This article is incomplete and misleading, although what is stated is correct. Only residents who live within the BID district (basically commercial downtown) would get to vote but would not be required to pay. They are included in the voting process because the BID can affect things in the district where they live. A master plan of how the money would be spent must be created by the constituents and recorded with the state before the election could take place. The BID assessment would be on commercial properties and could be passed through to the businesses depending on what their lease with the landlord says. Monies from this assessment would be controlled by constituents through a representative board of property owners within the district. The money would directly benefit those pay through increased property values and increased vitality within the district.
To all of the previous posters and those who are just wondering:
As the title of the article suggests, MainStreet is CONTEMPLATING a TABOR election for the already existing Business Improvement District (approved in 2007 but the funding TABOR election was not successful by 6 votes).
All of the questions posed by "justasking" are valid questions, some of which have answers already and some that will be determined by the constituents as the process moves forward. The money will be governed by a BID board of directors made up of commercial property owners within the district. Tracy Barnett is the only paid staff member. All other functions are performed by volunteers - except a paid accountant and a paid minute taker for board meetings.
Aside from the basic overhead expenses (staff, postage, copying, phone, etc), a large portion of the budget goes to marketing downtown as a destination to guests who don't know there is a downtown. With the population changing every week, it is a challenge to draw people downtown from the mountain in the winter. Of the $140,000 budget, much of the funding comes from "pay as you go" programs for those that participate - money in, money out.
Not all of the entire budget would come from the BID. From current commercial valuation within the district, one mil would raise approximately $53,000. One project being undertaken is to determine what that would mean for the average property owner within the district.
As the process moves forward, the public and constituents will be educated on how the BID special improvement district functions according to the state regulations for such a district. The rules are not made up by the constituents, although the constituents can determine what projects they would like the BID to undertake. Each year a work plan must be filed with the state and approved by City Council.
On the question of the "relative handful" of tax payers taking on the tax burden, that statement is misleading. Because the BID funding would be a property tax on commercial (note the word commercial, not residential) properties, commercial property owners would be responsible for the tax. There are not a lot of commercial property owners within the district. As to who can vote on the measure, the voters would be the commercial property owners, the tenants of those properties (because the tax is often passed on to them through "triple net" fees from the property owners), and residents within the district (since what happens around them in the district can affect their way of life).
For more information of the general nature of Business Improvement Districts and what they can do, who they serve, and how they are governed, you can Google "Business Improvement Districts". The more people who do this, the more informed they will be as the process moves forward. You might also check out Durango and their BID which was once again approved by the constituents for a third time in 2010.
Don't you get it? If we don't have people coming to Steamboat Springs, you won't have money. Unless you are in the coal or gas and oil industries, you are just as dependent on visitors coming to Steamboat as are those who directly benefit. We would not need as many teachers, doctors, plumbers, landscapers (name a profession) if we did not have the tourist industry in Steamboat Springs. We would not have the amenities we enjoy (bike paths, restaurants, music venues, ski mountain, golf courses, (name an amenity recently built by or within the City) that would exist if it weren't for the tourist dollar. We all benefit. We should all pay to be sure that the lifestyle we enjoy continues.
We could always go back to writing checks. Wouldn't that be efficient and sustainable? Thank you to local banks (well, most of them) for choosing to not charge the fees.
The Steamboat Soccer Tournament has created the now second-busiest weekend of the summer. For years it was THE busiest, all created and staffed by volunteers. The sponsorships and the funds they create for the soccer program in Steamboat is why the volunteers are so committed to what they do. Steamboat Springs businesses benefit from the hard work of this dedicated bunch. If you would miss the business that would be hard to replace on this particular weekend, be a sponsor at some level, and consider donating time, as well. Loss of this tournament would be a huge hole in Steamboat's summer.
My husband and I rush to read the Sunday paper every week to read her jokes. We will miss that. Sometimes it was the best part of the paper on a slow news week.
Let the market prevail. I know we need housing that will accommodate us all, but who says you have to OWN a home in Steamboat (or anywhere) to be able to live there? Yes, it is important to try to build equity, and when the price is right, a domicile can be bought, but until then, renting is a perfectly reasonable option. It also is more liquid if situations change and you decide to move. There are pluses and minuses on both sides.
Jack Weinstein: Downtown tax to be discussed
This article is incomplete and misleading, although what is stated is correct. Only residents who live within the BID district (basically commercial downtown) would get to vote but would not be required to pay. They are included in the voting process because the BID can affect things in the district where they live. A master plan of how the money would be spent must be created by the constituents and recorded with the state before the election could take place. The BID assessment would be on commercial properties and could be passed through to the businesses depending on what their lease with the landlord says. Monies from this assessment would be controlled by constituents through a representative board of property owners within the district. The money would directly benefit those pay through increased property values and increased vitality within the district.
January 25, 2012 at 7:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mainstreet Steamboat Springs contemplates district property tax
To all of the previous posters and those who are just wondering:
As the title of the article suggests, MainStreet is CONTEMPLATING a TABOR election for the already existing Business Improvement District (approved in 2007 but the funding TABOR election was not successful by 6 votes).
All of the questions posed by "justasking" are valid questions, some of which have answers already and some that will be determined by the constituents as the process moves forward. The money will be governed by a BID board of directors made up of commercial property owners within the district. Tracy Barnett is the only paid staff member. All other functions are performed by volunteers - except a paid accountant and a paid minute taker for board meetings.
Aside from the basic overhead expenses (staff, postage, copying, phone, etc), a large portion of the budget goes to marketing downtown as a destination to guests who don't know there is a downtown. With the population changing every week, it is a challenge to draw people downtown from the mountain in the winter. Of the $140,000 budget, much of the funding comes from "pay as you go" programs for those that participate - money in, money out.
Not all of the entire budget would come from the BID. From current commercial valuation within the district, one mil would raise approximately $53,000. One project being undertaken is to determine what that would mean for the average property owner within the district.
As the process moves forward, the public and constituents will be educated on how the BID special improvement district functions according to the state regulations for such a district. The rules are not made up by the constituents, although the constituents can determine what projects they would like the BID to undertake. Each year a work plan must be filed with the state and approved by City Council.
On the question of the "relative handful" of tax payers taking on the tax burden, that statement is misleading. Because the BID funding would be a property tax on commercial (note the word commercial, not residential) properties, commercial property owners would be responsible for the tax. There are not a lot of commercial property owners within the district. As to who can vote on the measure, the voters would be the commercial property owners, the tenants of those properties (because the tax is often passed on to them through "triple net" fees from the property owners), and residents within the district (since what happens around them in the district can affect their way of life).
For more information of the general nature of Business Improvement Districts and what they can do, who they serve, and how they are governed, you can Google "Business Improvement Districts". The more people who do this, the more informed they will be as the process moves forward. You might also check out Durango and their BID which was once again approved by the constituents for a third time in 2010.
December 25, 2011 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ride through Steamboat a nostalgic 1 for some
Nobody would have blinked an eye in the Buttonbush, Cave In, Thunderhead and Shortbranch days.
December 13, 2011 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Do you plan to vote in favor of Referendum 2B, a 0.25 percent sales tax to supplement the winter air service program at Yampa Valley Regional Airport?
Don't you get it? If we don't have people coming to Steamboat Springs, you won't have money. Unless you are in the coal or gas and oil industries, you are just as dependent on visitors coming to Steamboat as are those who directly benefit. We would not need as many teachers, doctors, plumbers, landscapers (name a profession) if we did not have the tourist industry in Steamboat Springs. We would not have the amenities we enjoy (bike paths, restaurants, music venues, ski mountain, golf courses, (name an amenity recently built by or within the City) that would exist if it weren't for the tourist dollar. We all benefit. We should all pay to be sure that the lifestyle we enjoy continues.
October 20, 2011 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
National banks announce new fees; local institutions not changing
We could always go back to writing checks. Wouldn't that be efficient and sustainable? Thank you to local banks (well, most of them) for choosing to not charge the fees.
October 1, 2011 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steamboat Springs Bike Summit sets 2012 goals
"If you can conceive it, and believe it, you can achieve it." Unknown
October 1, 2011 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Nancy Stahoviak returns to courthouse
Welcome back, Nancy. What an amazing woman!
July 28, 2011 at 5:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Future of Steamboat soccer tournament is unclear
The Steamboat Soccer Tournament has created the now second-busiest weekend of the summer. For years it was THE busiest, all created and staffed by volunteers. The sponsorships and the funds they create for the soccer program in Steamboat is why the volunteers are so committed to what they do. Steamboat Springs businesses benefit from the hard work of this dedicated bunch. If you would miss the business that would be hard to replace on this particular weekend, be a sponsor at some level, and consider donating time, as well. Loss of this tournament would be a huge hole in Steamboat's summer.
June 2, 2011 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Longtime South Routt resident, journalist Lila Rider dies
My husband and I rush to read the Sunday paper every week to read her jokes. We will miss that. Sometimes it was the best part of the paper on a slow news week.
June 2, 2011 at 7:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Should the Steamboat Springs City Council let residents out of deed restrictions on real estate if they pay to compensate?
Let the market prevail. I know we need housing that will accommodate us all, but who says you have to OWN a home in Steamboat (or anywhere) to be able to live there? Yes, it is important to try to build equity, and when the price is right, a domicile can be bought, but until then, renting is a perfectly reasonable option. It also is more liquid if situations change and you decide to move. There are pluses and minuses on both sides.
April 26, 2011 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )