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182 Staff Report re: Rehabilitated Property Tax Exemptions all the benefits and advantages weighed against those cost, he would vote in favor of it. The individual items were voted on as follows: Cued Speech Interpreter - $7,600 - Ayes: Mr. Buck and Mrs. O'Brien. Noes: Mr. Albro, Mr.~Br. unton and Mr, Gatewood. Building Modifications ~ $5,000 - Ayes: Mr. Brunton, Mr. Buck, Mrs. Gatewood and Mrs. O'Brien. Noes: Mr. Albro. In-Service Training for Staff Members - $4,000 - Ayes: Mr. Buck and Mrs. 0'Brien. Noes: Mr. Albro, Mr. Brunton and Mr. Gatewood. Half-time Speech Therapist $5~000 - Ayes: Mr. Albro, Mr. Brunton, Mr. Buck, Mr. Gatewood and Mrs, O'Brien. Noes: None. The resolution appropriating funds for the purpose of providing additional services for hearing impaired students in the City Public School System, which was offered at the meeting of the Council on November 5, 1979, was ~ended to read $10,000 and adopted, as amended, by the following recorded vote. Ayes: Mr. Albro, Mr. Brunton, Mr. Buck and Mr. Gatewood? Noes: Mrs. 0'Brien. Mrs. 0'Brien stated she did not think this was sufficient to do the jOb it needs to do. Mrs. O'Brien stated that one of the problems with dealing with this particular issue has been the requirement by the federal govern- ment and asked if Council would feel it appropriate to request that the federal government look at the possibility of having the local funding up to the limit of an average expenditure and request the federal government to pick up the difference since they are requiring it and also that the federal government do a local impact study on legislation before it is passed. ~he Mayor requested the staff ao follow through on thiS request. Mr. Bob Stripling reported that at Council's request the staff has reviewed the recent State enabling legislation, which wouid~' provide for the exemption of portions of real property from the real property tax. The law will go into effect January 1, 1980 and applies to exemptions which were allowed for rehabilitation efforts. It covers both residential and commercial property, there are certain restrictions in the law which includes: the building must be at least 25 years old~ the amount of the exemption will be equal to the increase in assessed value due to the rehabilitation effort; there is a ten year limit on the number of years the exemption will be allowed, and there is a maximum fee of $20.00. There are some restrictions in the difference between commercial and residential property in terms of the minimum increase in value, which is required due to the rehabilitation work, the residential minimum is 40% and commercial minimum of 60%. Also in maximum increase in square footage fom residential property can not be inc=eased any greater than 15% and no restrictions on commercial property. The staff believes that the primary objectives of this legislation is to induce new investments in old properties to strenthen the long term tax base of the locality. It is not aimed at any specific income group, geographic location, or rental or uninhabitated building. He stated there is a difference of opinion of people who have looked at this situation, some believe that property tax is