(a) While a part of a building or industrial park owned by a local development corporation and subject to a mortgage to the Authority or the State of Vermont under this subchapter remains unoccupied, that portion that remains unoccupied shall be exempt from all taxes and special assessments of the State or a municipality. Instead of taxes, payments shall be made by the local development corporation to the municipality in which the speculative building or industrial park is located for highway maintenance, fire protection, or for other services.

(b) Any property to which the Authority holds title by reason of foreclosure upon a mortgage or other security given by a local development corporation in connection with a loan made under this subchapter, or voluntary conveyance in lieu thereof, shall, as long as it is not leased or rented, be exempt from all taxes and special assessments of the State and all local municipal property taxes for the remaining balance of the tax year in which title becomes vested in the Authority and the entire next succeeding year, provided however, that thereafter the Authority shall pay 50 percent of the local municipal property taxes annually assessed against such property during the term of the Authority's ownership. (Added 1973, No. 197 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1977, No. 52, § 9, eff. April 22, 1977; 1981, No. 54, § 14, eff. April 28, 1981.)