-1985, SEC.1; P.L.62-1986, SEC.2; P.L.82-1987, SEC.2; P.L.56-1988, SEC.4; P.L.65-1993, SEC.2; P.L.25-1995, SEC.19; P.L.4-2000, SEC.4; P.L.126-2000, SEC.5; P.L.198-2001, SEC.38; P.L.90-2002, SEC.118; P.L.72-2004, SEC.2; P.L.99-2007, SEC.25; P.L.119-2012, SEC.19; P.L.288-2013, SEC.7; P.L.8-2022, SEC.4.