2016 Mississippi Code
Title 57 - Planning, Research and Development
Chapter 91 - Economic Redevelopment Act
§ 57-91-9. Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund created; incentive payments

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the "Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund," into which shall be deposited certain state taxes and fees collected from business enterprises located within the redevelopment project area.

The monies in the fund shall be used for the purpose of making the incentive payments authorized in this section. The fund shall be administered by the MDA. Any interest earned on or investment earnings on the amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year that are not necessary for incentive payments shall lapse into the General Fund. The MDA may use not more than one percent (1%) of interest earned or investment earnings, or both, on amounts in the fund for administration and management of the incentive program. The MDEQ may use not more than one percent (1%) of interest earned or investment earnings, or both, on amounts in the fund for oversight costs of the assessment and remediation of the contaminated site.

(2) (a) Incentive payments may be made by the MDA to a developer in connection with a redevelopment project. Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the payments to a developer shall be for the amount of state taxes and fees collected from business enterprises located and operating within a redevelopment project area and deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund. In the case of sales taxes, the amounts deposited in the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund shall be reduced by the diversions required in Section 27-65-75. The MDA shall make payments to an approved participant on a semiannual basis with payments being made in the months of January and July. The MDA shall make the calculations necessary to make the payments provided for in this section. The MDA shall cease making incentive payments to a developer fifteen (15) years from the date that is two (2) years after the date on which the redevelopment project is approved by the MDA.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, payments made to a developer under this section shall be in the following amounts:

(i) For the first six (6) years in which such payments are made, the developer shall receive one hundred percent (100%) of the funds deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund;

(ii) For the seventh year in which such payments are made, the developer shall receive eighty percent (80%) of the funds deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund;

(iii) For the eighth year in which such payments are made, the developer shall receive seventy percent (70%) of the funds deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund;

(iv) For the ninth year in which such payments are made, the developer shall receive sixty percent (60%) of the funds deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund; and

(v) For the tenth year and any subsequent year in which such payments are made, the developer shall receive fifty percent (50%) of the funds deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund.

(c) In no event shall the total aggregate amount of incentive payments that may be made to a developer under this section exceed two and one-half (2-1/2) times the amount of the allowable cost of remediation of the contaminated site. The allowable cost of remediation of the contaminated site shall be jointly determined by the MDEQ and the MDA.

(d) Any monies in the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund which are not used for the purpose of making incentive payments to a developer shall be deposited into the State General Fund. The developer shall not distribute the proceeds of any incentive payment to a business enterprise.

(3) At such time as payments are no longer required to be made to a developer, the MDA shall notify the Department of Revenue and the state taxes and fees collected from business enterprises located within the redevelopment project area shall no longer be deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund.