M. Brown
Active Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2006
- Messages
- 212
- Reaction score
- 0
Aldermen expand business district
By SCOTT BROOKS
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER ? The business district covering much of downtown Manchester and the Millyard was expanded last night to include several blocks south of the Verizon Wireless Arena, a move that will most likely result in a tax increase for about 75 businesses.
Aldermen voted 6 to 5 last night to move the boundaries of the Central Business Service District. Businesses in the district pay an extra tax to keep the area free of litter and graffiti.
"I think people look at downtown as being just from Bridge Street down to Central Street, or maybe down to the Verizon," said Alderman At-Large Mike Lopez, who advocated the expansion. "Now we have to reach out to the southern portion in order to build up businesses down there." Just how much money businesses in the district will have to pay is still up for debate. Several aldermen indicated they would like to lower the district's tax rate, a decision that would provide at least a modicum of relief for as many as 400 businesses in and around downtown Manchester.
The current tax rate is 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Taxes were the main point of contention in last night's discussion. Proponents of the expansion, including Lopez, had hoped to raise an extra $13,000 this year for Intown Manchester, the downtown advocacy group that takes its funding from the district's tax dollars. A measure that would have boosted Intown's budget by that amount needed eight votes to pass but received only six, with five opposing.
"I can't support increasing taxes at a time when people are hurting," said one opponent, Alderman Ted Gatsas.
Ultimately, the aldermen allowed last night's city budget deadline to pass without approving a dollar figure for Intown. Their exit guaranteed the group's budget would hold still at last year's appropriation of $244,000, the amount Mayor Frank Guinta recommended this spring.
The proposal to expand the district was pushed by developer Dick Anagnost. Anagnost is the president of Intown Manchester. He is also the developer responsible for the Elliot at River's Edge, the proposed $100 million medical, retail and residential complex that, because of the expansion, will now be included in the district.
The average tax impact for the 75 businesses that have been added to the district was expected to be $173 per year, assuming no change in the tax rate. It's uncertain whether all business owners in the area are aware they'll be required to pay the extra tax.
Stephanie Lewry, executive director of Intown Manchester, said her organization sent letters to those businesses at the end of May. She only received responses from 13 of them. Eight business owners were contacted by phone, she said.
Many of the businesses who did reply to Intown's inquiries were unfamiliar with the organization, she said.
"I think what we've learned from this is that it may be a little soon to be jumping the gun at expanding the district right now," Lewry said in an interview on Monday. "These people definitely need to be educated a lot more about what kind of change it would bring to the neighborhood."
Last night's vote extends the district's southern border from Auburn Street, near Murphy's Taproom, to Queen City Avenue. The district runs as far north as North Street
link
By SCOTT BROOKS
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER ? The business district covering much of downtown Manchester and the Millyard was expanded last night to include several blocks south of the Verizon Wireless Arena, a move that will most likely result in a tax increase for about 75 businesses.
Aldermen voted 6 to 5 last night to move the boundaries of the Central Business Service District. Businesses in the district pay an extra tax to keep the area free of litter and graffiti.
"I think people look at downtown as being just from Bridge Street down to Central Street, or maybe down to the Verizon," said Alderman At-Large Mike Lopez, who advocated the expansion. "Now we have to reach out to the southern portion in order to build up businesses down there." Just how much money businesses in the district will have to pay is still up for debate. Several aldermen indicated they would like to lower the district's tax rate, a decision that would provide at least a modicum of relief for as many as 400 businesses in and around downtown Manchester.
The current tax rate is 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Taxes were the main point of contention in last night's discussion. Proponents of the expansion, including Lopez, had hoped to raise an extra $13,000 this year for Intown Manchester, the downtown advocacy group that takes its funding from the district's tax dollars. A measure that would have boosted Intown's budget by that amount needed eight votes to pass but received only six, with five opposing.
"I can't support increasing taxes at a time when people are hurting," said one opponent, Alderman Ted Gatsas.
Ultimately, the aldermen allowed last night's city budget deadline to pass without approving a dollar figure for Intown. Their exit guaranteed the group's budget would hold still at last year's appropriation of $244,000, the amount Mayor Frank Guinta recommended this spring.
The proposal to expand the district was pushed by developer Dick Anagnost. Anagnost is the president of Intown Manchester. He is also the developer responsible for the Elliot at River's Edge, the proposed $100 million medical, retail and residential complex that, because of the expansion, will now be included in the district.
The average tax impact for the 75 businesses that have been added to the district was expected to be $173 per year, assuming no change in the tax rate. It's uncertain whether all business owners in the area are aware they'll be required to pay the extra tax.
Stephanie Lewry, executive director of Intown Manchester, said her organization sent letters to those businesses at the end of May. She only received responses from 13 of them. Eight business owners were contacted by phone, she said.
Many of the businesses who did reply to Intown's inquiries were unfamiliar with the organization, she said.
"I think what we've learned from this is that it may be a little soon to be jumping the gun at expanding the district right now," Lewry said in an interview on Monday. "These people definitely need to be educated a lot more about what kind of change it would bring to the neighborhood."
Last night's vote extends the district's southern border from Auburn Street, near Murphy's Taproom, to Queen City Avenue. The district runs as far north as North Street
link