A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE north carolina CONSTITUTION TO PERMIT CITIES AND COUNTIES TO INCUR OBLIGATIONS TO FINANCE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF CERTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina and local governments in North Carolina are and should be actively engaged in economic development efforts to attract and stimulate private sector job creation and capital investors in their areas; and
Whereas, over 48 other states and local governments in other states are authorized to utilize a wide variety of incentives, including, but not limited to, project development financing to attract private sector economic development; and
Whereas, other states and local governments in other states have been successful in attracting private sector job creation and capital investment to their areas through incentive packages which have included the provision of infrastructure improvements financed through the issuance of project development debt instruments; and
Whereas, economically distressed areas of North Carolina could utilize project development debt instruments to attract new industry to their areas; and
Whereas, project development financing could enable North Carolina to be more nationally or internationally competitive in attracting private sector job creation and capital investments, particularly in attracting major economic development efforts; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article V of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding a new section to read:
"Sec. 14. Project development financing.
Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Article, the General Assembly may enact general laws authorizing any county, city, or town to define territorial areas in the county, city, or town and borrow money to be used to finance public activities associated with private development projects within the territorial areas, as provided in this section. The General Assembly shall set forth by statute the method for determining the size of the territorial area and the issuing unit. This method is conclusive. When a territorial area is defined pursuant to this section, the current assessed value of taxable real and personal property in the area shall be determined. Thereafter, property in the territorial area continues to be subject to taxation to the same extent and in like manner as property not in the territorial area, but the net proceeds of taxes levied on the excess, if any, of the assessed value of taxable real and personal property in the area at the time the taxes are levied over the assessed value of taxable real and personal property in the area at the time the area was defined may be set aside. The instruments of indebtedness shall be secured by these set‑aside proceeds. The General Assembly may authorize a county, city, or town issuing these instruments of indebtedness to add, as additional security, revenues available to the issuing unit from sources other than the issuing unit's exercise of its taxing power. As long as no revenues are pledged other than set‑aside proceeds and the revenues authorized in the preceding sentence, these instruments of indebtedness may be issued without approval by referendum. The county, city, or town may not pledge any property tax revenues other than the set‑aside proceeds authorized in this section, or in any other manner pledge its full faith and credit unless a vote of the people is held as required by and in compliance with the requirements of Section 4 of this Article.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2 of this Article, the General Assembly may enact general laws authorizing a county, city, or town that has defined a territorial area pursuant to this section to assess property within the area at a minimum value if agreed to by the owner of the property, which agreed minimum value shall be binding on the current owner and any future owners as long as the defined territorial area is in effect."
SECTION 2.  Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes is reenacted and is rewritten to read:
"Article 6.
"Project Development Financing Act.
"§ 159‑101. Short title.
This Article may be cited as the 'North Carolina Project Development Financing Act.'
"§ 159‑102. Unit of local government defined.
For the purposes of this Article, the term 'unit of local government' means a county or a municipal corporation.
"§ 159‑103. Authorization of project development financing debt instruments; purposes.
(a)	Each unit of local government may issue project development financing debt instruments pursuant to this Article and use the proceeds for one or more of the purposes for which the unit may issue general obligation bonds pursuant to the following subdivisions of G.S. 159‑48:  (b)(1), (3), (7), (11), (12), (16), (17), (19), (21), (23), (24), or (25), (c)(4a) or (6), or (d)(3), (4), (5), (6), or (7). In addition, the proceeds may be used for any service or facility authorized by G.S. 160A‑536 and provided in a municipal service district.
For the purpose of this Article, the term 'capital costs' as defined in G.S. 159‑48(h) also includes (i) interest on the debt instruments being issued or on notes issued in anticipation of the instruments during construction and for a period not exceeding seven years after the estimated date of completion of construction and (ii) the establishment of debt service reserves. The proceeds of the debt instruments may be used either in a development financing district established pursuant to G.S. 160A‑515.1 or G.S. 158‑7.3 or, if the use directly benefits private development forecast by the development financing plan for the district, outside the development financing district. The proceeds may be used only for projects that enable, facilitate, or benefit private development within the development financing district, the revenue increment of which is pledged as security for the debt instruments. This subsection does not prohibit the use of proceeds to defray the cost of providing water and sewer utilities to a private development in a project development financing district.
(b)	Subject to agreement with the holders of its project development financing debt instruments and the limitation on duration of development financing districts set out in this Article, each unit of local government may issue additional project development financing debt instruments and may issue debt instruments to refund any outstanding project development financing debt instruments at any time before the final maturity of the instruments to be refunded. General obligation bonds issued to refund outstanding project development financing debt instruments shall be issued under the Local Government Bond Act, Article 4 of this Chapter. Revenue bonds issued to refund outstanding project development financing debt instruments shall be issued under the State and Local Government Revenue Bond Act, Article 5 of this Chapter.
Project development financing debt instruments may be issued partly for the purpose of refunding outstanding project development financing debt instruments and partly for any other purpose under this Article. Project development financing debt instruments issued to refund outstanding project development financing debt instruments shall be issued under this Article and not under Article 4 of this Chapter.
(c)	If the private development project to be benefited by proposed project development financing debt instruments affects tax revenues in more than one unit of local government and more than one affected unit of local government wishes to provide assistance to the private development project by issuing project development financing debt instruments, then those units may enter into an interlocal agreement pursuant to Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes for the purpose of issuing the instruments. The agreement may include a provision that a unit may pledge all or any part of the taxes received or to be received on the incremental valuation accruing to the development financing district to the repayment of instruments issued by another unit that is a party to the interlocal agreement.
"§ 159‑104. Application to Commission for approval of project development financing debt instrument issue; preliminary conference; acceptance of application.
A unit of local government may not issue project development financing debt instruments under this Article unless the issue is approved by the Local Government Commission. The governing body of the issuing unit shall file with the secretary of the Commission an application for Commission approval of the issue. At the time of application, the governing body shall publish a public notice of the application in a newspaper of general circulation in the unit of local government. The application shall include statements of facts and documents concerning the proposed debt instruments, development financing district, and development financing plan, and the financial condition of the unit, required by the secretary. The Commission may prescribe the form of the application.
Before accepting the application, the secretary may require the governing body or its representatives to attend a preliminary conference in order to discuss informally the proposed issue, district, and plan and the timing of the steps to be taken in issuing the debt instruments. The development financing district need not be defined and the development financing plan need not be adopted by the governing body at the time it files the application with the secretary. However, before the Commission may enter its order approving the debt instruments, the governing body must define the district and adopt the plan.
After an application in proper form and order has been filed, and after a preliminary conference if one is required, the secretary shall notify the unit in writing that the application has been filed and accepted for submission to the Commission. The secretary's statement is conclusive evidence that the unit has complied with this section.
"§ 159‑105. Approval of application by Commission.
(a)	In determining whether to approve a proposed project development financing debt instrument issue, the Commission may inquire into and consider any matters that it considers relevant to whether the issue should be approved, including:
(1)	Whether the projects to be financed from the proceeds of the project development financing debt instrument issue are necessary to secure significant new project development for a development financing district.
(2)	Whether the proposed projects are feasible.
(3)	The unit of local government's debt management procedures and policies.
(4)	Whether the unit is in default in any of its debt service obligations.
(5)	Whether the private development forecast in the development financing plan would be likely to occur without the public project or projects to be financed by the project development financing debt instruments.
(6)	Whether taxes on the incremental valuation accruing to the development financing district, together with any other revenues available under G.S. 159‑110, will be sufficient to service the proposed project development financing debt instruments.
(7)	The ability of the Commission to market the proposed project development financing debt instruments at reasonable rates of interest.
(b)	The Commission shall approve the application if, upon the information and evidence it receives, it finds all of the following:
(1)	The proposed project development financing debt instrument issue is necessary to secure significant new economic development for a development financing district.
(2)	The amount proposed is adequate and not excessive for the proposed purpose of the issue.
(3)	The proposed projects are feasible.
(4)	The unit of local government's debt management procedures and policies are good, or that reasonable assurances have been given that its debt will henceforth be managed in strict compliance with law.
(5)	The private development forecast in the development financing plan would not be likely to occur without the public projects to be financed by the project development financing debt instruments.
(6)	The proposed project development financing debt instruments can be marketed at reasonable interest cost to the issuing unit.
(7)	The issuing unit has, pursuant to G.S. 160A‑515.1 or G.S. 158‑7.3, adopted a development financing plan for the development financing district for which the instruments are to be issued.
(8)	The taxes on the incremental valuation accruing to the development financing district, together with any other revenues available under G.S. 159‑110, will be sufficient to service the proposed project development financing debt instruments.
"§ 159‑106. Order approving or denying the application.
(a)	After considering an application, the Commission shall enter its order either approving or denying the application. An order approving an issue is not an approval of the legality of the debt instruments in any respect.
(b)	Unless the debt instruments are to be issued for a development financing district for which a project development financing debt instrument issue has already been approved, the day the Commission enters its order approving an application for project development financing debt instruments is also the effective date of the development financing district for which the instruments are issued.
(c)	If the Commission enters an order denying the application, the proceedings under this Article are at an end.
"§ 159‑107. Determination of incremental valuation; use of taxes levied on incremental valuation; duration of the district.
(a)	Base Valuation in the Development Financing District. – After the Local Government Commission has entered its order approving a unit of local government's application for project development financing debt instruments, the unit shall immediately notify the tax assessor of the county in which the development financing district is located of the existence of the development financing district. Upon receiving this notice, the tax assessor shall determine the base valuation of the district, which is the assessed value of taxable property located in the district on the January 1 immediately preceding the effective date of the district. If the unit or an agency of the unit acquired property within the district within one year before the effective date of the district, the tax assessor shall presume, subject to rebuttal, that the property was acquired in contemplation of the district, and the tax assessor shall include the value of the property so acquired in determining the base valuation of the district. The unit may rebut this presumption by showing that the property was acquired primarily for a purpose other than to reduce the tax incremental base. After determining the base valuation of the development financing district, the tax assessor shall certify the valuation to: (i) the issuing unit; (ii) the county in which the district is located if the issuing unit is not the county; and (iii) any special district, as defined in G.S. 159‑7, within which the development financing district is located.
(b)	Adjustments to the Base Valuation. – During the lifetime of the development financing district, the base valuation shall be adjusted as follows:
(1)	If the unit amends its development financing plan, pursuant to G.S. 160A‑515.1 or G.S. 158‑7.3, to remove property from the development financing district, on the succeeding January 1, that property shall be removed from the district and the base valuation reduced accordingly.
(2)	If the unit amends its development financing plan, pursuant to G.S. 160A‑515.1 or G.S. 158‑7.3, to expand the district, the new property shall be added to the district immediately. The base valuation of the district shall be increased by the assessed value of the taxable property situated in the added territory on the January 1 immediately preceding the effective date of the district.
(3)	If, at the time of revaluation pursuant to G.S. 105‑286 of property in the county in which the district is located, it appears that, based on the schedule of values, standards, and rules approved by the board of county commissioners pursuant to G.S. 105‑317, the property values of the district as they existed on the January 1 immediately preceding the effective date of the district would be increased because of the revaluation, then the base valuation shall be increased accordingly.
Each time the base valuation is adjusted, the tax assessor shall immediately certify the new base valuation to: (i) the issuing unit; (ii) the county if the issuing unit is not the county; and (iii) any special district, as defined in G.S. 159‑7, within which the development financing district is located.
(c)	Revenue Increment Fund. – When a unit of local government has established a development financing district, and the project development financing debt instruments for that district have been approved by the Commission, the unit shall establish a separate fund to account for the proceeds paid to the unit from taxes levied on the incremental valuation of the district. The unit shall also place in this fund any moneys received pursuant to an agreement entered into under G.S. 159‑108.
(d)	Levy of Property Taxes Within the District. – Each year the development financing district is in existence, the tax assessor shall determine the current assessed value of taxable property located in the district. The assessor shall also compute the difference between this current value and the base valuation of the district. If the current value exceeds the base value, the difference is the incremental valuation of the district. In each year the district is in existence, the county, and if the district is within a city or a special district as defined by G.S. 159‑7, the city or the special district shall levy taxes against property in the district in the same manner as taxes are levied against other property in the county, city, or special district. The proceeds from ad valorem taxes levied on property in the development financing district shall be distributed as follows:
(1)	In any year in which there is no incremental valuation of the district, all the proceeds of the taxes shall be retained by the county, city, or special district, as if there were no development financing district in existence.
(2)	In any year in which there is an incremental valuation of the district, the amount of tax due from each taxpayer on property in the district shall be distributed as provided in this subdivision. The net proceeds of the following taxes shall be paid to the government levying the tax: taxes levied to service and repay debt secured by a pledge of the faith and credit of the unit, nonschool taxes levied pursuant to a vote of the people, taxes levied for a municipal or county service district, and taxes levied by a taxing unit in a development financing district established by a different taxing unit and for which there is no increment agreement between the two units. All remaining taxes on property in the district shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the base valuation for the district and the denominator of which is the current valuation for the district. The amount shown as the product of this multiplication shall, when paid by the taxpayer, be retained by the county, city, or special district, as if there were no development financing district in existence. The net proceeds of the remaining amount shall, when paid by the taxpayer, be turned over to the finance officer of each issuing unit, who shall place this amount in the special revenue increment fund required by subsection (c) of this section. As used in this section, 'net proceeds' means gross proceeds less refunds, releases, and any collection fee paid by the levying government to the collecting government.
(e)	Increment Agreements. – Effect of Annexation on District Established by a County. – If a city annexes land in a development financing district established by a county pursuant to G.S. 158‑7.3, the proceeds of all taxes levied by the city on property within the district shall be paid to the city unless the city enters into an agreement with the county pursuant to this subsection. The city and the county may enter into an increment agreement under which the city agrees that city taxes on part or all of the incremental valuation in the district shall be paid into the revenue increment fund for the district. An increment agreement may be entered into when the district is established or at any time after the district is established. The increment agreement may extend for the duration of the district or for a shorter time agreed to by the parties.
(f)	Use of Moneys in the Revenue Increment Fund. – If the development financing district includes property conveyed or leased by the unit of local government to a private party in consideration of increased tax revenue expected to be generated by improvements constructed on the property pursuant to G.S. 158‑7.1, an amount equal to the tax revenue taken into account in arriving at the consideration, less the increased tax revenue realized since the construction of the improvement, shall be transferred from the Revenue Increment Fund to the county, city, or special district as if there were no development financing district in existence. Any money in excess of this amount in the Fund may be used for any of the following purposes, without priority other than priorities imposed by the order authorizing the project development financing debt instruments:
(1)	To finance capital expenditures (including the funding of capital reserves) by the issuing unit in the development financing district pursuant to the development financing plan.
(2)	To meet principal and interest requirements on project development financing debt instruments and debt instrument anticipation notes issued for the district.
(3)	To repay the appropriate fund of the issuing unit for any moneys actually expended on debt service on project development financing debt instruments pursuant to a pledge made pursuant to G.S. 159‑111(b).
(4)	To establish and maintain debt service reserves for future principal and interest requirements on project development financing debt instruments and debt instrument anticipation notes issued for the district.
(5)	To meet any other requirements imposed by the order authorizing the project development financing debt instruments.
If in any year there is any money remaining in the Revenue Increment Fund after these purposes have been satisfied, it shall be paid to the general fund of the county and, if applicable, of the city and any special district as defined by G.S. 159‑7, in proportion to their rates of ad valorem tax on taxable property located in the development financing district.
(g)	Duration of District. – A development financing district shall terminate at the earlier of (i) the end of the thirtieth year after the effective date of the district or (ii) the date all project development financing debt instruments issued for the district have been fully retired or sufficient funds have been set aside, pursuant to the order authorizing the debt instruments, to meet all future principal and interest requirements on the instruments.
"§ 159‑108. Agreements with property owners.
(a)	Authorization. – A unit of local government that issues project development financing debt instruments may enter into agreements with the owners of real property in the development financing district for which the instruments were issued under which the owners agree to a minimum value at which their property will be assessed for taxation. Such an agreement may extend for the life of the development financing district or for a shorter period agreed to by the parties. The agreement may vary the agreed‑upon minimum assessed value from year to year.
(b)	Filing and Recording Agreement. – The unit shall file a copy of any agreement entered into pursuant to this section with the tax assessor for the county in which the development financing district is located. In addition, the unit shall cause the agreement to be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of that county, and the register of deeds shall index the agreement in the grantor's index under the name of the property owner. Once the agreement has been recorded in the office of the register of deeds, as required by this subsection, it is binding, according to its terms and for its duration, on any subsequent owner of the property.
(c)	Minimum Assessment of Property. – An agreement entered into pursuant to this section establishes a minimum assessment of the real property subject to the agreement. If the county tax assessor determines that the real property has a true value less than the minimum established by the agreement, the assessor shall nevertheless assess the property at the minimum set out in the agreement. If the assessor, however, determines that the real property has a true value greater than the minimum established by the agreement, the assessor shall assess the property at the true value.
(d)	Effect of Reappraisal. – If an agreement entered into pursuant to this section continues in effect after a reappraisal of property conducted pursuant to G.S. 105‑286, the minimum assessment established in the agreement shall be adjusted as provided in this subsection. After the issuing unit of local government has adopted its budget ordinance and levied taxes for the fiscal year that begins next after the effective date of the reappraisal, it shall certify to the county tax assessor the total rate of ad valorem taxes levied by the unit and applicable to the property subject to the agreement. It shall also certify to the assessor the total rate of ad valorem taxes levied by the unit and applicable to the property in the immediately preceding fiscal year. The assessor shall determine the total amount of ad valorem taxes levied by the unit on the property in the immediately preceding fiscal year, based on the tax rate certified by the issuing unit. The assessor shall then determine a value of the property that would provide the same total amount of ad valorem taxes based on the tax rate certified for the fiscal year beginning next after the effective date of the reappraisal. The value so determined is the new minimum assessment for the property subject to the agreement.
(e)	Agreement Effective Regardless of Improvements. – An agreement entered into pursuant to this section remains in effect according to its terms regardless of whether the improvements anticipated in the development financing plan are completed or whether those improvements continue to exist during the duration of the agreement. However, if any part of the property subject to the agreement is acquired by a public agency, the agreement is automatically modified by removing the acquired property from the agreement and reducing the minimum assessment accordingly.
"§ 159‑109. Special covenants.
A project development financing debt instrument order or a trust agreement securing project development financing debt instruments may contain covenants regarding:
(1)	The pledge of all or any part of the taxes received or to be received on the incremental valuation in the development financing district during the life of the debt instruments.
(2)	Rates, fees, rentals, tolls, or other charges to be established, maintained, and collected, and the use and disposal of revenues, gifts, grants, and funds received or to be received.
(3)	The setting aside of debt service reserves and the regulation and disposition of these reserves.
(4)	The custody, collection, securing, investment, and payment of any moneys held for the payment of project development financing debt instruments.
(5)	Limitations or restrictions on the purposes to which the proceeds of sale of project development financing debt instruments may be applied.
(6)	Limitations or restrictions on the issuance of additional project development financing debt instruments or notes for the same development financing district, the terms upon which additional project development financing debt instruments or notes may be issued or secured, or the refunding of outstanding project development financing debt instruments or notes.
(7)	The acquisition and disposal of property for project development financing debt instrument projects.
(8)	Provision for insurance and for accounting reports, and the inspection and audit of accounting reports.
(9)	The continuing operation and maintenance of projects financed with the proceeds of the project development financing debt instruments.
"§ 159‑110. Security of project development financing debt instruments.
Project development financing debt instruments are special obligations of the issuing unit. Moneys in the Revenue Increment Fund required by G.S. 159‑107(c) are pledged to the payment of the instruments, in accordance with G.S. 159‑107(f). Except as provided in G.S. 159‑111, the unit may pledge the following additional sources of funds to the payment of the debt instruments, and no other sources:  the proceeds from the sale of property in the development financing district; net revenues from any public facilities, other than portions of public utility systems, in the development financing district financed with the proceeds of the project development financing debt instruments; and, subject to G.S. 159‑47, net revenues from any other public facilities, other than portions of public utility systems, in the development financing district constructed or improved pursuant to the development financing plan.
Except as provided in G.S. 159‑111, the principal and interest on project development financing debt instruments do not constitute a legal or equitable pledge, charge, lien, or encumbrance upon any of the unit's property or upon any of its income, receipts, or revenues, except as may be provided pursuant to this section. Except as provided in G.S. 159‑107 and G.S. 159‑111, neither the credit nor the taxing power of the unit is pledged for the payment of the principal or interest of project development financing debt instruments, and no holder of project development financing debt instruments has the right to compel the exercise of the taxing power by the unit or the forfeiture of any of its property in connection with any default on the instruments. Unless the unit's taxing power has been pledged pursuant to G.S. 159‑111, every project development financing debt instrument shall contain recitals sufficient to show the limited nature of the security for the instrument's payment and that it is not secured by the full faith and credit of the unit.
"§ 159‑111. Additional security for project development financing debt instruments.
(a)	In order to provide additional security for debt instruments issued pursuant to this Article, the issuing unit of local government may pledge its faith and credit for the payment of the principal of and interest on the debt instruments. Before such a pledge may be given, the unit shall follow the procedures and meet the requirements for approval of general obligation bonds under Article 4 of this Chapter. The unit shall also follow the procedures and meet the requirements of this Article. If debt instruments are issued pursuant to this Article and are also secured by a pledge of the issuing unit's faith and credit, the debt instruments are subject to G.S. 159‑112 rather than G.S. 159‑65.
(b)	In order to provide additional security for debt instruments issued pursuant to this Article, and in lieu of pledging its faith and credit for that purpose pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, a unit of local government may agree to apply to the payment of the instruments any available sources of revenues of the unit, as long as the agreement to use the sources to make payment does not constitute a pledge of the unit's taxing power or of the unit's revenues derived from local sales taxes. In addition, to the extent the generation of the revenues is within the power of the unit, the unit may enter into covenants to take action in order to generate the revenues, as long as the covenant does not constitute a pledge of the unit's taxing power.
(c)	No agreement or covenant may contain a nonsubstitution clause that restricts the right of the issuing unit of local government to replace or provide a substitute for any project financed pursuant to this subsection.
(d)	The obligation of a unit of local government with respect to the sources of payment shall be specifically identified in the proceedings of the governing body authorizing the unit to issue the debt instruments. The sources of payment so specifically identified and then held or thereafter received by the unit or any fiduciary of the unit are immediately subject to the lien of the proceedings without any physical delivery of the sources or further act. The lien is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind against a unit without regard to whether the parties have notice of the lien. The proceedings or any other document or action by which the lien on a source of payment is created need not be filed or recorded in any manner other than as provided in this Article.
"§ 159‑112. Limitations on details of debt instruments.
In fixing the details of project development financing debt instruments, the governing body of the issuing unit of local government is subject to these restrictions and directions:
(1)	The maturity date shall not exceed the shorter of (i) the longest of the various maximum periods of usefulness for the projects to be financed with debt instrument proceeds, as prescribed by the Local Government Commission pursuant to G.S. 159‑122, or (ii) the end of the thirtieth year after the effective date of the development financing district.
(2)	The first payment of principal shall be payable not more than seven years after the date of the debt instruments.
(3)	Any debt instrument may be made payable on demand or tender for purchase as provided in G.S. 159‑79, and any debt instrument may be made subject to redemption prior to maturity, with or without premium, on such notice, at such times, and with such redemption provisions as may be stated. Interest on the debt instruments shall cease when the instruments have been validly called for redemption and provision has been made for the payment of the principal of the instruments, any redemption, any premium, and the interest on the instruments accrued to the date of redemption.
(4)	The debt instruments may bear interest at such rates payable semiannually or otherwise, may be in such denominations, and may be payable in such kind of money and in such place or places within or without this State as the issuing unit may determine.
"§ 159‑113. Annual report.
In July of each year, each unit of local government with outstanding project development financing debt instruments shall make a report to any other unit, and to any special district as defined in G.S. 159‑7, in which the development financing district for which the instruments were issued is located. This report shall set out the base valuation for the development financing district, the current valuation for the district, the amount of remaining project development financing debt for the district, and the unit's estimate of when the debt will be retired."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 159‑48(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(26)	Undertaking public activities in or for the benefit of a development financing district pursuant to a development financing plan."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 159‑55(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	After the bond order has been introduced and before the public hearing thereon, the finance officer (or some other officer designated by the governing board for this purpose) shall file with the clerk a statement showing the following:
(1)	The gross debt of the unit, excluding therefrom debt incurred or to be incurred in anticipation of the collection of taxes or other revenues or in anticipation of the sale of bonds other than funding and refunding bonds. The gross debt (after exclusions) is the sum of (i) outstanding debt evidenced by bonds, (ii) bonds authorized by orders introduced but not yet adopted, (iii) unissued bonds authorized by adopted orders, and (iv) outstanding debt not evidenced by bonds. However, for purposes of the sworn statement of debt and the debt limitation, revenue bonds and project development financing debt instruments (unless additionally secured by a pledge of the issuing unit's faith and credit) shall not be considered debt and shall not be included in gross debt nor deducted from gross debt.
(2)	The deductions to be made from gross debt in computing net debt. The following deductions are allowed:
a.	Funding and refunding bonds authorized by orders introduced but not yet adopted.
b.	Funding and refunding bonds authorized but not yet issued.
c.	The amount of money held in sinking funds or otherwise for the payment of any part of the principal of gross debt other than debt incurred for water, gas, electric light or power purposes, or sanitary sewer purposes (to the extent that the bonds are deductible under subsection (b) of this section), or two or more of these purposes.
d.	The amount of bonded debt included in gross debt and incurred, or to be incurred, for water, gas, or electric light or power purposes, or any two or more of these purposes.
e.	The amount of bonded debt included in the gross debt and incurred, or to be incurred, for sanitary sewer system purposes to the extent that the debt is made deductible by subsection (b) of this section.
f.	The amount of uncollected special assessments theretofore levied for local improvements for which any part of the gross debt (that is not otherwise deducted) was or is to be incurred, to the extent that the assessments will be applied, when collected, to the payment of any part of the gross debt.
g.	The amount, as estimated by the governing board of the issuing unit or an officer designated by the board for this purpose, of special assessments to be levied for local improvements for which any part of the gross debt (that is not otherwise deducted) was or is to be incurred, to the extent that the special assessments, when collected, will be applied to the payment of any part of the gross debt.
(3)	The net debt of the issuing unit, being the difference between the gross debt and deductions.
(4)	The assessed value of property subject to taxation by the issuing unit, as revealed by the tax records and certified to the issuing unit by the assessor. In calculating the assessed value, the incremental valuation of any development financing district located in the unit, as determined pursuant to G.S. 159‑107, shall not be included.
(5)	The percentage that the net debt bears to the assessed value of property subject to taxation by the issuing unit."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 159‑79(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Notwithstanding any provisions of this Chapter to the contrary, including particularly, but without limitation, the provisions of G.S. 159‑65, G.S. 159‑112, G.S. 159‑123 to G.S. 159‑127, inclusive, G.S. 159‑130, G.S. 159‑138, G.S. 159‑162, G.S. 159‑164 and G.S. 159‑172, a unit of local government, in fixing the details of general obligation bonds to be issued pursuant to this Article, general obligation notes to be issued pursuant to Article 9 of this Chapter, or project development financing debt instruments or notes to be issued pursuant to Article 6 of this Chapter, may provide that the instruments or notes:
(1)	May be made payable from time to time on demand or tender for purchase by the owner provided a Credit Facility supports such bonds or notes, unless the Commission specifically determines that a Credit Facility is not required upon a finding and determination by the Commission that the proposed bonds or notes will satisfy the conditions set forth in G.S. 159‑52;
(2)	May be additionally supported by a Credit Facility;
(3)	May be made subject to redemption prior to maturity, with or without premium, on such notice, at such time or times, at such price or prices and with such other redemption provisions as may be stated in the resolution fixing the details of such bonds or notes or with such variations as may be permitted in connection with a Par Formula provided in such resolution;
(4)	May bear interest at a rate or rates that may vary as permitted pursuant to a Par Formula and for such period or periods of time, all as may be provided in such resolution; and
(5) 	May be made the subject of a remarketing agreement whereby an attempt is made to remarket the bonds to new purchases prior to their presentment for payment to the provider of the Credit Facility or to the issuing unit."
SECTION 6.  G.S. 159‑120 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑120. Definitions.
As used in this Article, unless the context clearly requires another meaning, the words 'unit' or 'issuing unit' mean 'unit of local government' as defined in G.S. 159‑44 or G.S. 159‑102, 'municipality' as defined in G.S. 159‑81, and the State of North Carolina, and the words 'governing body,' when used with respect to the State of North Carolina, mean the Council of State."
SECTION 7.  G.S. 159‑122(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Except as provided in this subsection, the last installment of each bond issue shall mature not later than the date of expiration of the period of usefulness of the capital project to be financed by the bond issue, computed from the date of the bonds. The last installment of a refunding bond issue issued pursuant to G.S. 159‑48(a)(4) or (5) shall mature not later than either (i) the shortest period, but not more than 40 years, in which the debt to be refunded can be finally paid without making it unduly burdensome on the taxpayers of the issuing unit, as determined by the Commission, computed from the date of the bonds, or (ii) the end of the unexpired period of usefulness of the capital project financed by the debt to be refunded. The last installment of bonds issued pursuant to G.S. 159‑48(a)(1), (2), (3), (6), or (7) shall mature not later than 10 years after the date of the bonds, as determined by the Commission. The last installment of bonds issued pursuant to G.S. 159‑48(c)(5) shall mature not later than eight years after the date of the bonds, as determined by the Commission. The last installment of project development financing debt instruments shall mature on the earlier of 30 years after the effective date of the development financing district for which the instruments are issued or the longest of the various maximum periods of usefulness for the projects to be financed with debt instrument proceeds, as prescribed by the Commission pursuant to this section."
SECTION 8.  G.S. 159‑123(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The following classes of bonds may be sold at private sale:
(1)	Bonds that a State or federal agency has previously agreed to purchase.
(2)	Any bonds for which no legal bid is received within the time allowed for submission of bids.
(3)	Revenue bonds, including any refunding bonds issued pursuant to G.S. 159‑84, and special obligation bonds issued pursuant to Chapter 159I of the General Statutes.
(4)	Refunding bonds issued pursuant to G.S. 159‑78.
(5)	Refunding bonds issued pursuant to G.S. 159‑72 if the Local Government Commission determines that a private sale is in the best interest of the issuing unit.
(6)	Bonds designated as qualified zone academy bonds pursuant to G.S. 115C‑489.6, if the Local Government Commission determines that a private sale is in the best interest of the issuing unit.
(7)	Project development financing debt instruments."
SECTION 9.  G.S. 159‑125(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Except for revenue bonds and project development financing debt instruments, no bid for less than ninety‑eight percent (98%) of the face value of the bonds plus one hundred percent (100%) of accrued interest may be entertained.
Different rates of interest may be bid for bonds maturing in different years, but different rates of interest may not be bid for bonds maturing in the same year."
SECTION 10.  G.S. 159‑129 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑129. Obligations of units certified by Commission.
Each bond or bond anticipation note that is represented by an instrument shall bear on its face or reverse a certificate signed by the secretary of the Commission or an assistant designated by the secretary that the issuance of the bond or note has been approved under the provisions of The Local Government Bond Acts, the Local Government Revenue Bond Act, or the North Carolina Project Development Financing Act. This signature may be a manual or facsimile signature as the Commission may determine. Each bond or bond anticipation note that is not represented by an instrument shall be evidenced by a writing relating to such obligation, which writing shall identify such obligation or the issue of which it is part, bear  this certificate, and be on file with the Commission. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the requirements of this Subchapter have been observed, and no bond or note without the Commission's certificate or with respect to which a writing bearing this certificate has not been filed with the Commission shall be valid."
SECTION 11.  G.S. 159‑132 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑132. State Treasurer to deliver bonds and remit proceeds.
When the bonds are executed, they shall be delivered to the State Treasurer who shall deliver them to the order of the purchaser and collect the purchase price or proceeds. The Treasurer shall then pay from the proceeds any notes issued in anticipation of the sale of the bonds, deduct from the proceeds the Commission's expense in connection with the issue, and remit the net proceeds to the official depository of the unit after assurance that the deposit will be adequately secured as required by law. The proceeds of funding or refunding bonds may be deposited at the place of payment of the indebtedness to be refunded or funded for use solely in the payment of such indebtedness. The proceeds of revenue bonds shall be remitted to the trustee or other depository specified in the trust agreement or resolution securing them. Unless otherwise provided in the trust agreement or resolution securing the debt instruments, the proceeds of project development financing debt instruments shall be remitted in the manner provided by this section for the remission of the proceeds of general obligation bonds."
SECTION 12.  G.S. 159‑160 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑160. Definitions.
As used in this Part, the words 'unit' or 'issuing unit' means 'unit of local government' as defined in G.S. ‑159‑44 or G.S. 159‑102, 'municipality' as defined in G.S. 159‑81, and the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 13.  G.S. 159‑163.1 is reenacted and is rewritten to read:
"§ 159‑163.1. Security of project development financing debt instrument anticipation notes.
Notes issued in anticipation of the sale of project development financing debt instruments are special obligations of the issuing unit. Except as provided in G.S. 159‑107 and G.S. 159‑110, neither the credit nor the taxing power of the issuing unit may be pledged for the payment of notes issued in anticipation of the sale of project development financing debt instruments. No holder of a project development financing debt instrument anticipation note has the right to compel the exercise of the taxing power by the issuing unit or the forfeiture of any of its property in connection with any default on the note. Notes issued in anticipation of the sale of project development financing debt instruments may be secured by the same pledges, charges, liens, covenants, and agreements made to secure the project development financing debt instruments. In addition, the proceeds of each project development financing debt instrument issue are pledged for the payment of any notes issued in anticipation of the sale of the instruments, and these notes shall be retired from the proceeds of the sale as the first priority."
SECTION 14.  G.S. 159‑165(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	When the bond anticipation notes are executed, they shall be delivered to the State Treasurer who shall deliver them to the order of the purchaser and collect the purchase price or proceeds. The Treasurer shall then deduct from the proceeds the Commission's expense in connection with the issue, and remit the net proceeds to the official depository of the unit after assurance that the deposit will be adequately secured as required by law. The net proceeds of revenue bond anticipation notes, special obligation bond anticipation notes, or project development financing debt instrument anticipation notes shall be remitted to the trustee or other depository specified in the trust agreement or resolution securing them. If the notes have been issued to renew outstanding notes, the Treasurer, in lieu of collecting the purchase price or proceeds, may provide for the exchange of the newly issued notes for the notes to be renewed."
SECTION 15.  G.S. 159‑176 reads as rewritten:
"§ 159‑176. Commission to aid defaulting units in developing refinancing plans.
If a unit of local government or municipality ‑‑(as defined in G.S. 159‑44, 159‑81, or 159‑102) fails to pay any installment of principal or interest on its outstanding debt on or before the due date (whether the debt is evidenced by general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, project development financing debt instruments, bond anticipation notes, tax anticipation notes, or revenue anticipation notes) and remains in default for 90 days, the Commission may take such action as it deems advisable to investigate the unit's or municipality's fiscal affairs, consult with its governing board, and negotiate with its creditors in order to assist the unit or municipality in working out a plan for refinancing, adjusting, or compromising the debt. When a plan is developed that the Commission finds to be fair and equitable and reasonably within the ability of the unit or municipality to meet, the Commission shall enter an order finding that it is fair, equitable, and within the ability of the unit or municipality to meet. The Commission shall then advise the governing board to take the necessary steps to implement it. If the governing board declines or refuses to do so within 90 days after receiving the Commission's advice, the Commission may enter an order directing the governing board to implement the plan. When this order is entered, the members of the governing board and all officers and employees of the unit or municipality shall be under an affirmative duty to do all things necessary to implement the plan. The Commission may apply to the appropriate division of the General Court of Justice for a court order to the governing board and other officers and employees of the unit or municipality to enforce the Commission's order."
SECTION 16.  G.S. 160A‑505(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	In lieu of creating a redevelopment commission as authorized herein, the governing body of any municipality may, if it deems wise, either designate a housing authority created under the provisions of Chapter 157 of the General Statutes to exercise the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a redevelopment commission as prescribed herein, or undertake to exercise such powers, duties, and responsibilities itself. Any such designation shall be by passage of a resolution adopted in accordance with the procedure and pursuant to the findings specified in G.S. 160A‑504(a) and (b). In the event a governing body designates itself to perform the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a redevelopment commission under this subsection, or exercises those powers, duties, and responsibilities pursuant to G.S. 153A‑376 or G.S. 160A‑456, then where any act or proceeding is required to be done, recommended, or approved both by a redevelopment commission and by the municipal governing body, then the performance, recommendation, or approval thereof once by the municipal governing body shall be sufficient to make such performance, recommendation, or approval valid and legal. In the event a municipal governing body designates itself to exercise the powers, duties, and responsibilities of a redevelopment commission, it may assign the administration of redevelopment policies, programs and plans to any existing or new department of the municipality."
SECTION 17.  G.S. 160A‑512(6) reads as rewritten:
"(6)	Within its area of operation, to purchase, obtain options upon, acquire by gift, grant, bequest, devise, eminent domain or otherwise, any real or personal property or any interest therein, together with any improvements thereon, necessary or incidental to a redevelopment project; to hold, improve, clear or prepare for redevelopment any such property, and subject to the provisions of G.S. 160A‑514, and with the approval of the local governing body sell, exchange, transfer, assign, subdivide, retain for its own use, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any real or personal property or any interest therein, either as an entirety to a single 'redeveloper' or in parts to several redevelopers; provided that the commission finds that the sale or other transfer of any such part will not be prejudicial to the sale of other parts of the redevelopment area, nor in any other way prejudicial to the realization of the redevelopment plan approved by the governing body; to enter into contracts, either before or after the real property that is the subject of the contract is acquired by the Commission (although disposition of the property is still subject to G.S. 160A‑514), with 'redevelopers' of property containing covenants, restrictions, and conditions regarding the use of such property for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational purposes or for public purposes in accordance with the redevelopment plan and such other covenants, restrictions and conditions as the commission may deem necessary to prevent a recurrence of blighted areas or to effectuate the purposes of this Article; to make any of the covenants, restrictions or conditions of the foregoing contracts covenants running with the land, and to provide appropriate remedies for any breach of any such covenants or conditions, including the right to terminate such contracts and any interest in the property created pursuant thereto; to borrow money and issue bonds therefor and provide security for bonds; to insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the commission against any risks or hazards, including the power to pay premiums on any such insurance; and to enter into any contracts necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Article;".
SECTION 18.  G.S. 160A‑515.1 is reenacted and is rewritten to read:
"§ 160A‑515.1. Project development financing.
(a)	Authorization. – A city may finance a redevelopment project and any related public improvements with the proceeds of project development financing debt instruments, issued pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, together with any other revenues that are available to the city. Before it receives the approval of the Local Government Commission for issuance of project development financing debt instruments, the city's governing body must define a development financing district and adopt a development financing plan for the district. The city may act jointly with a county to finance a project, define a development financing district, and adopt a development financing plan for the district.
(b)	Development Financing District. – A development financing district shall comprise all or portions of one or more redevelopment areas defined pursuant to this Article. The total land area within development financing districts in a city, including development financing districts created pursuant to G.S. 158‑7.3, may not exceed five percent (5%) of the total land area of the city.
(c)	Development Financing Plan. – The development financing plan must be compatible with the redevelopment plan or plans for the redevelopment area or areas included within the district. The development financing plan must include all of the following:
(1)	A description of the boundaries of the development financing district.
(2)	A description of the proposed development of the district, both public and private.
(3)	The costs of the proposed public activities.
(4)	The sources and amounts of funds to pay for the proposed public activities.
(5)	The base valuation of the development financing district.
(6)	The projected incremental valuation of the development financing district.
(7)	The estimated duration of the development financing district.
(8)	A description of how the proposed development of the district, both public and private, will benefit the residents and business owners of the district in terms of jobs, affordable housing, or services.
(9)	A description of the appropriate ameliorative activities which will be undertaken if the proposed projects have a negative impact on residents or business owners of the district in terms of jobs, affordable housing, services, or displacement.
(10)	A requirement that the initial users of any new manufacturing facilities that will be located in the district and that are included in the plan will comply with the wage requirements in subsection (d) of this section.
(d)	Wage Requirements. – A development financing plan shall include a requirement that the initial users of a new manufacturing facility to be located in the district and included in the plan must pay its employees an average weekly manufacturing wage that is either above the average manufacturing wage paid in the county in which the district will be located or not less than ten percent (10%) above the average weekly manufacturing wage paid in the State. The plan may include information on the wages to be paid by the initial users of a new manufacturing facility to its employees and any provisions necessary to implement the wage requirement. The issuing unit's governing body shall not adopt a plan until the Secretary of Commerce certifies that the Secretary has reviewed the average weekly manufacturing wage required by the plan to be paid to the employees of a new manufacturing facility and has found either (i) that the wages proposed by the initial users of a new manufacturing facility are in compliance with the amount required by this subsection or (ii) that the plan is exempt from the requirement of this subsection. The Secretary of Commerce may exempt a plan from the requirement of this subsection if the Secretary receives a resolution from the issuing unit's governing body requesting an exemption from the wage requirement and a letter from an appropriate State official, selected by the Secretary, finding that unemployment in the county in which the proposed district is to be located is especially severe. Upon the creation of the district, the unit of local government proposing the creation of the district shall take any lawful actions necessary to require compliance with the applicable wage requirement by the initial users of any new manufacturing facility included in the plan; however, failure to take such actions or obtain such compliance shall not affect the validity of any proceedings for the creation of the district, the existence of the district, or the validity of any debt instruments issued under Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes. All findings and determinations made by the Secretary of Commerce under this subsection shall be binding and conclusive. For purposes of this section, the term 'manufacturing facility' means any facility that is used in the manufacturing or production of tangible personal property, including the processing resulting in a change in the condition of the property.
(e)	County Review. – Before adopting a plan for a development financing district, the city council shall send notice of the plan, by first‑class mail, to the board of county commissioners of the county or counties in which the development financing district is located. The person mailing the notice shall certify that fact, and the date thereof, to the city council, and the certificate is conclusive in the absence of fraud. Unless the board of county commissioners (or either board, if the district is in two counties) by resolution disapproves the proposed plan within 28 days after the date the notice is mailed, the city council may proceed to adopt the plan.
(f)	Environmental Review. – Before adopting a plan for development financing districts, the city council shall submit the plan to the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to review to determine if the construction and operation of any new manufacturing facility in the district will have a materially adverse effect on the environment and whether the company that will operate the facility has operated in substantial compliance with federal and State laws, regulations, and rules for the protection of the environment. If the Secretary finds that the new manufacturing facility will not have a materially adverse effect on the environment and that the company that will operate the facility has operated other facilities in compliance with environmental requirements, the Secretary shall approve the plan. In making the determination on environmental impact, the Secretary shall use the same criteria that apply to the determination under G.S. 159C‑7 of whether an industrial project will have a materially adverse effect on the environment. The findings of the Secretary are conclusive and binding.
(g)	Plan Adoption. – Before adopting a plan for a development financing district, the city council shall hold a public hearing on the plan. The council shall, no less than 30 days before the day of hearing, cause notice of the hearing to be mailed by first‑class mail to all property owners and mailing addresses within the proposed development financing district. The council shall also, no more than 30 days and no less than 14 days before the day of the hearing, cause notice of the hearing to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing, shall specify its purpose, and shall state that a copy of the proposed plan is available for public inspection in the office of the city clerk. At the public hearing, the council shall hear anyone who wishes to speak with respect to the proposed district and proposed plan. Unless a board of county commissioners or the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources has disapproved the plan pursuant to subsection (e) or (f) of this section, the council may adopt the plan, with or without amendment, at any time after the public hearing. However, the plan and the district do not become effective until the city's application to issue project development financing debt instruments has been approved by the Local Government Commission, pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes.
(h)	Plan Modification. – Subject to the limitations of this subsection, a city council may, after the effective date of the district, amend a development financing plan adopted for a development financing district. Before making any amendment, the city council shall follow the procedures and meet the requirements of subsections (d) through (g) of this section. The boundaries of the district may be enlarged only during the first five years after the effective date of the district and only if the area to be added has been or is about to be developed and the development is primarily attributable to development that has occurred within the district, as certified by the Local Government Commission. The boundaries of the district may be reduced at any time, but the city may agree with the holders of any project development financing debt instruments to restrict its power to reduce district boundaries.
(i)	Plan Implementation. – In implementing a development financing plan, a city may act directly, through a redevelopment commission, through one or more contracts with private agencies, or by any combination of these."
SECTION 19.  G.S. 158‑7.3 is reenacted and rewritten to read:
"§ 158‑7.3. Development financing.
(a)	Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	Development project. – A capital project that includes capital expenditures by both private persons and one or more units of local government and that increases net employment opportunities for residents of the development district or within a two‑mile radius of the project, whichever is larger, and increases the local government tax base.
If the district in which such a project will occur is outside a city's central business district (as that district is defined by resolution of the city council, which definition is binding and conclusive), then, of the private development forecast for a development project by the development financing plan for the district in which the project will occur, a maximum of twenty percent (20%) of the plan's estimated square footage of floor space may be proposed for use in retail sales, hotels, banking, and financial services offered directly to consumers, and other commercial uses other than office space.
(2)	Publish. – Insertion in a newspaper qualified under G.S. 1‑597 to publish legal advertisements in the county or counties in which the unit is located.
(3)	Unit or unit of local government. – A county, city, town, or incorporated village.
(b)	Authorization. – A unit of local government may finance public improvements that are part of a development project with the proceeds of project development financing debt instruments, issued pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes, together with any other revenues that are available to the unit. Before it receives the approval of the Local Government Commission for issuance of project development financing debt instruments, the unit's governing body must define a development financing district and adopt a development financing plan for the district. The county may act jointly with a city to finance a project, define a development financing district that is within the city, and adopt a development financing plan for the district.
(c)	Development Financing District. – A development financing district created pursuant to this section must be comprised of property that is one or more of the following:
(1)	Blighted, deteriorated, deteriorating, undeveloped, or inappropriately developed from the standpoint of sound community development and growth.
(2)	Appropriate for rehabilitation or conservation activities.
(3)	Appropriate for the economic development of the community.
The total land area within development financing districts in a unit, including development financing districts created pursuant to G.S. 160A‑515.1, may not exceed five percent (5%) of the total land area of the unit. A county may not include in a district created pursuant to this section any land that, at the time the district is created, is inside a city, town, or incorporated village.
(d)	Development Financing Plan. – The development financing plan must include all of the following:
(1)	A description of the boundaries of the development financing district.
(2)	A description of the proposed development of the district, both public and private.
(3)	The costs of the proposed public activities.
(4)	The sources and amounts of funds to pay for the proposed public activities.
(5)	The base valuation of the development financing district.
(6)	The projected incremental valuation of the development financing district.
(7)	The estimated duration of the development financing district.
(8)	A description of how the proposed development of the district, both public and private, will benefit the residents and business owners of the district in terms of jobs, affordable housing, or services.
(9)	A description of the appropriate ameliorative activities which will be undertaken if the proposed projects have a negative impact on residents or business owners of the district in terms of jobs, affordable housing, services, or displacement.
(10)	A requirement that the initial users of any new manufacturing facilities that will be located in the district and that are included in the plan will comply with the wage requirements referred to in subsection (e) of this section.
(e)	Wage Requirements. – A development financing plan shall include a requirement that the initial users of a new manufacturing facility to be located in the district and included in the plan must pay its employees an average weekly manufacturing wage that is either above the average manufacturing wage paid in the county in which the district will be located or not less than ten percent (10%) above the average weekly manufacturing wage paid in the State. The plan may include information on the wages to be paid by the initial users of a new manufacturing facility to its employees and any provisions necessary to implement the wage requirement. The issuing unit's governing body shall not adopt a plan until the Secretary of Commerce certifies that the Secretary has reviewed the average weekly manufacturing wage required by the plan to be paid to the employees of a new manufacturing facility and has found either (i) that the wages proposed by the initial users of a new manufacturing facility are in compliance with the amount required by this subsection or (ii) that the plan is exempt from the requirement of this subsection. The Secretary of Commerce may exempt a plan from the requirement of this subsection if the Secretary receives a resolution from the issuing unit's governing body requesting an exemption from the wage requirement and a letter from an appropriate State official, selected by the Secretary, finding that unemployment in the county in which the proposed district is to be located is especially severe. Upon the creation of the district, the unit of local government proposing the creation of the district shall take any lawful actions necessary to require compliance with the applicable wage requirement by the initial users of any new manufacturing facility included in the plan; however, failure to take such actions or obtain such compliance shall not affect the validity of any proceedings for the creation of the district, the existence of the district, or the validity of any debt instruments issued under Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes. All findings and determinations made by the Secretary of Commerce under this subsection shall be binding and conclusive. For purposes of this section, the term 'manufacturing facility' means any facility that is used in the manufacturing or production of tangible personal property, including the processing resulting in a change in the condition of the property.
(f)	County Review. – If the unit creating a development financing district and adopting a development financing plan is a city, town, or incorporated village, before adopting the plan the unit's governing body shall send notice of the plan, by first‑class mail, to the board of county commissioners of the county or counties in which the development financing district is located. The person mailing the notice shall certify that fact, and the date thereof, to the governing body, and the certificate is conclusive in the absence of fraud. Unless the board of county commissioners (or either board, if the district is in two counties) by resolution disapproves the proposed plan within 28 days after the date the notice is mailed, the governing body may proceed to adopt the plan.
(g)	Environmental Review. – Before adopting a plan for development financing districts, the issuing unit's governing body shall submit the plan to the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to review to determine if the construction and operation of any new manufacturing facility in the district will have a materially adverse effect on the environment and whether the company that will operate the facility has operated in substantial compliance with federal and State laws, regulations, and rules for the protection of the environment. If the Secretary finds that the new manufacturing facility will not have a materially adverse effect on the environment and that the company that will operate the facility has operated other facilities in compliance with environmental requirements, the Secretary shall approve the plan. In making the determination on environmental impact, the Secretary shall use the same criteria that apply to the determination under G.S. 159C‑7 of whether an industrial project will have a materially adverse effect on the environment. The findings of the Secretary are conclusive and binding.
(h)	Plan Adoption. – Before adopting a plan for a development financing district, the issuing unit's governing body shall hold a public hearing on the plan. The governing body shall, no more than 30 days and no less than 14 days before the day of the hearing, cause notice of the hearing to be published once and shall cause notice of the hearing to be mailed, by first‑class mail, to all property owners and mailing addresses of the development financing district and to the governing body of any special district, as defined by G.S. 159‑7, within which the development financing district is located. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing, shall specify its purpose, and shall state that a copy of the proposed plan is available for public inspection in the office of the unit's clerk. At the public hearing, the governing body shall hear anyone who wishes to speak with respect to the proposed district and proposed plan. Unless a board of county commissioners or the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources has disapproved the plan pursuant to subsection (f) or (g) of this section, the governing body may adopt the plan, with or without amendment, at any time after the public hearing. However, the plan and the district do not become effective until the unit's application to issue project development financing debt instruments has been approved by the Local Government Commission, pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes.
(i)	Plan Modification. – Subject to the limitations of this subsection, a governing body may, after the effective date of the district, amend a development financing plan adopted for a development financing district. Before making any amendment, the governing body shall follow the procedures and meet the requirements of subsections (e) through (h) of this section. The boundaries of the district may be enlarged only during the first five years after the effective date of the district and only if the area to be added has been or is about to be developed and the development is primarily attributable to development that has occurred within the district, as certified by the Local Government Commission. The boundaries of the district may be reduced at any time, but the unit may agree with the holders of any project development financing debt instruments to restrict its power to reduce district boundaries.
(j)	Plan Implementation. – In implementing a development financing plan, a unit may act directly, through one or more contracts with other public agencies, through one or more contracts with private agencies, or by any combination thereof."
SECTION 20.  G.S. 105‑284 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(d)	Property that is in a development financing district and that is subject to an agreement entered into pursuant to G.S. 159‑108 shall be assessed at its true value or at the minimum value set out in the agreement, whichever is greater."
SECTION 21.  G.S. 105‑277.11 is reenacted and rewritten to read:
"§ 105‑277.11. Taxation of property subject to a development financing district agreement.
Property that is in a development financing district established pursuant to G.S. 160A‑515.1 or G.S. 158‑7.3 and that is subject to an agreement entered into pursuant to G.S. 159‑108, shall, pursuant to Article V, Section 14 of the North Carolina Constitution, be assessed for taxation at the greater of its true value or the minimum value established in the agreement."
SECTION 22.  Liberal Construction. This act, being necessary for the prosperity and welfare of the State and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect these purposes.
SECTION 23.  Severability. If any clause or other portion of this act is held invalid, that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this act, which are severable.
SECTION 24.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election in November 2004, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR	[ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendment to promote local economic and community development projects by (i) permitting the General Assembly to enact general laws giving counties, cities, and towns the power to finance improvements associated with qualified private economic and community development projects, as long as the financing is secured by the additional tax revenues resulting from the enhanced property value created by the development project and is not secured by a pledge of the local government's faith and credit or general taxing authority, which financing constitutes special obligation debt and not general obligation debt of counties, cities, and towns and is not subject to a referendum; and (ii) by permitting the owners of property involved with the financing to agree to a minimum tax value for their property in connection with the financing."
SECTION 25.  If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act and the amendments set out in Sections 2 through 21 of this act become effective upon this certification. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office. If a majority of votes cast on the question are not in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, that amendment and the amendments set out in Sections 2 through 21 of this act do not go into effect.
SECTION 26.  This act is effective when it becomes law.