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regulations (see attachment#4), INEOS is required to provide a number of new jobs at a high average <br /> wage level, file an annual report on or before January 15`b of each year beginning in 2013 (ordinance <br /> establishes a March 1St deadline), abide by representations made to the Board, and comply with tax <br /> exemption requirements. The annual report filing provides the County with a convenient opportunity <br /> to verify compliance with tax exemption requirements. If at any time the Board determines that <br /> fNEOS is not in compliance, the Board may revoke or revise the tax exemption. <br /> Staff has reviewed INEOS's annual report filed January 2016 and verified INEOS's compliance with <br /> tax exemption requirements, including representations made in its tax abatement application. At this <br /> time, staff is bringing the January 2016 annual report and its analysis to the Board for consideration, <br /> and requests that the Board find INEOS currently in compliance with its tax exemption requirements. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> Over the last 6 years, INEOS obtained approval of economic development incentives, developed a <br /> bioenergy production facility at the southwest corner of Oslo Road/74th Avenue(former Ocean Spray <br /> site), and hired facility personnel. Employees were first hired starting in late 2011. By the end of <br /> 2012, INEOS had 56 employees. The number increased in 2013 and in 2014, rising to 64 employees <br /> in late 2013 and 68 employees in late 2014. More recently, in December of 2015, INEOS reported <br /> employment levels in the mid-50s. <br /> In its January 2016 annual report (see attachment #6), INEOS provided all the information required <br /> by INEOS's tax abatement agreement, including information on the number of jobs, average wage, <br /> and new capital investment in the plant, if any, for the 2015 report year. The report states that the <br /> INEOS facility currently has 57 full time employees at an annual wage of nearly $74,000 per <br /> employee (not including benefits). Staff has verified that the reported jobs and wage information <br /> provided in the January 2016 report is consistent with information reported to the Florida Department <br /> of Revenue. In fact,the average annual wage of INEOS employees for 2015 was over$85,000 (based <br /> on 4t' quarter wages). With respect to project capital investment the project has involved tens of <br /> millions of dollars in improvements and equipment, as anticipated. Based upon the filed annual report <br /> and verified items, staff has determined that INEOS has met applicable project-related and tax <br /> abatement-related time frames and deadlines. <br /> As anticipated in the INEOS tax exemption application, the majority of the project's assessed value <br /> consists of tangible personal property in the form of plant equipment. According to the Property <br /> Appraiser's staff, INEOS's ad valorem tax bill for 2015 was $471,929.22 and the value of the ad <br /> valorem tax exemption not included on that bill (savings to INEOS) was $308,145.81. In 2014, the <br /> tax bill was$446,908.62 and savings to INEOS was$278,496.26. The 2015 figures reflect an increase <br /> in assessed value and are consistent with the tax abatement scenario considered by the Board at the <br /> time INEOS's tax abatement application was approved. <br /> As shown in the table on attachment 7, INEOS has developed a targeted industry facility, provided <br /> or exceeded the projected number of jobs, met or exceeded anticipated wage levels, and made project <br /> capital investments consistent with representations reflected in its tax abatement application. <br /> After review of the INEOS January 2016 annual report, staff found that INEOS's 2015 actual <br /> performance scored the same number of points under the County's scoring guidelines as scored by <br /> its 2011 tax abatement application. Therefore, staff has concluded that INEOS continues to qualify <br /> F:\Community Development\Users\EDplannrW'CENTNES&FUNDING\Tax Abatements\Applications\INEOS\Annual Reviews\Februaiy 2 <br /> 2016\13CC Memo-INEOS Ad Valorem Report.docx <br /> 40 <br />