Iowa Admin. Code r. 261-200.4

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

Rule 261-200.4 - Preapplication process

(1)Purpose. The program includes a preapplication process to assist with the administration and implementation of the program. The purposes of the preapplication process are to provide information related to the requirements of this chapter, to determine the interest of municipalities in establishing districts under this chapter, including the amount of potential funding requests, and to assist municipalities in preparing a proposed district plan. The authority and the board will utilize the preapplication process to gauge the level of demand for funding under the program, accept initial project plans and requests for funding, make provisional determinations about the amount of maximum benefits, and notify applicants of the board's provisional funding decisions. While all funding decisions made during the preapplication process are provisional and subject to change, the process is intended to indicate the board's willingness to approve future financial assistance for projects that meet the requirements of this chapter.

(2)Preapplication required. The board will only approve a proposed district plan if that plan has been submitted during the annual filing window as described in this rule.

(3)Annual filing window. Each year that funding is available, the authority will announce an annual filing window to accept preapplications under the program. The purpose of the annual filing window is to enable the competitive scoring of applications and facilitate funding decisions by the board that are within the limitations established for the program by the general assembly. A municipality interested in applying to the program must submit a preapplication during the annual filing window or wait until the next annual filing window.

(4)Preapplication submission requirements. Each preapplication submission shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements listed in rule 261-200.5 (15J) to the greatest extent possible. While the preapplication process is provisional in nature and is designed to allow applicants to make reasonable changes to the proposed district plan before a final application is considered, the board is more likely to approve funding for proposed districts that meet all requirements of rule 261-200.5 (15J) during the preapplication process.

(5)Provisional funding decisions.

a. The board, with the assistance of the authority, will evaluate the preapplications and assign them a provisional score based on the criteria described in rule 261-200.6 (15J). Based on the results of the scoring, the board will make provisional funding decisions and notify applicants.

b. A provisional funding decision represents an initial judgment by the board about the merits of a proposed district plan and is provided for the convenience of both applicants and the board for the better administration of the program. A provisional funding decision shall not be construed as binding on the board nor will the applicant be required to meet all of the details contained in the preapplication. A provisional funding decision shall not be construed as a final approval by the board. A municipality shall not adopt an ordinance or resolution establishing a district based on a provisional funding decision.

c. The final details of a proposed district plan and a final funding decision, including a maximum benefit amount and a commencement date, shall be contingent upon the receipt of a full, final, and complete application and upon final action by the board to ratify, amend, defer, or rescind its provisional funding decision as provided in rule 261-200.7 (15J).

d. The department of revenue will not deposit moneys into a fund until a final application is approved by the board and an ordinance or resolution has been adopted by the municipality.

(6)Posting of preapplication and materials to Internet site. After the board makes a provisional funding decision, the proposed district plan, along with all accompanying materials, will be posted on the authority's Internet site for public viewing within ten days of approval by the board and will be available there until the final application is submitted, or for one year.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 261-200.4

ARC 1175C, IAB 11/13/2013, effective 12/18/2013

Amended by IAB December 16, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 13, effective 1/20/2021