6/6/14 - After many weeks of discussion and two public hearings, the Brighton City Council has approved the assessment roll as the final step toward establishing a downtown special assessment district. The SAD will collect revenue from property owners in the downtown district to fund programs by the Principal Shopping District. The PSD for the past couple of years has been funded by the Downtown Development Authority, but the DDA has a tighter budget than in the past and can no longer fund the PSD. As at previous meetings where an SAD was discussed, some business and property owners objected. Thursday night, a businessman who owns office buildings on First and Second avenues recited a familiar refrain: That the tax assessment doesnât benefit him or his tenants because he doesnât have any retail stores or restaurants in his buildings. However, at the same time he complimented city officials for their success in making downtown Brighton a vibrant regional destination. After the meeting Brighton Mayor Jim Muzzin told WHMI that in earlier voting on the proposal he voted no because he thought the assessment structure was unfair for areas of downtown that do not have retail stores or restaurants. But Muzzin changed his position after the way of assessing specific areas was amended. At a meeting in May, the PSD voted to lower the assessment rates for properties in the affected areas. As a result, the SAD will now generate about $70,500 per year, compared to $81,500 under the original scenario. The revenues will be used primarily to place ads on radio stations, in newspapers and on billboards touting Brighton as an ideal place to shop, dine and enjoy recreation. The SAD will go on the summer tax rolls July 1st of this year. (TT)
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