 From Site Selection magazine, November 2002
U.S. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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Colorado
The 17-person Blue Ribbon Panel on Higher Education for the Twenty-First Century, created by Gov. Bill Owens last fall, will issue its findings in December 2002. In November 2002, he signed growth management legislation requiring fast-growing communities to have comprehensive land use plans, while exempting from such planning small local municipalities that are not experiencing growth. A related bill authorized cities and counties to assess impact fees for new development, to pay for accompanying improvements to sewers, roads and drainage. In June, four separate bills were signed into law to stimulate the state's rural economy. One established the "enhanced rural enterprise zone," which offers incentives of $2,000 per employee hired and $500 per new employee hired in value-added agricultural business to firms that located in economically depressed rural areas. Another bill extended the life span of business incentive agreements from four to 10 years, giving local communities greater leverage to attract companies. Legislation was signed into law authorizing an additional investment of $15 billion in improvements to Colorado's transportation system. The state's 20-year transportation plan contains almost $32 billion in projects, to be financed by a combination of general funds, tolls and bond issues.
Connecticut
Connecticut logged the largest sales tax reduction in the country at $103 million, which is due to a one-year suspension of the sales tax on hospital patient care. But it was also the only state to report a FY 2002 deficit of 1.9 percent, which it has taken steps to close. Effective January 1, 2003, the minimum wage in Connecticut will be not less than $6.90 an hour. Legislation was signed into law requiring the state transportation strategy board to submit findings and recommendations for each new economic development project, in order to help eliminate bottlenecks and congestion. Compromise legislation was signed that puts into statutory form the clawback provisions of state economic development contracts with companies.
Delaware
Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed legislation creating a state program for oversight of aboveground storage tanks. In July, the state sold $261.6 million in AAA-rated general obligations bonds at the best rates in the state's history, to be used for school and other non-transportation projects. The state's $2.39-million budget included $10 million to continue business attraction and retention efforts.
Florida
Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law the Florida Technology Development Initiative, which will establish centers for excellence dedicated to high-tech research and the building of technology clusters. Initial funding of $30 million will help create several of the centers statewide, including new facilities, labs and endowed academic chairs. Part of the legislation expanded the scope of financing by the Florida Industrial Development Financing Act to include state universities, community colleges and government agencies. Thirteen Florida communities were newly designated as Enterprise Zones, bringing the state's total number to 47. According to the Enterprise Zone Annual Report, the total amount of incentives in 2000/2001 awarded to businesses (just under $21 million) increased by approximately $5.4 million as compared to the previous year. The state budget included a nine-percent increase in education funding, the largest single year increase in more than 12 years for a total of $14.17 billion. Growth management legislation became law, calling for local agencies, governments and school boards to work together to, among other things, streamline the development review process. The law requires local governments to create a 10-year water supply plan to better serve existing and new developments for which a local government would be responsible. A total of $52.4 million in funds from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will assist local economic and community development efforts and expand electrical distribution in rural Florida communities.
Georgia
Gov. Roy Barnes said two things in his State of the State speech that were music to the ears of economic developers: "Jobs and education go together like catfish and hushpuppies," and "We will not raise taxes." A special session of the Georgia state legislature was held from January 14 April 12, 2002, with the following among the highlights:
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