In May 2009, the City Council created an Ad-Hoc Committee on East End Annexation Incentives to find ways to encourage about 45 county property owners in and around the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) to annex into the City.  The EBURD is bounded by North 10th, the BNSF Rail lines, North 22nd Ave. and the property north of 6th Avenue North. 

The Committee recommended September 8, 2009, that the Council offer a development agreement and an annexation  resolution with incentives to the county property owners.  The documents would allow a property owner to annex into the EBURD in exchange for: (1)  Using tax increment funds to pay for water and sewer connection fees or, if the funds are not available, making equal connection fee payments over five consecutive years with no interest; and (2) Receiving a 10% rebate of the building permit valuation and total assessed value of improvements to be paid out of tax increment funds for use on public improvements that qualify for tax increment financing district funds under State regulations.  In order to be eligible for the incentives, a property owner must deliver a signed development agreement to the City no later than January 31, 2010, and must make improvements equal to at least 25% of the assessed value of the property within five years of annexation.

If approved by the Council, the documents will be presented to the property owners by members of the Ad-Hoc Committee.
 

• Approve the agreement and resolution;
• Amend the agreement and/or resolution; or
• Return the agreement and/or resolution to the Ad-Hoc Committee on East End Annexation Incentives for additional study and recommendations.