MONROE - A proposal to amend the boundaries of the Business Improvement District (BID) met with some public disapproval during a hearing on the issue at the City of Monroe Plan Commission meeting Tuesday.
The commission voted unanimously to send the proposal to Common Council. The proposal could help bring more traffic downtown with the added revenue from expanding the taxing district.
Tim and Chris Young, owners of American Family Insurance at 820 17th Ave., said their business gets little benefit from additional traffic to downtown Monroe.
"Where we sit, the additional taxes is more burden than we want to see," Young said.
The BID board asked the city to extend its boundaries to match the Monroe Main Street boundaries.
If approved by Council, it will be the first time a change has been made in the district's size since it was created in 1986.
BID boundaries currently enclose about 10 blocks around the courthouse. Main Street's District boundaries corresponds roughly with tax increment district No. 7, or about 25 blocks around the courthouse.
According to Robert Duxstad, president of the BID board, the current rate of BID taxes is about $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value of commercial property. BID collects about $32,000 per year, most of which goes to help fund Monroe Main Street's budget.
Duxstad did not expect the total amount of the BID budget to increase, therefore the rate of tax would decrease, with amount collected spread over more commercial property in the new district. However, BID's budget could possibly expand if more improvements or added services, such as shoveling sidewalks, were implemented.
Duxstad said BID's "sole function is to assist in funding Monroe Main Street" and supplies about one-third of that budget.
The remaining two-thirds of Main Street's budget comes equally from the city's tax increment district No. 7 and public donations.
"All business owners in the Monroe Main Street district are going to benefit from a vibrant Square downtown," he added.
Downtown's redevelopment is looking good, Young said, but "beyond 9th Street, we don't see any advantage."
Chris Young said "piling taxes upon taxes" makes it hard for them to expand their business and their clients are losing jobs.
"If you're going to raise our taxes, let's help the unemployment rate in Green County," she said.
Duxstad responded by explaining that one of Monroe Main Street's main jobs is to increase employment, and noted two new businesses, Kookaburra's and Pancho and Lefties, as examples of businesses recently begun that have "filled in spaces and bring jobs" to Monroe.
The commission voted unanimously to send the proposal to Common Council. The proposal could help bring more traffic downtown with the added revenue from expanding the taxing district.
Tim and Chris Young, owners of American Family Insurance at 820 17th Ave., said their business gets little benefit from additional traffic to downtown Monroe.
"Where we sit, the additional taxes is more burden than we want to see," Young said.
The BID board asked the city to extend its boundaries to match the Monroe Main Street boundaries.
If approved by Council, it will be the first time a change has been made in the district's size since it was created in 1986.
BID boundaries currently enclose about 10 blocks around the courthouse. Main Street's District boundaries corresponds roughly with tax increment district No. 7, or about 25 blocks around the courthouse.
According to Robert Duxstad, president of the BID board, the current rate of BID taxes is about $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value of commercial property. BID collects about $32,000 per year, most of which goes to help fund Monroe Main Street's budget.
Duxstad did not expect the total amount of the BID budget to increase, therefore the rate of tax would decrease, with amount collected spread over more commercial property in the new district. However, BID's budget could possibly expand if more improvements or added services, such as shoveling sidewalks, were implemented.
Duxstad said BID's "sole function is to assist in funding Monroe Main Street" and supplies about one-third of that budget.
The remaining two-thirds of Main Street's budget comes equally from the city's tax increment district No. 7 and public donations.
"All business owners in the Monroe Main Street district are going to benefit from a vibrant Square downtown," he added.
Downtown's redevelopment is looking good, Young said, but "beyond 9th Street, we don't see any advantage."
Chris Young said "piling taxes upon taxes" makes it hard for them to expand their business and their clients are losing jobs.
"If you're going to raise our taxes, let's help the unemployment rate in Green County," she said.
Duxstad responded by explaining that one of Monroe Main Street's main jobs is to increase employment, and noted two new businesses, Kookaburra's and Pancho and Lefties, as examples of businesses recently begun that have "filled in spaces and bring jobs" to Monroe.