GEORGIA STATUTES AND CODES
               		§ 36-80-16.1 - PILOT restriction; payments in lieu of taxes defined; financing capital projects
               		
               		
               	 	
               	 	               	 	
               	 	
               	 	
               	 		
O.C.G.A.    36-80-16.1   (2010)
   36-80-16.1.    PILOT restriction; payments in lieu of taxes defined; financing capital projects 
      (a)  This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the "PILOT Restriction Act."
(b)  As used in this Code section, the term "payments in lieu of taxes" means payments made directly or indirectly:
      (1)  Primarily  in consideration of the issuance of revenue bonds or other revenue  obligations and the application by the issuer of such bonds or other  obligations of the proceeds of such bonds or other obligations to  finance all or a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing,  equipping, or installing a capital project; and
      (2)  In  further consideration of the laws of the State of Georgia granting an  exemption from ad valorem taxation for such capital project,
to  or for the account of the issuer of revenue bonds or other revenue  obligations or the public bodies whose consent would otherwise be  required, in the case of the separate payments provided for under  subsection (d) of this Code section. Payments in lieu of taxes shall be  deemed to be payments in lieu of taxes for educational purposes in the  same proportion that property taxes for educational purposes would bear  to total property taxes on such capital project if the project were  subject to ad valorem property taxation. The term "payments in lieu of  taxes" shall not include payments made primarily in consideration for  the use or occupancy of property, including but not limited to lease  payments or rent paid under a lease, regardless of whether or not the  lessee or tenant holds an interest that is taxable for property tax  purposes.
(c) (1)  No local government  authority, as defined in Code Section 36-80-16, shall be authorized to  issue revenue bonds or other revenue obligations to finance, in whole or  in part, any capital project if the terms governing such revenue bonds  or other revenue obligations provide for such capital project to be used  primarily by a nongovernmental user or users that have no taxable  property interest in any portion of such capital project and provide for  such revenue bonds or other revenue obligations to be repaid, in whole  or in part, through payments in lieu of taxes made by a nongovernmental  user or users, unless:
            (A)  Each of  the local governments that have property tax levying authority in the  area in which such capital project is located consents by ordinance or  resolution to the use of payments in lieu of taxes for such purposes;  and
            (B)  In the case of payments in  lieu of taxes for educational purposes, a consent is obtained that  covers the use for such purposes of such payments in accordance with  subsection (d) of this Code section, except that the terms governing  such revenue bonds or other revenue obligations may provide for one or  more of the public bodies, whose consent would otherwise be required,  instead to receive, in such capacity, separate payments in lieu of taxes  at least equal to the property taxes that such public body or bodies  would have received if the capital project were subject to ad valorem  taxation or in such other amount or amounts as may be agreed to by such  public body or bodies.
      (2)  No such  revenue bonds or other revenue obligations may be so issued without  compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(d)  (1)  When a capital project is located within the boundaries of a  municipality with an independent school system, a consent by the  municipality under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section shall  cover the use of payments in lieu of taxes for educational purposes,  provided that, if the board of education of the independent school  system is empowered to set the ad valorem tax millage rate for  educational purposes and the legislative body of the municipality does  not have the authority to modify such rate set by the board of  education, the requisite consent shall be that of the board of education  of the independent school system rather than that of the legislative  body of the municipality.
      (2)  For those  municipalities which do not have an independent school system, a consent  by the municipality under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section  shall cover the use of payments in lieu of taxes for educational  purposes if the county board of education or the local legislative body  of the county, whichever is authorized to establish the ad valorem tax  millage rate for educational purposes, consents to such coverage by  resolution duly adopted by said board of education or local legislative  body, as appropriate.
      (3)  The use of  payments in lieu of taxes levied for county school district purposes  shall be covered by a consent under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code  section if the board of education of the county school district or the  local legislative body of the county, whichever is authorized to  establish the ad valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes,  consents to such coverage by resolution duly adopted by said board of  education or local legislative body, as appropriate.
      (4)  The  use of payments in lieu of taxes levied for school district purposes  within the boundaries of a consolidated government shall be covered by a  consent under subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of this Code section if the board  of education of such school district or the local legislative body of  the consolidated government, whichever is authorized to establish the ad  valorem tax millage rate for educational purposes within the school  district, consents to such coverage by resolution duly adopted by said  board of education or local legislative body, as appropriate.
(e)  This  Code section shall not affect revenue bonds or other revenue  obligations which any local government authority has issued or which  have been judicially validated on or before April 22, 2009. Each county  board of tax assessors shall continue, notwithstanding this Code  section, to exercise its powers and discharge its duties and is  specifically authorized, without limitation, to use a method or methods  of valuation for leases related to revenue bonds or other revenue  obligations issued by a local government authority for a capital project  or projects to be leased primarily to a nongovernmental user or users,  based on assessments of the increasing interest of the nongovernmental  user or users in the real or personal property, or both, over the term  of the lease, or to use a simplified method or methods employing a  specified percentage or specified percentages of such leasehold  interests. Each local government authority that is authorized to issue  revenue bonds or other revenue obligations secured by a taxable property  interest, such as a taxable lease of a capital project, shall continue,  notwithstanding this Code section, to exercise its powers and discharge  its duties, including, in the case of development authorities, the  development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities.  Any local government or local government authority which directly or  indirectly receives payments in lieu of taxes shall be authorized to use  the same for any governmental or public purpose of such local  government or local government authority.