A survey for all downtown property owners and businesses is out today and likely will decide whether Jefferson City's downtown will look to start a new taxing district to help cover costs of beautification and maintenance.
The Downtown Association held an open house Tuesday at the Capitol Plaza Hotel for property owners in the downtown area. About 16 people attended the presentation on a potential community improvement district, or CID, by Association President Stephanie Bell and Mark Mehmert, community development manager at the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Each property owner in attendance was given a packet of information specific to their property and how a CID would affect them, including an estimate of how much they would pay if charged a special assessment of $8 per linear foot of street frontage.
"Really tonight's just about a discussion," Bell said.
In her presentation, Bell emphasized a CID would ensure each property or business pays its fair share for costs like snow removal and flowers. Currently, those types of services are funded through membership dues for the Downtown Association, which are $150 per year for a full membership.
"All who benefit pay," Bell said. "That's one of the key things."
Bell said right now, 13 of 70 people downtown "refuse" to pay for snow removal and 25 of 125 businesses do not pay dues to the association.
Those in attendance saw a potential draft budget for downtown if a CID were enacted; it featured both a special assessment of $8 per linear foot of street frontage and a one-quarter cent sales tax. Bell noted any sales tax would have to be approved by voters within the district.
But it's the next step that will decide the path for downtown.
Starting today, a survey will be available on the association website, www.downtownjeffersoncity.com. Bell and Mehmert are asking that every downtown property owner take the time to answer the survey, which asks whether a CID would be supported and what type would be supported.
"We really do need folks to answer the survey," Mehmert said. "If you have an opinion about it, please let us know."
Bell said there is no set schedule, but she hopes to close the survey in about two weeks. Once the results have been looked over, they can decide how to proceed based on the level of interest from property owners. Mehmert noted that the City Council has indicated they would need to see broad support to enact any ordinance creating a CID.
"We need to move together with a fair consensus," Mehmer said. "We'll never reach a complete consensus."