Downtown improvement assessments near council vote

On August 5, Cincinnati city council will consider two ordinances to help keep Downtown safe and clean from 2010 to 2013.

A first ordinance would accept the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District (DCID) Board of Equalization's findings of estimated assessments for Downtown property owners, finalized at its meeting on July 13.

A second ordinance would impose those findings, making the assessments enforceable by law.

Assessments will be payable with Hamilton County property tax bills, in eight semi-annual installments.

The DCID is expected to generate $2.25 million annually in 2010-2011 and $2.39 million annually in 2012-2013, and will be used to improve Downtown's cleanliness and safety, to help recruit and retain Downtown businesses, and to lead to the development of more Downtown residential units.

Property owners have until September 14 to appeal the assessments with the county auditor's office.

Previous reading on BC:
Cincinnati establishes board for DCID appeals (7/8/09)
Downtown Cincinnati improvement district approved for 2010-2013 (6/18/09)
Ginsburg: Prepared for challenges, Downtown improves against benchmarks (5/18/09)
Last days for Downtown Preceptions Survey (4/30/09)
DCI releases State of Downtown for second half of 2008 (3/23/09)