Multifamily Property Tax Exemption

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On November 9, City Council approved Ordinance No. 2021-23 creating a City Multifamily Property Tax Exemption (MFTE) program. 

The MFTE program incentivizes the development of multifamily and affordable housing on Bainbridge Island by exempting qualifying new housing from property taxes for 12 or 20 years on the residential improvement value of a development.


The program, known as Multifamily Tax Exemption (MTFE) will apply in two areas:


The qualifying multifamily projects would be exempt from property taxation on the residential improvement value for 12 or 20 years (depending on program) after construction is complete. The program does not apply to the value of land or any non-residential development. The tax levy would be shifted to other property taxpayers through a slight tax increase divided among property owners island wide.


How does the MFTE program achieve affordable housing?

The MFTE programs, authorized under state law (RCW 84.14), vary by duration of tax exemption and affordability requirements.

  • 12-year MFTE program
    • For rental projects: 20% of housing units must be rented to low-income households or below. For example, a 4-person household in 2021 qualifies as low income if their gross income is $75,300 or less.
    • For home-ownership projects (e.g. condominiums): 100% of housing units are required to be sold to low-income   households or below.
  • 20-year MFTE program
    • The Washington State Legislature adopted a 20-year program that requires at least 25% of the units be sold to a qualified nonprofit or local government partner and requires those units to be sold or rented to low-income households.

Background

At their meeting on May 4, 2021, City Council directed staff to continue creating a City Multifamily Property Tax Exemption (MFTE) program that would encourage developers to build multifamily and affordable housing in exchange for a partial property tax relief for a partial property tax relief for 12 or 20 years.


On June 8, the City held a public hearing to gather input from the community on the following proposed MFTE eligibility locations: 

Winslow Master Plan Study Area & Winslow Sewer System Service Area
Lynwood Center Area: Neighborhood Center (NC), NC/R-12 and R-5 zones .

Watch the May 4 presentation to the City Council for more detailed information, including the 2020 AMI table.

Adopting a MFTE program has been planned and recommended over the last four years, as referenced in the attached documents: 

 A Joint City Council/Planning Commission land use subcommittee met in the Summer and Fall of 2020 presented a list of recommended priority code changes to the Council on October 13, 2020 that included adopting a 12-year MFTE Program. The Council approved the list and recommended it be forwarded to the Planning Commission for immediate legislative work.

State MFTE Program Overview

Washington State provides for local governments to adopt a MFTE program as described in (RCW 84.14). The purpose of this program is to encourage the development and redevelopment of multifamily and affordable housing by granting a property tax exemption for qualifying projects for a period of 8, 12 or 20 years. Projects must create at least 4 multifamily residences. The exemption is a partial property tax exemption for qualifying projects, on the value of residential improvements for qualifying MFTE housing developments and does not apply to the value of land or any non-residential development.  The tax exemption is a financial incentive to build multifamily and affordable housing.

Note: In addition, MFTE programs can improve overall housing affordability in an area by promoting the development of multifamily housing, which is usually more affordable compared to single-family homes. 

MFTE Is A Property Tax Shift During Exemption Period (8, 12 or 20 years)

If the City adopts this program, qualifying multifamily projects would be partially exempt from property taxation and would not pay property tax on the residential improvement for a period of eight, 12 or 20 years, depending on the program adopted, after construction is complete. Property taxes on land and any commercial development is not exempted. The amount of MFTE property tax relief would be shifted to other property taxpayers through a tax increase divided among property owners Island wide. 

 MFTE is Only a Financial Incentive to Develop Multifamily Housing 

Although local governments often have other programs that also incentivize building affordable housing, a MFTE program is only a temporary financial incentive to build multifamily housing. A MFTE program does not:

  • Modify City zoning or environmental regulations;
  • Modify City development standards such as building height or density;
  • Modify or reduce required land use permit processes.

Planning Commission Recommendations

At their meetings on January 14 and 28, 2021 meeting, the Planning Commission discussed the following MFTE program elements:

1.    MFTE designation or eligibility areas- where should program be available to properties?

2.     MFTE project threshold- what is minimum number of multifamily units that will be required  to enroll in a future MFTE program? The state minimum project eligibility threshold is four multifamily residences.

 3.  Should a City MFTE program be available to both rental and homeownership projects, as allowed under state law?

In general, the consensus by the Planning Commission was to make a MFTE program as widely available as possible (see motion below), recognizing that the City’s housing supply is lacking available rentals, multifamily units, and designated affordable units. On February 11, 2021, the Planning Commission finalized their transmittal memo to the City Council and then unanimously passed the motion below related to recommended MFTE program elements.  

Motion: I move to forward the following policy recommendations and attached supporting memo to the City Council related to adopting a Multifamily Property Tax Exemption program:

1. That the following areas be considered for the MFTE designation/eligibility areas:

All properties either within:

  • The Winslow Master Plan Study Area or the Winslow Sewer System Service Area, or both and; 
  • The Lynwood Center area, which have zoning of Neighborhood Center (NC), NC/R-12 and R-5.

2. That the project eligibility threshold be four multifamily residences.

3. That a future City MFTE program be applicable to both rental and ownership units.