SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 80 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 9, 2008 Directing the Virginia Housing Commission to study incentives used by other states for targeted affordable housing development for the workforce. Report. ---------- Patron-- Northam ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, the cost of housing, both rental and for sale, continues to increase substantially and fewer people can afford to purchase or pay for reasonably safe and decent housing; and

WHEREAS, adequate housing for the workforce, which includes persons in entry-level positions, as well as middle - income persons and public servants, has become more and more difficult to secure; and

WHEREAS, many members of the workforce are unable to live close to their centers of employment due to the high cost of housing in many urban and suburban areas; and

WHEREAS, in addition, the lack of affordable housing for employees required to relocate from other states has a detrimental impact on the Commonwealth's ability to attract new businesses and industry; and

WHEREAS, the lack of affordable housing in many of the state's urban and close-in suburban communities has encouraged many people with entry-level and middle- and low-income positions and jobs to seek housing in the outer suburbs and rural areas, increasing commute times to jobs and wasting resources and productivity; and

WHEREAS, affordable housing initiatives taken by other states aimed at addressing the lack of affordable housing in urban and close-in suburban areas have taken a variety of incentive approaches; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to examine the incentives used by other states and jurisdictions for targeted development of affordable housing and whether such incentives may be used to foster the location of affordable housing in appropriate areas of need; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Virginia Housing Commission be directed to study state incentives for targeted affordable housing development and regional planning initiatives.

In conducting its study, the Virginia Housing Commission shall examine state incentives for (i) developments that locate affordable housing near identified employment centers, high-density districts, and transit areas including the impact of commuting on affordable housing, and (ii) local jurisdictions that participate in regional planning efforts for projected job growth impact analysis that includes all income ranges and housing types.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Virginia Housing Commission for this study, upon request.

The Virginia Housing Commission shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2008, and the Chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall state whether the Virginia Housing Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 81 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 9, 2008 Directing the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study implications of a state income tax credit for homeowners with annual real property taxes exceeding a certain percentage of their annual incomes. Report. ---------- Patron-- Miller, J.C. ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, it is increasingly difficult for Virginia’s low and moderate income homeowners to pay their annual real property taxes; and

WHEREAS, many states provide income tax credits or other state assistance to homeowners with annual real property taxes exceeding a certain percentage of their annual incomes; and

WHEREAS, providing income tax credits to homeowners with large real property tax bills relative to their annual incomes would provide assistance to those who can least afford to pay; and

WHEREAS, the local real property tax is the largest source of locally generated revenue; and

WHEREAS, in the long-term, real property taxes likely will increase in part because of increases in the Commonwealth’s population; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study implications of a state income tax credit for homeowners with annual real property taxes exceeding a certain percentage of their annual incomes.

In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall (i) examine state constitutional and statutory issues regarding real property tax exemptions, (ii) study the effectiveness and efficiency of local real property tax relief programs, (iii) study thresholds for real property tax liability used by other states for triggering eligibility for state income tax credits or other state assistance, (iv) consider the percentage of annual income that annual real property taxes would have to exceed for purposes of determining eligibility for state income tax credits, (v) examine the ability of low and moderate income homeowners to pay real property taxes, and (vi) consider such other issues as it deems appropriate.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by the Department of Taxation. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2008, and for the second year by November 30, 2009, and the Director of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.