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Petitions circulated for and against BID

Lines are drawn in Janesville's downtown as property owners circulate petitions both for and against a Business Improvement District, or BID.

BID Task Force Chair Chad Karl says almost forty percent of the assessed value have signed a petition in support of the BID. He says there's another fifteen percent who support it, but won't sign a petition because they're afraid of backlash from people who don't support it.

Opponents are also circulating petitions. Downtown attorney Pat McDonald says people representing more than $12 million in property value have signed a petition against the BID.

One issue of concern appears to be the amount property owners will be assessed. The BID proposal includes a minimum assessment of $275 and maximum assessment of $3,500. Property owners are assessed $2.80 per one thousand dollars value within those limits.

McDonald says that won't hold up in court. He says the case law is very clear: the maximums and minimums that impose a burden on smaller property owners and give tax breaks to larger property owners are unconstitutional.

Karl says there are 82 other cities in Wisconsin that have completed BIDs, and those individuals who say it's illegal are using fear tactics to bully people into not pursuing the BID.

Karl says a group of 20 volunteers has been shouldering the brunt of the downtown improvements over the last decade.

The city council is scheduled to vote on the proposal September 22.