Thank goodness DTSF supplies these plants in front of my bizzo, I wouldn’t be able to figure this out on my own.
We have known about this for awhile (Item #36), but take a close look at the PDF document: SPEC-ASS-DT, and you will scratch your head about the inequality.
I have always been on the fence about this, because the organization, DTSF charges a membership fee, but if you are not a member, you still have to pay through property taxes, but don’t get the benefits of belonging as a member. I say one OR the other.
I know that several DT property owners have challenged this in the past.
My solution? I would eliminate the special assessment and ONLY have a membership fee to DTSF (higher, and base it on property value and number of employees, like the Chamber). If you don’t pay the fee, you get NO special treatment (no marketing, plants, sidewalk sweeping, etc.) from the organization.
It just seems odd and unfair that non-members of DTSF have to still pay in on their property taxes even if they get no benefits from the organization. But call me a realist.
The thing is, every property owner benefits from it in the form of making the area desirable to live and work in. It also adds interest to visitors to the degree they may actually want to come back, which is good for the mom & pop shops & restaurants.
They also keep the sidewalk clean of things like puke and needles as well as promotion of Downtown in general. The property owners benefit greatly whether they want to admit it or not. What this assessment goes into is part of the reason buildings sell quickly and at much higher than their assessed values.
Sy, I agree, 100%, read what I said. My problem is punishing the non-members because they won’t pay a membership fee. THEY PAY IN! They should be treated equally.
The item you highlighted is the BID district assessment, which is different then a membership fee in DTSF and for the property owners in the DT district.
Most businesses in DT aren’t owners of the buildings, so they can opt out of a membership and still get the benefit of what the BID does.
Sy, rental/lease, 101, when you rent, you pay property taxes thru your rent.
It depends are on a gross or triple net lease. Most retail is the latter, but priced higher. But yes, essentially as a tenant you pay it one way or the other.
Again, this is a specific and pretty modest assessment. If a person or business were to opt out of it, what is DTSF supposed to do..not pick up trash in front of their store? Kind of defeats the purpose.
That’s my point, businesses DT can sweep their own sidewalks and water their own plants, don’t need an organization doing that for them. But I do agree something should be paid for marketing DT. That is why I say one fee or the other, but not both.
Sure they could, but will they? Think if it more like a condo association and people like those because they take care of the little crap so the owner can focus on spending quality time online ignoring the ones who love him or her.
Sure, but people have a ‘Choice’ to pay that fee.