Downtown Improvements: Special District Recommendations
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Date
2021
Authors
Connor, Emily
Lewis, Rebecca
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
As an element of its recently adopted 20-year Town Center Plan, the City of Troutdale identified improvements and and revitalization of their downtown district and surrounding areas as a priority. Public Budget Administration graduate students were tasked with investigating funding options to improve and maintain their downtown commercial streetscape via a special district tax. This report examines the feasibility of two district types: Business Improvement Districts (BID) and Economic Improvement Districts (EID). Included in this report are recommendations for the size of the district, an examination of the creation of a Main Street Organization, and information on best practices gleaned from case studies conducted on the use of special tax districts in 10 different locations, including:
* McMinnville, OR
* Newport, OR
* Durham, NC
* Cottage Grove, OR
* Hillsboro, OR
* Bend, OR
* Miami, FL
* Oregon City, OR
* Salem, OR
* Corvallis, OR
Using Troutdale's goals for an EID/BID program, as well as insights from the case studies, this report provides an estimated expenditure for the first five years of Troutdale’s EID/BID program, as well as funding options to help meet that goal. Five funding options are considered and analyzed for Troutdale’s EID/BID funding:
• Option 1: EID based on the assessed value
• Option 2: EID based on square footage of the lot
• Option 3: EID based on square footage of the business
• Option 4: EID based on square footage of the frontage
• Option 5: BID- Business license surcharge
• Option Overlay: Tiered systems based on proximity to downtown core (either EID or BID)
Out of these options, the only one that reaches estimated expenditure goals is Option 2: EID based on square footage of the lot. However, Troutdale staff may also want to take into consideration the most politically sound options when it comes to combining EID and BID options and the possibility of tieredtax rates. This report includes tax rate options that could be further analyzed to determine which option or options best suit the goals and the needs of the Troutdale community.
Description
91 pages