Senate Bill 277 Summary

• Authorizes county councils to impose a county employment opportunity fee on nonresident individuals who work in the county at a rate not exceeding 0.25% of adjusted gross income derived from their principal place of business or employment.

• Requires county councils to adopt ordinances between March 31 and August 1 to impose, increase, decrease, or rescind the fee, with changes taking effect October 1 of that year.

• Mandates that fee revenue be used for economic development purposes, including project financing, bond retirement, lease payments, and capital improvements, with revenues deposited in a county employment opportunity fee fund.

• Permits counties to pledge fee revenue to repay bonds or lease rentals for economic development projects and allows the revenue to be captured for various economic development programs and revolving loan funds.

• Authorizes the state to intercept fee distributions to counties that fail to comply with specified data reporting requirements related to property assessment and taxation.

• Effective July 1, 2010.