Timing key on Batavia downtown plan
We expected a few sparks to fly when a public hearing was conducted Monday at Batavia city hall regarding the creation of a special service area tax for the downtown business district.
What we didn't expect, but find to be a reasonable solution for now, is that the hearing would be extended to next April.
Downtown business owners coping with the Wilson Street bridge construction have voiced concern about another tax being levied at this time -- even though the funds would help future parking and transportation projects as well as aid the Batavia MainStreet downtown organization.
It would be easy to agree with those who say that because of the bridge work, the timing of this tax proposal, which seeks 75 cents per $100 of assessed property, was ill-advised. They could also argue that uncertainty about a second bridge crossing near downtown would leave a lot of future projects up in the air anyway.
Ultimately, we were hoping a happy medium would be reached after the public hearing, but the extension, as a way to put an acceptable program together, is a safe option. A few aldermen have spoken about phasing in the tax, earmarking some funds for parking projects, and then funding MainStreet in the second phase. With the tax proposal delayed until 2009, when the Wilson Street bridge work will be completed, there is some concern about making sure MainStreet gets some financial support next year.
City leaders and downtown business owners who support the tax idea have encountered opposition from those who don't want another tax at this time, and those who support one of the concepts -- the parking or MainStreet -- but not the other.
The timing for this discussion isn't as bad as it looks on paper. Batavia city leaders should be thinking about how the city can resurrect the downtown in the aftermath of the bridge work soon, because it will take time to implement the tax and its benefits.
The bridge work and all of the sweat that has gone into the Riverwalk represent steps taken toward a goal -- that Batavia's downtown will thrive and be a destination point for residents and visitors.
The question of whether it is fair to tax only downtown business owners, when the entire city would benefit from a stronger downtown, can be answered by noting that downtown business owners would benefit more than anyone else.
There is also the matter of funding MainStreet, which operates independently of the city. This makes some wonder why it would receive tax monies. But no other organization is going to have downtown Batavia first and foremost in its mission statement. If downtown business owners want someone in their corner, then MainStreet is it.
We hope that the delay in a decision and an extension of the public hearing means that city leaders and business owners are prepared to consider a compromise. Such an action would help downtown Batavia move forward swiftly after the bridge is fully open.