HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-065 2018 Net Revenue Report on Economic Development IncentivesDate: July 24, 2020 Report No. 2020-065
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
2018 Net Revenue Report on Economic Development Incentives
BACKGROUND:
In 2009, the Department of Economic Development created the initial “Return on Investment
Report” to examine the fiscal impact to the City made by the businesses that have received
property and sales tax incentives, evaluate the efficiency of the public investment, and to guide
future policy decisions. The following changes have been made to the report over the years:
2010: State of Texas and Denton County Transportation Authority sales tax revenue was
added.
2013: The report was expanded to include the ad valorem revenue for Denton County,
which includes both the incentives in which the County has partnered with the City, as
well as the revenue from the incentives that the County did not invest in.
2015: Inclusion of Denton Independent School District (DISD) information.
2016: The report was redesigned and can be distributed as one-page City summary or
complete report.
The attached 2018 Net Revenue Report is the seventh update of the report, which provides an
overall look at what the City of Denton received in the way of direct benefits (property and sales
tax revenues) as well as the indirect benefit of new jobs created or existing jobs retained by those
companies and developments that received incentives.
The report covers a tax year schedule, so there is a time delay of when the report is released. The
property tax valuation is based on the values that are released by the Denton Central Appraisal
District (DCAD) for the previous tax year. The certified valuations, released at the end of July,
are compiled from the DCAD website and sent out on a City of Denton Verification Form to the
appraisal district.1 The tax bills are distributed from Denton County in October. The calculations
for the contested properties are prepared upon receipt of the Verification Form from the appraisal
district, which occurs sometime after October until the delinquency deadline in the early part of
the following year, if the property valuation is contested. DCAD also contracts out some of their
accounts to Wardlaw, which may also delay the valuation data for incentives. The remaining
incentive rebates are calculated, checked and processed in the Spring.
The report provides information through 2018 and includes the following:
The date the agreement was approved
The term of the agreement (years incentives are applied)
Property valuation (cumulative since year agreement approved, excluding base year)
Property tax generated (cumulative since year agreement approved, excluding base year)
1 The City of Denton Verification Form also includes a request for the breakdown of the Business Personal Property
(BPP) that is not available on the website and a section that notifies the City if the property is being contested. The
incentive calculations occur for the uncontested properties following the receipt of the forms from DCAD. The City
notifies DCAD if the threshold has been met by companies for all of the tax abatements.
Date: July 24, 2020 Report No. 2020-065
Sales tax generated – if applicable (cumulative from initiation of sales tax monitoring)
Net property and sales tax revenues (total revenues less incentives)
Cost/benefit Percentage (net revenue divided by the incentive and multiplied by 100)
Ratio of Return (net revenue less incentive, then divided by the incentive)
New jobs created by project
Standard economic development practice for impact analysis is 10 years, so the incentives in the
report are tracked for 10 years regardless of the term. For example, an incentive with a term of
seven years is tracked for an additional three years until the 10-year period is reached. An
incentive is not deducted for the remaining three years following the term. This practice allows
for “apples to apples” comparisons between incentives.
Incentives for expansion projects such as Jostens, Peterbilt Motors, and Flowers Foods are based
only on the new value created by the project. The existing valuation that was relative to each of
these projects was not included in the calculations.
FISCAL INFORMATION:
The City of Denton has awarded a total of 30 incentives to foster development in the community,
with 27 being represented in this report. The remaining three incentives have not initiated as of
2018. The City has invested $22.0 million in tax-related incentives, and in return, has benefited
from a net increase in property and sales tax revenues of $71.3 million since the inception of the
incentive program in 1999. The cost benefit percentage for all of the incentives awarded is
324%. There have been a total of 8,402 jobs created or retained by incentivized projects. The
table, which follows, provides the net revenue summary for the City, County and school district.
City, County and DISD Net Revenue Summaries
Total of all Property Incentives Ratio of
Return City of Denton Denton County Denton ISD
Cumulative Property Valuation $7,055,400,487 $3,403,991,034 $3,403,991,034
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $46,710,381 $8,557,988 $52,923,449
Cumulative Sales Tax Generated $46,543,343 $0 $0
Cumulative Property & Sales Tax $93,253,724 $8,557,988 $52,923,449
Less Incentives $21,982,602 $1,026,998 $621,572
Net Property and Sales Tax Revenue $71,271,122 $7,530,990 $52,301,877
Cost Benefit Percentage 324% 733% 8414%
Ratio of Return 3:2 7:3 84:1
Denton County has participated in a total of six Denton incentives, and Denton Independent
School District has participated in two Denton incentives. Texas school districts were at one time
able to offer tax abatements similar to those of cities and counties, but that authority was
repealed by the Texas Legislature.2
2 School finance involves a complex funding formula from a number of different federal, state and local funding
sources. It is important to note that the report uses the entire DISD tax rate, which includes the Maintenance and
Date: July 24, 2020 Report No. 2020-065
CONCLUSION:
Incentives are an important tool that can be used to attract or retain private investment in Denton.
Since the incentive options available to Denton are tax based, tracking and reporting on the
cost/benefit of the incentives awarded by City Council enhances transparency, supports fiscal
responsibility, and aids in future decision-making regarding incentives.
ATTACHMENT(S):
2018 Net Revenue Report
STAFF CONTACT:
Erica Sullivan
Economic Development Analyst
(940) 349-7731
Erica.sullivan@cityofdenton.com
REQUESTOR: Staff initiated
PARTICIPTAING DEPARTMENTS: Economic Development
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 50+ hours
Operations (M&O) and Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rates. The M&O portion of the tax rate is used for salaries,
utilities, supplies etc. The I&S portion of the tax rate is used to fund payments on debt service for facilities and is the
only portion of the DISD tax rate that is not affected by funding from the State of Texas.
2018
Report on Net Revenue
from Incentivized
Economic Development
Projects
City of Denton
Department of Economic Development
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
1
Table of Contents
List of Charts, Graphs, and Tables …………………………………………………………………………………...1
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 3
Introduction and Purpose .................................................................................................. 5
City of Denton Revenue ..................................................................................................... 5
Property Tax Abatements ...................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 380 Grant Agreements ............................................................................................. 6
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Property Tax Performance ................................................ 6
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Sales Tax Performance ...................................................... 7
Property and Sales Tax Summary .......................................................................................... 9
Property Tax Summary ...................................................................................................... 9
Property and Sales Tax Summary .................................................................................... 10
Direct and Indirect Impacts .................................................................................................. 10
Chapter 380 Grants on Combined Tax Performance and Development Tools ................... 11
State and Local Revenues ................................................................................................. 12
City, State, and DCTA Sales Taxes ........................................................................................ 12
Denton County Property Tax Generation ..........................................................................14
Property Tax Abatements .................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 380/381 Agreements ............................................................................................. 14
Property Tax Summary ....................................................................................................... 15
Denton Independent School District Property Tax Generation ..........................................16
Property Tax Abatements .................................................................................................... 17
Chapter 380 Agreements ..................................................................................................... 17
Property Tax Summary ...................................................................................................... …17
Appendix A: Incentive Projects .........................................................................................19
Appendix B: General Methodology ...................................................................................30
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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List of Charts, Graphs, and Tables
Charts
Chart 1: Sales Tax Generated and Rebated ........................................................................... 8
Chart 2: Sales Tax Composition ........................................................................................... 13
Graphs
Graph 1: Property Tax Generated and Abated/Rebated ....................................................... 9
Graph 2: New Value Created in Denton .............................................................................. 10
Graph 3: New Jobs Created in Denton ................................................................................ 11
Graph 4: City and County Property Tax Agreements ........................................................... 15
Graph 5: DISD Property Tax Abatements ............................................................................ 17
Tables
Table 1: City of Denton Summary .......................................................................................... 3
Table 2: City, County and DISD Summaries ........................................................................... 4
Table 3: City of Denton Tax Abatements ............................................................................... 6
Table 4: City of Denton Chapter 380 Property Tax Agreements ........................................... 7
Table 5: City of Denton Chapter 380 Sales Tax Agreements ................................................. 8
Table 6: City of Denton Tax Abatements and Chapter 380 Property Tax Agreements ......... 9
Table 7: City of Denton Return Summary ............................................................................ 10
Table 8: Combined Tax Tool Incentive Summary ................................................................ 11
Table 9: City, State, and DCTA Sales Tax Composition ........................................................ 12
Table 10: Total City, State and Local Sales Taxes Cost/benefit ........................................... 13
Table 11: Denton County Property Tax Abatements ........................................................... 14
Table 12: Denton County Property Tax Chapter 381 Rebates ............................................. 14
Table 13: Denton County Return from Property Tax Abatements
and Chapter 380/381 Rebates ......................................................................................... 15
Table 14: Denton County Return Summary ........................................................................ 16
Table 15: DISD Property Tax Abatements ............................................................................ 16
Table 16: DISD Return from City and DISD Agreements ...................................................... 17
Table 17: DISD Return Summary .......................................................................................... 17
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Denton promotes high‐quality development that improves the quality of life of its residents. The City
provides economic development incentives to stimulate private development and redevelopment, expand the tax
base, generate jobs, and enhance the local economy.
Denton is home to several corporate, regional, and international headquarters, as well as central distribution and
maintenance facilities. The City facilitated a number of these projects by granting incentives to make the project
feasible and to reimburse the costs of required public infrastructure.
In 2009, the City’s Economic Development Department created the initial “Return on Investment Report” to
provide a comprehensive look at the fiscal impact made by the businesses that have received property and sales
tax incentives from the City and to evaluate the efficiency of the public investment. In 2016, the report was retitled
the “Report on Net Revenue from Incentivized Economic Development Projects” to accurately reflect the
methodology used and does not include costs to the City for the projects.
The report covers a tax year schedule. The property tax valuation is based on the values that are released by the
Denton Central Appraisal District (DCAD) for the previous tax year. The certified valuations are released in July and
the tax bills are distributed in October. The calculations for the contested properties are prepared upon receipt of
the valuation from the appraisal district, which occurs sometime after October until the delinquency deadline the
following year, if contested. Additional information is included in the methodology.
The City has awarded a total of 30 incentives to foster development in the community, with 27 being represented
in this report. The remaining three incentives have not initiated as of 2018. The City has invested $22.0 million in
tax‐related incentives, and in return, has benefited from a net increase in property and sales tax revenues of $71.3
million since the inception of the incentive program in 1999. The cost benefit percentage for all incentives awarded
is 324%. Chapter 380 sales tax rebate incentives represented the highest percentage at 374%, followed by Chapter
380 property tax rebates and property tax abatements at 324% and 178%, respectively. There have been 8,402
jobs created or retained by incentivized projects.
8,402 324% $7.1B $71.3M
New Jobs Benefit Property Valuation Net Revenue
Table 1: City of Denton Summary
Total of all Property Incentives Property Totals Sales Tax Total Total
Cumulative Property Valuation $3,403,991,034 $3,651,409,453 $7,055,400,487
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $22,316,432 $24,393,949 $46,710,381
Cumulative Sales Tax Generated $0 $46,543,343 $46,543,343
Cumulative Property & Sales Tax $22,316,432 $70,937,292 $93,253,724
Less Incentives $7,031,994 $14,950,608 $21,982,602
Net Property and Sales Tax Revenue $15,284,438 $55,986,684 $71,271,122
Cost Benefit Percentage 217% 374% 324%
Jobs Created/Retained 4,731 3,671 8,402
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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The report is divided into the following four main sections illustrating the cost/benefit of the public investment of
resources for each taxing entity:
City of Denton Revenues
State and Local Revenues
Denton County Property Tax Generation
Denton Independent School District Revenue
The report also includes two Appendices:
Project Narratives
Methodology
The cost/benefit from each of the three jurisdictions is included below as a ratio of the net revenue to
investment. See Appendix B for additional information on the methodology for this report.
3:2 7:3 84:1
City of Denton Denton County Denton ISD
Table 2: City, County and DISD Summaries
Total of all Property Incentives Ratio
of Return City of Denton Denton County Denton ISD
Cumulative Property Valuation $7,055,400,487 $3,403,991,034 $3,259,865,082
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $46,710,381 $8,557,988 $52,923,449
Cumulative Sales Tax Generated $46,543,343 $0 $0
Cumulative Property & Sales Tax $93,253,724 $8,557,988 $52,923,449
Less Incentives $21,982,602 $1,026,998 $621,572
Net Property and Sales Tax Revenue $71,271,122 $7,530,990 $52,301,877
Cost Benefit Percentage 324% 733% 8,414%
Ratio of Return 3:2 7:3 84:1
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
This is the seventh update of the report, which provides a comprehensive look at the fiscal impact made by the
businesses that have received property and/or sales tax incentives from the City and evaluates the efficiency of the
public investment. A brief description of the types of tax incentives offered, the total incentive received by the
company, the City tax revenues generated since the agreement was initiated and the cost/benefit of the projects
are provided. In addition, the report includes information regarding state, Denton County Transportation Authority
(DCTA), Denton County, and Denton Independent School District (DISD) ad valorem and sales tax revenues created
by these developments.
In 2009, the City of Denton Economic Development Department created the initial Return on Investment Report to
examine the fiscal impact made by the businesses that have received property and sales tax incentives from the
City, evaluate the efficiency of the public investment and to guide future policy decisions. State and DCTA sales tax
revenue were added in 2010. In 2013, the report was expanded to include the ad valorem revenue for Denton
County, which includes both the incentives in which the County has partnered with the City, as well as the revenue
from the incentives that the County did not invest in. The report comprised all of the taxing entities with the
inclusion of DISD in 2015. The report was redesigned in 2016.
CITY OF DENTON REVENUE
Property Tax Abatements
Since 1999, the City of Denton has granted abatements of City ad valorem taxes from new and expanded capital
investment resulting in $5.1 million in property related tax incentives, and in return, has benefited from a net
increase in property tax revenues of $9.1 million.
City of Denton tax abatement agreements obligate the company to meet certain threshold requirements of
property valuation in order to receive a tax abatement. In some cases, the number of jobs created and the average
wage for these positions are also thresholds of performance. Chapter 312 of the Local Government Code allows
cities to provide up to 100% abatement on new valuation and limits the term of tax abatements to 10 years. The
following table represents the eight active tax abatements awarded and initiated through 2018. The following five
tax abatements have been completed: United Copper, Peterbilt, Flowers Foods, Fastenal, Aldi and Target. 2018
was also the fourth and final year of the tax abatement for Tetra Pak. The next tax abatements scheduled to come
online are a Peterbilt Motors expansion and West Gate Business Park building 2 in 2019.
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Table 3: City of Denton Tax Abatements
United
Copper
Peterbilt
Motors
Flowers
Foods Fastenal Aldi Foods Target Peerless Tetra Pak Totals
Year
Approved 1998 2001 2004 2008 2008 2010 2011 2013
Incentive
Term 1999‐2004
2002‐
2011 2005‐2011 2009‐2013 2010‐2016 2013‐2017
2014‐
20181
(2015‐
2018)
Cumulative
Property
Valuation 2 $422.1 $39.1 $329.3 $211.7 $421.2 $668.6 $48.4 $36.3 $2.2
Cumulative
Property
Tax
Generated $2,508,486 $248,933 $2,211,802 $1,422,452 $2,844,536 $4,470,824 $324,850 $238,308 $14,270,191
Less
Property
Tax
Abatement $137,032 $144,914 $363,359 $87,821 $2,152,379 $2,074,169 $34,740 $138,492 $5,132,906
Net
Property
Tax
Revenue $2,371,454 $104,019 $1,848,443 $1,334,631 $692,157 $2,396,655 $290,110 $99,816 $9,137,285
Cost
Benefit
Percentage 1,731% 72% 509% 1,520% 32% 116% 835% 72% 178%
Jobs
Created or
Retained 265 35 480 208 150 160 96 425 1,819
1 Note: Peerless terminated after one year due to the sale of the property
2 In millions
Chapter 380 Agreements
Chapter 380 of the Local Government Code gives cities the authority to provide grants or loans of city funds or
services in order to promote economic development. The City of Denton has entered into 19 Chapter 380 grant
agreements in which it has authorized a grant equal to either a portion of the property tax or sales tax generated
by the project.
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Property Tax Performance
Table 4 provides data through 2018 on economic development agreements that provided grants based on a
percentage of the property tax generated by the project. The City has awarded nine Chapter 380 Property Tax
Agreements. Sally Beauty, Jostens, Labinal/Safran, and Schlumberger have expired. Labinal/Safran, Jostens and
Schlumberger will continue to be tracked for 10 years, while Sally Beauty will not since the incentive had a 10‐year
term. This is the first report that that includes O’Reilly Hotel and Convention Center, WinCo Foods, and Sally Beauty
at the Morse location. Business Air, U.S. Aviation Group, and Victor Technologies were granted Chapter 380
Property Tax grants in 2015, but were terminated in 2017 for the sale of the FBO (Business Air) and not meeting
the valuation threshold requirements (USAG and Victor).
Although a number of the ad valorem projects generate sales taxes, that would not have been generated in Denton
if the business had not located in this community, this study does not include the sales taxes for the ad valorem
only incentives.
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
7
Table 4: City of Denton Chapter 380 Property Tax Agreements
Business
Sally
Beauty
Company
Granite/
Schlumber
ger
Jostens
, Inc.
Labinal/
Safran Mayday
West
Gate
Business
Park O'Reilly
WinCo
Foods
Sally
Beauty
Morse Totals
Base Year of
Agreement 2004 2006/2011 2008 2011 2012 2015 N/A N/A 2016
Incentive
Term 2005‐2014 2012‐2018
2009‐
2013
2012‐
2014
2014‐
2023
2016‐
2021 2018 2018
2018‐
2018
Cumulative
Property
Valuation2 $295.7 $679.7 $10.1 $37.9 $34.0 $25.6 $32.7 $107.8 $3.6 $1.2
Cumulative
Property Tax
Generated $1,972,313 $4,448,912 $86,142 $254,302 $224,783 $165,521 $202,981 $668,682 $22,605 $8,046,241
Less
Property Tax
Incentive $662,729 $410,729 $17,544 $60,978 $136,590 $157,347 $164,152 $288,477 $542 $1,899,088
Net New
Property Tax
Revenue $1,309,584 $4,038,183 $68,598 $193,324 $88,193 $8,174 $38,829 $380,205 $22,063 $6,147,153
Cost Benefit
Percentage 198% 983% 391% 317% 65% 5% 24% 132% 4,071% 324%
Jobs
Created/Ret
ained 450 147 600 750 370 19 249 150 177 2,912
1 West Gate Business Park received a one‐time grant in the amount of $50,000 in addition to the ad valorem rebate for 2016
2 In millions
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Sales Tax Performance
Table 5, which follows, details information through 2018 on economic development agreements that provided
grants based on a percentage of the sales tax generated by the project. Four mixed‐use developments have
received sales tax incentives from the City. Golden Triangle Mall initiated its incentive in 2016. Buc‐ee’s Travel
Center opened in late 2018, although the incentive did not initiate until 2019.
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Table 5: City of Denton Chapter 380 Sales Tax Agreements
Development
Denton
Crossing Rayzor Ranch Unicorn Lake
Golden
Triangle Mall Buc‐ee's Totals
Base Year of Agreement 2003 2007 2004 2010 2016
Incentive Term 2005‐2019 2012‐2032 2009‐2023 2016‐2035 2019‐2043
Cumulative Property
Valuation $1,166,711,707 $1,018,129,801 $1,018,050,176 $428,898,157 $19,619,612 $3,651,409,453
Cumulative Property Tax
Generated $7,726,765 $6,857,494 $6,808,264 $2,866,100 $135,326 $24,393,949
Cumulative Sales Tax
Generated $20,991,531 $16,174,307 $1,612,236 $7,759,269 $6,000 $46,543,343
Total Cumulative Property &
Sales Tax $28,718,296 $23,031,801 $8,420,500 $10,625,369 $141,326 $70,937,292
Less Sales Tax Incentive $6,997,176 $7,167,720 $537,412 $248,300 $0 $14,950,608
Net Property and Sales Tax
Revenue $21,721,120 $15,864,081 $7,883,088 $10,377,069 $141,326 $55,986,684
Cost Benefit Percentage 310% 221% 1,467% 4,179% N/A 374%
Jobs Created/Retained 973 1,380 318 1,000 49 3,671
Note: Rayzor ranch includes mixed beverage taxes
No sales taxes were generated at Buc‐ee's until the December Report for Oct sales (partial month)
Chart 1 provides the sales taxes generated from the five developments and the rebate provided per the Chapter
380 Agreement. It is important to note that Golden Triangle Mall received an incentive for the renovations to the
existing 1980 mall. GTM Development receives 50% of monthly sales tax receipts, less a monthly mall baseline
amount established as $95,898. The incentive was initiated in the summer of 2016, so only half of a year of rebates
were included in the report in 2016. 2017 represented the first full year of payments for GTM Development.
Chart 1: Sales Tax Generated and Rebated
76%
24%
Sales Tax Generated Sales Tax Rebate
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Property and Sales Tax Summary
Property Tax Summary
The cost/benefit for all incentives based on property tax performance, tax abatement, and Chapter 380
Agreements is provided in Table 6 below. Results indicate that since 1999, the City of Denton has awarded $7.0
million in property related tax incentives, and in return, has benefited from a net increase in property tax revenues
of $15.3 million. Over 4,731 jobs have been added as a result of these property‐based incentives.
Table 6: City of Denton Tax Abatements and Chapter 380 Property Tax Agreements
Total of all Property Incentives Property Totals
Cumulative Property Valuation $3,403,991,034
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $22,316,432
Less Incentives $7,031,994
Net Property Tax Revenue $15,284,438
Cost Benefit Percentage 217%
New Jobs Created 4,731
Graph 1: Property Tax Generated and Abated/Rebated
Chapter 380 Property Tax Tax Abatements
$8,046,241
$14,270,191
$1,899,088
$5,132,906
Property Tax Generated Property Tax Incentive
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Property and Sales Tax Summary
The City of Denton has awarded a total of 29 incentives to foster development in the community. Twenty‐two are
represented in the report. The remaining awards were terminated or not initiated in 2018. The City has invested
$21.9 million in tax‐related incentives, and in return, has benefited from a net increase in property and sales tax
revenues in the amount of $71.3 million since the inception of the incentive program in 1999. The cost/benefit for
all of the incentives awarded is 324%. Sales tax incentives represented the highest percent at 374% followed by
Chapter 380 property tax rebates and property tax abatements at 324% and 178%, respectively.
Table 7: City of Denton Return Summary
Total of all Property Incentives Property Totals Sales Tax Total Total
Cumulative Property Valuation $3,403,991,034 $3,651,409,453 $7,055,400,487
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $22,316,432 $24,393,949 $46,710,381
Cumulative Sales Tax Generated $0 $46,543,343 $46,543,343
Cumulative Property & Sales Tax $22,316,432 $70,937,292 $93,253,724
Less Incentives $7,031,994 $14,950,608 $21,982,602
Net Property and Sales Tax Revenue $15,284,438 $55,986,684 $71,271,122
Cost Benefit Percentage 217% 374% 324%
Jobs Created/Retained 4,731 3,671 8,402
Direct and Indirect Impacts
Graph 2: New Value Created in Denton
$‐
$500,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$1,500,000,000
$2,000,000,000
$2,500,000,000
$3,000,000,000
$3,500,000,000
$4,000,000,000
Chapter 380 Property
Tax
Chapter 380 Sales Tax Property Tax
Abatements
$1,227,209,932
$3,651,409,453
$2,176,781,102
Valuation
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Graph 3: New Jobs Created in Denton
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Chapter 380
Property Tax
Chapter 380
Sales Tax
Tax
Abatements
2,912
3,671
1,819
Jobs
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Combined Tax Performance and Development Tools
The Economic Development Department employs a number of economic development tools to drive economic
growth in the community. Most recently, the City has utilized development districts, sales and use tax rebates,
infrastructure programs, and hotel occupancy tax to finance public improvements and developments. This report
will provide a brief description of the types of tax incentives offered, terms, thresholds required, and the incentive
received by the company. 2015 represented one of the most active years of incentive investment and the use of
multiple economic development tools to support projects.
Table 8: Combined Tax Tool Incentive Summary
Project Incentive Tools
WinCo Foods Distribution Infrastructure grant, sales and use tax for construction,
property tax rebate, and Westpark TIRZ grant
O'Reilly Hotel and Convention
Center
Infrastructure grant, sales and use tax for construction,
property tax rebate, and hotel occupancy tax grant
United States Cold Storage Sales and use tax for construction
Rayzor Ranch Development Sales tax and a Public Improvement District (PID)
Railyard Downtown TIRZ 1 grant and lease
Tax increment financing is a tool that local governments can use to publicly finance needed structural
improvements and enhance infrastructure within a defined area (a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ) in
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
12
order to stimulate private development and redevelopment. An ad valorem valuation base is established in the
first year, and the revenue from the increased valuation from subsequent years is allocated to TIRZ development.
The statutes that regulate tax increment financing are located in Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code, also known as
the Tax Increment Financing Act.
A public improvement district (PID) is a defined area where public improvements may be financed through the use
of special assessments to property owners. The funds from the assessment can be used to maintain those
improvements. The regulations for PIDs can be found under Chapter 372 of the Local Government Code.
A sales and use tax rebate for construction is accomplished through a Texas Direct Payment Permit. This incentive
involves a rebate of all or a portion of the sales and use taxes for the purchase of construction materials that would
generate additional local use taxes that the City of Denton would not otherwise receive. The permit allows for
storage of materials without the payment of taxes until the location is determined, so they are not taxed when
holding the goods. This program is regulated by the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 34, Chapter 3,
Subchapter O, Rule 3.28 and Tax Code Title 2, Subtitle E, Chapter 151.
STATE AND LOCAL REVENUES
City, State, and DCTA Sales Taxes
Table 9 provides the breakdown of the total revenue to City, State, and the Denton County Transportation
Authority (DCTA) from sales taxes generated at the major retail developments that have received incentives from
the City of Denton. The State of Texas collects sales and use taxes from all retail sales and taxable services. The
State has directly benefited from the incentives awarded for these mixed‐use developments. Since 2005, the State
of Texas has received a total of $194.0 million in additional sales tax revenues as a result of the incentives awarded
by the City. The state revenues comprise 76% of the total sales taxes generated by these mixed‐use centers.
Table 9: City, State, and DCTA Sales Tax Composition
Denton
Crossing Rayzor Ranch Unicorn Lake
Golden
Triangle Mall Buc‐ee's Rates Totals
Base Year of
Agreement 2003 2007 2004 2010 2016
Incentive Term 2005‐2019 2012‐2032 2009‐2023 2016‐2035 2019‐2043
Total Sales $1,399,435,400 $1,078,287,133 $107,482,400 $517,284,600 $400,000 $3,102,889,533
Total City Sales
Tax Generated $20,991,531 $16,174,307 $1,612,236 $7,759,269 $6,000 $0.0150 $46,543,343
Total State Sales
Tax Generated $87,464,713 $67,392,946 $6,717,650 $32,330,288 $2,000 $0.0625 $193,907,596
Total DCTA Sales
Tax Generated $6,997,177 $5,391,436 $537,412 $2,586,423 $33,000 $0.0050 $15,545,448
Total Sales Tax
Generated $115,453,421 $88,958,689 $8,867,298 $42,675,980 $41,000 $0.0825 $255,996,387
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
13
Table 10: Total City, State, and Local Sales Tax Cost/benefit
Development
Denton
Crossing Rayzor Ranch Unicorn Lake
Golden
Triangle Mall Buc‐ee's Rates Totals
Base Year of Agreement 2003 2007 2004 2010 2016
Incentive Term 2005‐2019 2012‐2032 2009‐2023 2016‐2035 209‐2043
Sales Tax Generated $115,453,421 $88,958,689 $8,867,298 $42,675,980 $33,000 $0.0825 $255,955,387
Less Sales Tax Incentive $6,997,176 $7,167,720 $537,412 $248,300 $0 $14,950,608
Total Net Revenue $108,456,245 $81,790,969 $8,329,886 $42,427,680 $33,000 $241,004,779
Cost Benefit Percentage 1,550% 1,141% 1,550% 17,087% N/A 1,612%
Chart 2: Sales Tax Composition
18%
76%
6%
Total City Sales Tax Total State Sales Tax Total DCTA Sales Tax
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
14
DENTON COUNTY PROPERTY TAX GENERATION
The 2018 report provides the ad valorem revenue that Denton County received from all of the incentives awarded
by the City of Denton. The cost/benefit is also provided for the four Tax Abatements and the two Chapter 380
Agreements in which the County jointly participated with the City to stimulate economic growth. Chapter 311 and
312 of the Texas Property Tax Code authorize taxing entities to provide tax abatements. Chapter 381 of the Local
Government Code authorizes counties to provide loans or grants to support economic development activities
Property Tax Abatements
Table 11: Denton County Property Tax Abatements
Peterbilt
Motors Flowers Foods Aldi Foods Target Totals
Year Abatement Approved 2001 2004 2008 2010
Incentive Term 10 Years 5 Years 7 Years 5 Years
Abatement/Rebate 100% 30% 35% 60%
Cumulative Property Valuation $39,091,296 $329,264,609 $421,232,088 $668,595,451 $1,458,183,444
County Cumulative Property Tax
Generated $97,965 $856,180 $1,109,994 $1,714,990 $3,779,129
Less County Property Tax
Abatement $56,774 $110,244 $280,043 $439,768 $886,829
County Net Property Tax
Revenue $41,191 $745,936 $829,951 $1,275,222 $2,892,300
Cost Benefit Percentage
73% 677% 296% 290% 326%
New Jobs Created 35 480 150 160 825
Chapter 380/381 Agreements
Table 12: Denton County Property Tax Chapter 381 Rebates
Business
Sally Beauty
Company
Granite/Schlumberger
Properties Totals
Incentive Term 5 Years 5 Years
Abatement/Rebate 40% 25%
Cumulative Property Valuation $295,714,200 $628,358,362 $924,072,562
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $764,167 $1,540,790 $2,304,957
Less Property Tax Incentive $125,516 $14,653 $140,169
Net New Property Tax Revenue $638,651 $1,526,137 $2,164,788
Cost Benefit Percentage 509% 10,415% 1,544%
Jobs Created/Retained 450 147 597
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
15
Property Tax Summary
Table 13: Denton County Return from Property Tax Abatements and Chapter 380/381 Rebates
Joint Participation City Participation Property Totals
Cumulative Property Valuation $2,433,622,496 $970,368,538 $3,403,991,034
County Cumulative Property Tax Generated $6,200,137 $2,357,851 $8,557,988
Less County Property Tax Abatement $1,026,998 $0 $1,026,998
County Net Property Tax Revenue $5,173,139 $2,357,851 $7,530,990
Cost Benefit Percentage 504% 0 733%
New Jobs Created 1,819 2,787 4,606
Graph 4: City/County Property Tax Agreements
$3,022,853
$5,535,135
$140,169
$886,829
Chapter 380 Property Tax Tax Abatements
Property Tax Generated Property Tax Incentive
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Table 14: Denton County Return Summary
Total of all Property Incentives Property Totals
Cumulative Property Valuation $3,403,991,034
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $8,557,988
Less Incentives $1,026,998
Net Property Tax Revenue $7,530,990
Cost Benefit Percentage 733%
New Jobs Created 4,606
Denton County has participated in a total of six Denton incentives to promote development in the local
community. The County has invested a total of $1.0 million in tax related incentives, and in return, has benefited
from a net increase in property tax revenues in the amount of $7.5 million since the inception of the incentive
program in 1999. The cost/benefit for all of the incentives awarded (joint and City only) is 733%. The cost/benefit
from all of the tax abatements and Chapter 380/381 property tax incentives was 524% and 2,057%, respectively.
DENTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX GENERATION
The Return on Investment Report was expanded in 2015 to include the ad valorem revenue that Denton
Independent School District (DISD) has received from all the incentives awarded by the City of Denton. The
cost/benefit is also provided for the two tax abatements in which DISD jointly participated with the City to
stimulate economic growth. (Note: Texas school districts were at one time able to offer tax abatements similar to
those of cities and counties, but that authority was repealed by the Texas Legislature). It is also important to note
that the report uses the entire DISD tax rate, which includes the maintenance and operations and interest and
sinking portions of the tax rate.
Property Tax Abatements
Table 15: DISD Property Tax Abatements
United Copper Peterbilt Motors Totals
Year Abatement Approved 1998 2001
Incentive Term 5 years 10 Years
Abatement/Rebate 15% 100%
Cumulative Property Valuation $422,085,765 $39,091,296 $461,177,061
DISD Cumulative Property Tax Generated $7,320,320 $644,587 $7,964,907
Less DISD Property Tax Abatement $250,680 $371,572 $622,252
DISD Net Property Tax Revenue $7,069,640 $273,015 $7,342,655
DISD Benefit Percentage 2,820% 73% 1,180%
New Jobs Created 265 35 300
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Graph 5: DISD Property Tax Abatements
Table 16: DISD Return from City and DISD Agreements
Joint Participation City Only Participation Property Totals
Cumulative Property
Valuation $461,177,061 $2,942,813,973 $3,403,991,034
DISD Cumulative Property
Tax Generated $7,964,907 $52,923,449 $60,888,356
Less DISD Property Tax
Abatement $622,252 $0 $622,252
DISD Net Property Tax
Revenue $7,342,655 $52,923,449 $60,266,104
DISD Return on Investment
Percentage 1180% N/A 9685%
New Jobs Created 300 3,730 4,030
Chapter 380 Agreements
DISD did not participate with the City of Denton’s Chapter 380 Property Tax Agreements.
Property Tax Summary
Table 17: DISD Return Summary
Total of all Property Incentives Property Totals
Cumulative Property Valuation $3,403,991,034
Cumulative Property Tax Generated $52,923,449
Less Incentives $621,572
Net Property Tax Revenue $52,301,877
Cost/benefit Percentage 8,414%
New Jobs Created 4,030
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Denton Independent School District has participated in two Denton tax abatement incentives to stimulate
economic growth in the local community. DISD has invested a total of $621,572 in tax related incentives, and in
return, has benefited from a net increase in property tax revenues in the amount of $52.3 million since the
inception of the incentive program in 1999. The cost benefit percentage from all of the tax abatements alone was
5,351%. The cost/benefit from all of the incentives awarded is 8,414%.
School finance involves a complex funding formula from several different federal, state and local funding sources.
As aforementioned, the report uses the entire DISD tax rate, which includes the Maintenance and Operations
(M&O) and Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rates. The M&O portion of the tax rate is used for salaries, utilities,
supplies etc. The I&S portion of the tax rate is used to fund payments on debt service for facilities and is the only
portion of the DISD tax rate that is not affected by funding from the State of Texas.
The two Denton tax abatement incentives represented in Table 15, that the ISD has participated in, include a
complete 10‐year history. DISD invested a total of $622,252 in tax related incentives, and in return, has benefited
from a net increase in property tax revenues in the amount of $7.3 million from the two companies that received
abatements. The cost benefit percentage from these tax abatements was 1,180%.
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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APPENDIX A
Appendix A: Incentive Projects
Tax Abatements
Name United Copper
Year Applied 1998
Terms 25% for 6 years
Threshold(s) $35 M, 250 jobs, $34K Average Wage
United Copper received the City of Denton’s first tax abatement. Three thresholds were set for the company to
meet in order to receive a 25% abatement over a six‐year term. The company did not reach the employment
threshold in the Agreement and therefore did not receive the full 25% abatement. The percentage was reduced by
the ratio that the threshold was missed. The figures represent ten years of economic impact. Although the tax
abatement had a six‐year term, standard economic development practice for impact analysis is ten years.
Peterbilt Motors agreement was an incentive for the expansion of the headquarters office and consolidation of
regional sales and financing offices in the Metroplex. The agreement provided a 100% abatement on the increase
in valuation over the 2001 valuation on the building located at 1700 Woodbrook. The base year valuation of the
building in the amount of $1,933,540 was deducted from the calculations.
Peterbilt received a 70% tax abatement for a term of eight years for a 17,500‐square‐foot expansion of their
current manufacturing facility to improve material flow from trucks into the expanded metering center in 2015
(Phase I). Their growth in 2014 resulted in a 20% increase in employment and a 32% increase in production levels.
These increases have also been the driving force behind similar growth of other businesses in Denton that support
Peterbilt. This project was completed in 2016. The Company requested an amendment to its Agreement to include
the construction and equipping of a new stand‐alone 102,000‐square‐foot building north of the existing plant in
2016 (Phase II). The terms of the amendment for the new building are 70% for seven years (remainder of term).
Peterbilt is Denton’s largest private employer, with approximately 2,100 employees. Peterbilt did not meet the
$18.5 million threshold, therefore; the abatement was not granted for tax years 2017 and 2018. Peterbilt did meet
the threshold requirements in tax year 2019, so the company will appear in the 2019 report.
Name Peterbilt
Year Applied 2001
Terms 100% for 10 years
Threshold(s) $5M, increment of building only
Name Peterbilt
Year Applied 2016
Terms 70% for 8 years
Threshold(s) $18.5 M above base
Name Flowers Foods
Year Applied 2003
Terms 35% for 5 years
Threshold(s)
PI: $5M, PII: $20M, PIII: $30M above
base
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Flowers Foods purchased the former Andrew Corporation plant. The incentive is based on the increase in valuation
over the existing valuation of the base year. Therefore, the 2004 building valuation of $1,920,009 was deducted
from the calculations. Flowers Foods abatement was terminated after 2010 when they did not meet the threshold
requirement, but this report continued to track the valuation for a 10‐year period. Flowers Foods is one of
Denton’s top 10 private employers, with approximately 480 employees.
Fastenal completed a 200,000‐square‐foot regional headquarters/distribution center near the Denton Enterprise
Airport in the fall of 2008. The tax abatement agreement requires a minimum threshold of $5,000,000 in valuation.
2013 was the final year of Fastenal’s five‐year agreement that provided a 35% abatement on the valuation of the
building improvements and equipment. Fastenal employs 208.
Name Aldi
Year Applied 2007
Terms 100% for 5‐7 years based on $2.5 infrastructure reimbursement
Threshold(s) $25M
Aldi’s 500,000‐square‐foot distribution center was completed in 2009. The project required that Aldi construct a
$2.5 million road that also services the Denton Enterprise Airport. Aldi received 100 percent tax abatement on all
new valuation, except land, until they were reimbursed for the construction of the road or for a term of seven
years. This is the only incentive that includes the abatement of inventory. Aldi employs 150 and services more than
25 Aldi grocery stores in the North Texas area. The first Denton Aldi grocery store opened in the summer of 2013.
The incentive with Aldi was completed in 2016 and the incentive will be tracked for 10 years until 2019.
Target Corporation’s 400,000‐square‐foot refrigerated/frozen food distribution center was constructed in 2012.
This $100 million project received a 65% tax abatement for five years from the City to help offset costs to improve
Airport and Corbin Roads. This facility services over 240 stores in nine states with frozen and perishable food
products. Target opened in March 2013 and employs 160 area residents. The incentive with Target Corporation
was completed in 2017 and the incentive will be tracked for 10 years until 2022.
Name Peerless
Year Applied 2011
Terms 40% for 5 years
Threshold(s) $5M, 85 jobs with an Average Wage of $50,000
Peerless Manufacturing selected Denton to expand and consolidate their Texas operations. The company designs,
engineers, and manufactures highly specialized filtration, separation equipment, industrial silencers, heat
exchangers, and air pollution reduction systems to energy industry customers involved in gas and oil production,
processing, and power generating. They constructed an 80,000 square foot manufacturing facility in 2013. The
Name Fastenal
Year Applied 2004
Terms 35% for 5 years
Threshold(s) $5M
Name Target
Year Applied 2010
Terms 65% for 5 years
Threshold(s) $40 M
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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company received a five‐year, 40% tax abatement from the City for the new facility. The Agreement was
terminated when the property was sold and made the company ineligible for a tax abatement.
Name Tetra Pak
Year Applied 2013
Terms 65% for 4 years
Threshold(s) $5M above base
Tetra Pak Materials manufactures, processes, packages and distributes liquid foods all over the globe. The aseptic
packaging process removes air and bacteria, which allows for a product shelf life of a minimum of six months. In
2000, the company added the Americas Global Information Management hub, a pilot research and development
center, and relocated the U.S. Technical Service Center to Denton. In 2013, the company received a four‐year 65%
tax abatement for expanding their facility and relocating their corporate headquarters operations from Chicago to
Denton. The increase in real and business personal property valuation of the project 32,000‐square‐foot expansion
was $8.9 million, and Tetra Pak created a total of thirty‐two new jobs with this expansion. The incentive initiated in
2015. Tetra Pak currently employs 375. The incentive was completed in 2018 and the incentive will be tracked for
10 years until 2024
West Gate Business Park received a ten‐year 60% tax abatement in 2016 on improvements only to include
Buildings 2 and 3 in the business park, which brings new Class A industrial/manufacturing space to Denton. West
Gate Business Park could receive an additional 10% abatement for the location of a supplier to an existing primary
industry and/or an additional 5% for the location of a national headquarters for a total abatement of up to 75%.
The abatement will initiate the year following the year in which Building 2 receives a CO. A permit was issued for
Building 2 in 2018, so the abatement will be included in the 2019 Net Revenue Report. Easyflex, a company that
manufactures corrugated stainless steel products, is the new tenant that has located in Building 2.
In 2019, Tyson Sales and Distribution received an abatement of 25% of their business personal property only
(which does not go into the TIRZ) for 6 years. The Company provides refrigerated warehousing and distribution
services to the Tyson Foods, Inc. companies. Tyson had $38 billion in sales in FY 2017 and employs 122,000. The
company will construct 350,000+ square foot highly automated refrigerated distribution center. The facility will
contain automated storage and retrieval systems, including stacker cranes, gantry robots for layer picking, pallet
conveyors and transfer cars, and a monorail. It is expected to ship 700 million pounds of product annually from
the facility. The facility will have about a 2 megawatt annual electric demand which will add another Top 25
customer for DME. It will employ 100 on a full‐time basis with hourly wages ranging from $20 to $45. The grantee
is required to create 95 jobs with an average hourly wage of $23.58. A $25.5 million business personal property
valuation threshold is required in year one. The business personal property valuation thresholds are tiered based
Name West Gate Business Park (WGBP)
Year Applied 2015, 2016 Tax Abatement
Terms 60% > for HQ and major employer, 10 yrs.
Threshold(s) $3M
Name Tyson Sales and Distribution
Year Applied 2019 Tax Abatement
Terms 25% on BPP only for 6 yrs.
Threshold(s)
$25.5M year 1, tiered valuation based on DCAD
depreciation schedule, 95 jobs, $23.58 /hr.
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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on the Denton Central Appraisal District’s depreciation schedule. It is anticipated that the project will be included
in the 2022 report.
CHAPTER 380 GRANTS
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Property Tax Performance
Sally Beauty Company received a grant equal to 40% of the property tax paid on new valuation created by the
construction and equipping of a new international headquarters facility at Colorado Boulevard for a ten‐year
period. Valuation at the existing facility located at 3900 Morse was not eligible for consideration. The final tax year
of the agreement with Sally Beauty was 2014. Sally Beauty is one of Denton’s top 10 private employers, with
approximately 950 employees.
In 2016, Sally Beauty received a grant equal to 50% of the property tax paid on new valuation created by the
complete interior remodel of its Morse property for a three‐year period. Sally Beauty will continue to own and
occupy both the Morse and Colorado properties in Denton. They are currently at capacity and will be transferring
employees from their acquisitions of other companies and plan to add an additional 80 employees in the next two
years. Sally Beauty appears in this 2018 report; however, the grant was terminated after the Morse property was
sold in March 2019.
Granite Properties received a seven‐year, 50 percent incentive on buildings and equipment. However, after three
years of incentive payments, Granite Properties requested permission to sell a portion of their land and one
building to Grand Mesa. The City of Denton entered into an agreement with Grand Mesa for the renovation of a
152,000‐square‐foot building and 36 acres of land at the Granite Point Business Park. The renovation and
equipping of the building were performed for Schlumberger Technology Corporation. Grand Mesa assigned the
incentive to Schlumberger in 2012.
Name Schlumberger
Year Applied 2012
Terms 50% for 7 years
Threshold(s) $5 M, 80 jobs, $45K Average Wage
Schlumberger, a Fortune 500, French‐owned oilfield service company, held a grand opening in 2011 for their
150,000‐square‐foot regional maintenance facility at the Granite Point Industrial Park. Renovation of the building
increased the value by roughly $10 million. A Chapter 380 grant previously awarded to Granite Properties/Grand
Name
Sally Beauty:
Headquarters
Year Applied 2003
Terms 40% for 10 years
Threshold(s) $20 M
Name Sally Beauty: Morse
Year
Applied 2016
Terms 50% for 3 years
Threshold(s) $28.6 M, 250 jobs, Avg. Wage %51,800
Name Granite Properties
Year Applied 2010
Terms 50% for 7 years
Threshold(s) PI: 250K Square Feet, PII: 50K Square Feet
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Mesa was transferred to the company as an incentive for the Denton location. Schlumberger employed 184 in
2016. The incentive was completed in 2018 and the incentive will be tracked for 10 years until 2021.
Jostens’ incentive was based on the increased property tax on the building and equipment resulting from the
expansion of an existing facility. Dollar amounts shown in this report reflect the deduction of Jostens’ base year
valuation of $11,569,410. Work on the Jostens project was completed in 2008, establishing 2009 as the first year of
the incentive. Although the company met the contractual threshold of constructing the expansion and purchasing
and/or moving more than $2 million in equipment to the facility, a significant amount of old equipment was
removed, creating an overall reduction in the valuation for 2009. The 2010 valuation rose, showing an increase
over the base year, but less than the 2009 decrease. Jostens is one of Denton’s top 10 private employers, with
approximately 450 employees. The incentive was completed in 2015 and the incentive will be tracked for 10 years
until 2019.
Name Safran/Labinal
Year Applied 2011
Terms 50% for 3 years
Threshold(s) $5 M over base
Labinal/Safran relocated and expanded their North American Wiring and Services Division headquarters and
relocated over 700 employees to Denton and has invested nearly $5.8 million in building, site, and other
improvements to the property located on Russell Newman Boulevard. They have also moved equipment and other
business personal property to Denton that is valued at $6 million. The grant agreement provided a grant equal to
50% on the increment from the increase from the base valuation for a period of three years. Labinal/Safran is one
of Denton’s top 10 private employers, with approximately 727 employees. The incentive was completed in 2015
and the incentive will be tracked for 10 years until 2022.
Name Mayday
Year Applied 2012
Terms 75% for 10 years
Threshold(s) $3 M over base
Mayday Manufacturing/Tailwind Technologies manufactures precision bushings, sleeves, pins, and other
machine parts used in the aerospace industry. Mayday Manufacturing was acquired by Ohio‐based Tailwind
Technologies in June 2009. Mayday provides just‐in‐time delivery of aerospace parts and operates the plant 24
hours a day, seven days a week to accomplish this goal. High Tech Metal Refinishing is a subcontractor that
performs the anodizing, cadmium platings, chemical film, black oxide, hard foam, liquid penetrant inspection,
magnetic particle inspection, priming, painting, passivation and thermal processing of PH seals. The company is co‐
located with Mayday providing for more efficient production and delivery capability. The agreement requires a
minimum investment of $3 million in building, site and other improvements. The agreement stipulates that no
valuation on the existing business personal property of Mayday Manufacturing and Hi‐Tech Metal Refinishing will
be included in this incentive. The contract provides a grant equal to 75% on the increment above the base
valuation for a period of ten years. The company purchased an 80,000 square foot facility in 2012 and completed
the 15,000 square foot expansion of the facility at the close of 2013. Mayday employs approximately 245. In 2017,
Name Jostens
Year Applied 2008
Terms 75% for 7 years
Threshold(s) $5 M over base
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Mayday received a Texas Enterprise Zone grant from the State of Texas for a 15,000 square‐foot building
expansion for additional production capacity and consolidation of shipping and inspection departments, as well as
additional machinery and equipment spread over five years, primarily driven by production capacity associated
with the expanded building footprint.
US Aviation Group (USAG), which is headquartered at the Denton Enterprise Airport, trains pilots from the United
States and around the globe. Demand for USAG’s commercial flight training is booming, and the company is
expanding its existing flight simulation training facilities and has purchased additional simulation equipment and
aircraft. This expansion will create 16 new jobs. USAG was awarded a 70% tax rebate for three years on their new
capital investment of $10.7 million. Business Air assigned its airport lease to US Aviation in 2017, making USAG the
sole Fixed Based Operator (FBO) at the Denton Enterprise Airport. USAG has over 150 employees. The grantee did
not meet the required threshold for tax year 2017 and the Chapter 380 Agreement was terminated. No grant
payments were made prior to termination.
In 2015, an incentive was granted to Westgate Business Park (WGBP). The industrial development received a
minimum of 60% with an additional 5% for a national headquarters and/or ten percent for support of major
employers not to exceed 75% of City ad valorem taxes attributable to improvements for a period of 10 years.
WGBP includes three multi‐tenant buildings totalling 413,000 square feet of new industrial/manufacturing space in
Denton. The Chapter 380 grant applies to Building 1.
In 2016, the Chapter 380 Agreement was amended to include a 70 percent rebate on Building 1 improvements
(excluding land and business personal property) and to add a one‐time grant payment in the amount of $50,000. A
separate Tax Abatement Agreement for Buildings 2 and 3 was also approved so that WGBP could be eligible to
apply for a tax abatement from Denton County. The terms of the abatement are: a 60 percent abatement of City ad
valorem taxes attributable to new capital investments resulting in an increase of assessed value of real property
improvements; the amount of the abatement may be increased by an additional 5 percent for a national
headquarters and/or 10 percent for a supplier in support of major employers in Denton. Quality Industries leased a
86,500 square foot building (Building 1) for their metal fabrication operations at the industrial park and received
their Certificate of Occupancy in 2017.
In 2015, a grant agreement was awarded to Business Air Manufacturing (BAM). The grant is equal to 70% of the
increase in property tax revenues on the improvements to the building and new business personal property up to a
maximum of $9,500,000 in increased valuation for a period of two years. The company may extend the length of
Name U.S. Aviation
Year Applied 2015
Terms 75% for 3 years
Threshold(s) $5 M over base
Name West Gate Business Park (WGBP)
Year Applied 2015, 2016 Chapter 380 Agreement
Terms 70% for 10 years
Threshold(s) $3M
Name Business Air Manufacturing (BAM)
Year Applied 2015
Terms 70% up to $9.5M plus 5% for extension 2‐9 years
Threshold(s) PI: $15M, PII: $50M, PIII: $80M
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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this grant by attracting additional investment in the form business aircraft based at its facilities at the Denton
Enterprise Airport by the specified date and investment level thresholds. In addition to a grant extension, Business
Air would receive five percent of the increase in taxable valuation attributable to these new business aircraft for
the duration of the grant extension. The company is expanding with plans to build a new 24,000‐square‐foot
hangar with an additional 4,000 square feet of office space. The hangar space should allow the addition of 10
corporate aircraft with values ranging from $1.5 to $10 million per aircraft. In addition to the hangar, Business Air
will be purchasing a corporate aircraft to be based at the airport for the exclusive use of providing air taxi service to
the area. The incentive should begin in 2017. Business Air assigned its airport lease to US Aviation in 2017. Business
Air was purchased by US Aviation Group in 2017 and was no longer operating or occupying property at 5007 and
4777 Airport Road, so the City terminated the grant. No payments were made to Business Air prior to termination.
Victor Technologies is a global manufacturer dedicated to developing innovative advanced cutting, gas control, and
specialty welding solutions. Founded in 1913, the original San Francisco manufacturing operations were relocated
to their new headquarters in Denton in the mid‐1960s. Victor Technologies is expanding the existing facility.
Improvements to the existing operation will create approximately 30,000 square feet of Research and
Development space. A new 185,400‐square‐foot warehouse and remodelled parking lots completed the
renovations.
The current operation employs 414 full time employees. Victor has a distribution center in DFW that employs
about 100 people that will be transferred to the new facility in Denton. Over the next three years, Victor will create
an additional 100 new jobs. Victor Technologies received an incentive equal to 65% of the increase in the City’s ad
valorem taxes for seven years while maintaining a minimum of 85 percent of new jobs created with an average
wage of 28.81 per hour. It is anticipated that Victor’s incentive will start in 2017. Victor did not meet the required
threshold to receive the incentive and was terminated in 2017. No grant payments were made prior to
termination.
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Sales Tax Performance
Denton Crossing is a 52‐acre retail development that is comprised of 500,000 square feet of retail and commercial
tenants. The incentive reimburses infrastructure costs for Spencer Road improvements. The development is home
to: Best Buy, Kroger, Old Navy, Famous Footwear, Ulta, and Total Wine & More, to name a few. The City of Denton
granted its first‐ever sales tax incentive rebate of one‐third of the sales tax generated by the project for a period of
15 years. A Home Goods was opened in 2018. The final rebate for Denton Crossing will occur in September 2020.
Name Victor Technologies
Year Applied 2015
Terms 65% for 7 years
Threshold(s) $6.5M above base, 85 jobs with Average Wage of $28.81/hr.
Name Denton Crossing
Year Applied 2005
Terms One‐third of sales taxes from development for 15 years
Threshold(s) 450K Square feet of retail
Name Unicorn Lake
Year Applied 2004
Terms One‐third of sales taxes from development for 15 years
Threshold(s) 35K Square Feet of retail
Denton
Crossing
2018 City of Denton Net Revenue Report
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Unicorn Lake is a master‐planned 134‐acre mixed‐use center that incorporates the urban style development of
residential over retail along the lake. The City granted a rebate of one‐third of the sales tax generated by the
project for 15 years. The incentive reimburses infrastructure costs in return for the creation of an urban‐style
development, a roadway to provide needed access, and associated hardscape to create the desired pedestrian
connectivity. The Villas of Tuscan Hills, a 116 lot residential community that overlooks the lake, provides luxury
homes. BJ’s Brewhouse, Blue Ginger Japanese Bistro, Dogwood Estates (an independent living community), the
Brick House Gym, Cinemark, Hilton Homewood Suites, Washington Federal Savings and Loan, Towne Center Bank,
and several medical offices represent some of the businesses that have located in the development.
The Rayzor Ranch agreement provides for a 50% share in the City’s sales tax revenue generated by the project for
a period of 25 years. Rayzor Ranch Marketplace completed over 582,000 square feet of retail and commercial
space. Sam’s and Wal‐Mart anchor the Market Place with 137,381 and 189,929 square feet, respectively. Staff
began tracking property tax revenues in 2009 and sales tax revenues in 2010 when these large retail boxes opened.
Some of the new stores in the development include: James Avery and Guitar Center.
The Rayzor Ranch Town Center located on the south side of the development will initiate in 2018. Heritage Trail
Boulevard has been constructed to allow access to the next phases. Alamo Draft House, Andy B’s, Cotton Patch
Cafe and Zoey’s s are now open. An 11‐story, 318‐room Embassy Suites hotel and 70,000 square‐foot Convention
Center opened in December 2018. An additional 15% sales tax rebate on the Rayzor Ranch Town Center and
Marketplace have been added to offset the hotel and convention center until $5 million is reached.
The Rayzor Ranch Public Improvement District (PID) was created in May of 2014 and includes approximately 230
acres owned by Allegiance Hillview, L.P. and DB Denton II, LLC (“Owners”) located in the southeast quadrant of the
intersection of West University Drive (U.S. Highway 380) and Interstate Highway 35.
The property is being developed for commercial/retail and multi‐family uses comparable in quality to the Rayzor
Ranch project north of West University Drive and will be unique and exceed the standards in the Denton
Development Code.
Assessments will be secured by a lien on the property that is senior to private financing but junior to the lien for ad
valorem taxes. No single‐family uses will be assessed. No City property will be assessed, and the City will not
otherwise have any liability to pay assessments. All costs of the collection and administration of the district will be
paid by property owners as part of the annual instalments of assessments.
Golden Triangle Mall was purchased by the M.G. Herring Group and the Weitzman Group. The partnership has
made renovations to the mall, including: the addition of restaurants and stores; improving the building façade;
creating a food court; and improving the parking lot and landscaping. Both phases of the renovations are now
complete and include: the installation of energy efficient lighting, interior landscaping and updated finishes. The
Name Rayzor Ranch
Year Applied 2007
Terms One‐half of sales taxes from development for 25 years
Threshold(s) PI: 400K Sq. Ft., PII: 270K (90%) 4‐1/18 300K Sq. Ft. of retail 7/1/18
Name Golden Triangle Mall
Year Applied 2011
Terms One‐half of sales taxes above base from development for 15 years
Threshold(s)
$9.5M GTM, 45‐60M by GTM & tenants
Actual: $9.2 M based on the current investment of $58.3 million.
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Golden Triangle Mall’s J.C. Penney was one of the sites selected to include a Sephora and the Disney Store within
the department store. An international retailer, H and M, opened in August 2015.Conn’s will be taking the anchor
location that Sears vacated. Fitness Connection is also planned for the development. The incentive is based on the
increase in sales tax above the 2010 base sales tax generated for the development.
Buc‐ee’s Travel Center is a commercial development that will include an approximately 53,000‐square‐foot retail
store, fuel sales, a car wash, and peripheral development along I‐35E for future development. The main retail store
and the associated fuel sales will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The incentive reimburses the
developer for public infrastructure improvements and other neighborhood/public amenities.
The proposed development has resulted in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) advancing several
mobility improvements to the intersections of Loop 288/Lillian Miller and I‐35E, Mayhill Road and I‐35E, and
Brinker Road and I‐35E. In order to facilitate these improvements, TxDOT requires a local funding match of $2
million. The developer funded the $2 million, to be reimbursed as a part of the incentive agreement.
Additionally, the developer will incur approximately $5.2 million in public infrastructure costs, including water,
wastewater, storm sewer, right‐of‐way dedication, and constructing a new city street. The City has granted an
incentive of 50% sales tax rebate for 25 years, on the Buc‐ee’s parcel as well as the outparcels. The first phase
consists of 50% for 5 years for infrastructure improvements. The second phase grants a 50% sales tax rebate for
the Buc‐ee's travel center, retail and sit‐down restaurants; and 25% on remaining fast food and service. Buc‐ee’s
Travel Center opened in late October 2018. One partial month of sales taxes were reported in 2018 (December
2018 report for October 2018 sales).
Chapter 380 Grants Based on Combined Tax Performance and Development
Tools
WinCo Foods acquired approximately 77 acres in the Westpark Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Two
(TIRZ 2) area to develop a regional, multi‐state distribution facility for consumer products. The 800,000+/‐ square
foot distribution facility located on the west side of Western Boulevard, just north of Airport Road. WinCo is a
regional retailer with multiple distribution facilities across the United States. This particular project includes
approximately $130 million in capital investment and will create 165 jobs with an annual payroll of around $7.2
million.
Name Buc‐ee's Travel Center
Year Applied 2015
Terms One‐half of sales from retail & sit down, 25% for fast food & service for 25 years
Threshold(s) $25M travel center
Name WinCo Foods
Year Applied 2015
Terms
Infra. $1M & $860K water & wastewater; construction sales & use taxes; 100% of
the tax increment until costs of public improvements reimbursed, City 1: 60% until
project costs paid; City 2: additional 4 years of ad valorem
Threshold(s) $50M, $850K sales tax for construction
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The agreement with WinCo accomplishes two objectives: (1) full reimbursement of the cost of Phase 1 TIRZ 2
improvements using a combination of funding mechanisms; and (2) an economic development incentive of 60% of
the City’s ad valorem tax revenue for a period of four years following full reimbursement of Phase 1 improvements.
The first term of the grant agreement ends when full reimbursement has occurred, and includes the following
forms of reimbursement: up to $1 million for water lines, utilizing the City’s Water Development Plan Line Fund; up
to $865,000 in reimbursement for the sewer lines, utilizing the City’s Wastewater Development Plan Line Fund;
100% of the Sales and Use Tax for construction materials, furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the construction of
the project; 100% of the tax increment collected in the TIRZ 2 fund associated directly with WinCo, until full
reimbursement occurs. This includes the City and County’s 40% contribution to the TIRZ 2 Fund annually. WinCo
will receive the City’s remaining 60% of ad valorem revenue until full reimbursement occurs. It is anticipated that
full reimbursement will occur in approximately 8‐10 years and will be approximately $7 million. The first year after
full reimbursement, the second term of the grant agreement initiates and will include the following: a 60% rebate
of the City’s ad valorem revenue for a period of four years, for an estimated total incentive of $1.7 million.
The $1,865,000 grant for infrastructure improvements was completed. The local sales and use tax collected by
the City on construction materials, furniture, fixtures, and equipment purchases for the development of the
property was also completed. The TIRZ and ad valorem grants began in 2018.
The Railyard downtown project is located in the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number One (TIRZ 1),
Downtown Implementation Plan (DTIP) and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) areas. Rail Yard Partners, LTD.,
renovated an existing 28,000‐square‐foot building as a part of a larger transit‐oriented catalyst project. They
invested an initial $12 million in the co‐working and mixed‐use space. The City leases 9,216 square feet for a
collaborative working space. Hickory & Rail Ventures took over the management of the co‐working space in 2018.
The Agreement with Rail Yard Partners, LTD., involves an annual grant of $76,000 for five years, for a total incentive
of $380,000. The Commercial Lease Agreement for the co‐working space is a five‐year lease at $9.75 per square
foot for year one, with an approximate 3.7 % increase in the cost annually thereafter, in addition to operating
expenses including the City’s pro rata share of real estate taxes, insurance, common area maintenance, and
operating expenses. The five‐year grant will terminate in 2021/22.
O’Reilly Hotel Partners Denton convention center and hotel development in the Rayzor Ranch Town Center
includes a 300‐room, full service Embassy Suites hotel, a 70,000‐square‐foot convention center, and a Houlihan’s
restaurant. The convention center meeting space can accommodate conventions of up to 650 participants and the
grand banquet room can host events with up to 1,750 people. It is a major anchor for the Rayzor Ranch Town
Center and capitalizes on the synergy from nearby shopping, entertainment, and dining.
Name Railyard
Year Applied 2015
Terms
TIRZ No. 1 grant for $76,000 for 5 years, commercial lease at $9.75 /Sq. Ft year 1 &
3.7% increase after
Threshold(s)
TIRZ grant requires commercial lease to remain in effect, improvements in accordance
with Agrmt.
Name O'Reilly
Year Applied 2015
Terms
100% of property, HOT & construction sales taxes generated by the project,
cap is $54M, construction sales taxes reduced to 50% after threshold, 25 years
Threshold(s)
$80M investment and $20M increase above base, $850K sales tax for
construction
THE
RAILYARD
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The Chapter 380 Agreement includes a 100% rebate of the ad valorem tax, hotel occupancy tax, and sales tax
generated by the project. The term is for a maximum of 25 years or until the combined principal amount of $28
million and interest payment of $26 million, for a total aggregate amount of $54 million, is reached, whichever
comes first. The incentive is capped at $54 million; however, staff estimates that the actual incentive to be
between $30‐$35 million. The incentive also includes 100% of the construction sales and use tax up to $850,000, at
which time the grant will be reduced to 50%. The sales tax, Hotel Occupancy Tax, ad valorem and sales and
use tax rebate for the construction and equipping of the facility initiated in 2018.
In 2018, United States Cold Storage (USCS) received a 50% cost share of the sales and use taxes (up to $70,000) for
the construction of their new distribution facility on a 40 acre site in the Westpark TIRZ No. Two. The company
plans to offer storage, re‐pack, and case pick, distribution and transportation solutions for production facilities in
the United States and Mexico. Preliminary plans provide for rail service, export services to Mexico, cooler and
freezer storage, and on‐site customer offices. USCS estimates that it will invest $34 million in the project, which will
create approximately $28 million in new ad valorem value in Denton. The estimated electric demand is 1.5
megawatts annually, which will make USCS a Top 25 customer for Denton Municipal Electric (DME). The company
plans to create 67 new jobs by Year 3 of operations with an average salary of $36,074. USCS is expected to come
online in 2020/21.
Name USCS
Year Applied 2018
Terms
50% of construction sales and use taxes generated by the
construction and initial equipping of the project, cap is $
Threshold(s)
$23.7 Million valuation, 42 jobs, $850,000 for sales and use
construction and FFE taxes
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APPENDIX B
Methodology
In 2009, the City of Denton’ Department of Economic Development created the initial Return on Investment Report
to examine the fiscal impact made by the businesses that have received tax incentives from the City, evaluate the
efficiency of the public investment, and guide future policy decisions. State and local sales tax revenues created by
the sales tax incentives were added to the study in 2010. In 2013, the report was expanded to include the ad
valorem revenue for Denton County, which includes both the incentives in which the County has partnered with
the City, as well as the revenue from the incentives that the County did not invest in. The final taxing entity Denton
Independent School District (DISD), was added in 2015. The report was redesigned in 2016. This report represents
the seventh update of the report prepared nine years after the original report was created.
The incentives are tracked for ten years regardless of the term. Standard economic development practice for
impact analysis is ten years. For example, an incentive with a term for seven years is tracked for an additional three
years until the ten‐year period is reached. An incentive is not deducted for the remaining three years following the
term. This is standard practice and also allows for more commensurable comparisons between incentives.
The ad valorem or property tax valuation is based on the values that are released by the Denton Central Appraisal
District (DCAD) for the previous tax year. The certified valuations, released in July, are compiled from the DCAD
website and sent out on a City of Denton Verification Form to the appraisal district. This form also includes a
request for the breakdown of the Business Personal Property (BPP) that is not available on the website and a
section that notifies the City if the property is being contested. The incentive calculations occur for the
uncontested properties following the receipt of the forms from DCAD. The City notifies DCAD if the threshold has
been met by companies for all of the tax abatements. DCAD also contracts out some of their accounts to Wardlaw.
The tax bills are distributed from DCAD in October. The calculations for the contested properties are prepared
upon receipt of the Verification Form from the appraisal district, which occurs sometime after October until the
early part of the following year.
Sales tax is collected by calendar year and is based on the allocation month that the sales tax report from the Texas
Comptroller of Public Accounts is received. Sales tax is generated two months prior to the receipt of the reports
from the state comptroller. Sales tax generated in December 2016 is reported to the City in February of 2017, for
example. Historical tax rates for Denton County and DISD, dating back to 1999, were gathered for this study from
DCAD, Denton County, and DISD. The terms for the incentives were provided by Denton County and DISD, as
several the agreement terms and investment percentages differ from the terms of the City.
Property tax is included from the base year of the economic development agreements or the first tax year that was
available from DCAD when the initial report was compiled. Sales tax revenue reflects the revenues received since
the initial tracking began or the grant payments were initiated. For example, the Unicorn Lake Agreement was
approved in 2004; however, the first grant payment was made in 2009 after the thresholds were met. Property
valuation for Unicorn Lake is cumulative since 2006 and sales tax is provided beginning in 2009. Sales tax
monitoring for Rayzor Ranch began in 2010 prior to the receipt of the first payment in July 2012 to assist the City
with preparing the 5‐year forecast during the budgeting process. The incentive for Golden Triangle Mall was
initiated in the summer of 2016, so only half of a year of rebates are included in the report. Tracking for the
development began in 2013.
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This study seeks to aid in the decision‐making process by providing the net revenue from the incentivized projects.
The calculations for the net revenue and cost/benefit are included below.
Net Revenue = Revenues (property only and or sales tax generated) ‐ incentive
The report carries these calculations a step further to obtain the Cost/benefit of the incentive projects.
Cost/benefit Percentage = Net revenue/incentive X 100
It is important to note that the report only gathers the sales tax generated from the projects which received a sales
tax incentive. These include: Denton Crossing, Unicorn Lake, Rayzor Ranch and Golden Triangle Mall. Other
projects, such as Schlumberger, generates sales taxes that would not have been generated in Denton if the
business had not located in this community. This study takes a more conservative approach and does not include
the sales taxes for the ad valorem only incentives.
The rate of return provides the net revenue of the taxes generated relative to the cost of the incentive, as a ratio.
The ratio of return for the City in 2018, for example, was 3:2. Another way of putting this is that the City received 3
times the revenue of the incentive foregone. The formula is presented below.
Ratio of Return = Net Revenue (property only and or sales tax generated‐incentive)/incentive
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2018 Update Prepared by:
Erica Sullivan, Economic Development Analyst
City of Denton
215 E. McKinney
Denton, Texas 76201
940‐349‐7776