COLUMBIA — The Special Business District Board on Tuesday voted in favor of creating a petition which, if enough signatures are gathered, would eventually create a Community Improvement District downtown.
The petition has to be signed by at least 50 percent of property owners within the proposed boundaries. If the necessary number of owners agree to form the district, it must be approved by the City Council. If the council approves it, the residents inside the district must vote to create it.
The community district would replace the business district as well as the Columbia Community Association. It would have the ability to levy a special sales tax and increase property taxes within its boundaries.
The business district is not expected to use the proposed district to increase property taxes, but would levy a half-percent sales tax, according to previous Missourian reports. The sales tax would provide funding for downtown improvements and business district activities.