The BID board voted to keep the downtown special assessment rate flat for 2026, aiming to generate about $55,000 for Main Street. They also flagged that the district boundaries haven’t been updated since 1997 and set up work toward possible changes in 2026.
Key Decisions
Board members unanimously kept the 2026 BID assessment rate at $1.77 per $1,000 of assessed value, projected to raise about $55,000 for Main Street—meaning the rate stays the same, but many owners could still pay more if their property values rise.
Main Street projected a 2026 budget deficit ($7,466) after Room Tax Commission support was cut in half (from $12,000 to $6,000), putting more pressure on sponsorships and other revenue to keep downtown programming stable.
The board acknowledged the BID boundaries haven’t changed since 1997 and directed staff/Main Street to bring options for new boundaries, with a joint meeting planned next May and City Council consideration in 2026.
Public Input
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Agenda Items
Review 2026 BID Operating Plan & Main Street Budget
Main Street’s director walked the board through 2025 activities (including downtown events and façade grants) and a draft 2026 budget. The big issue: Main Street expects to end 2025 about $10,254 in the black, but projects a $7,466 deficit in 2026 because Room Tax support drops from $12,000 to $6,000 and sponsorships remain difficult. Board members also pressed on discrepancies in the 2024 historical numbers, which were attributed to a reconciliation that year—an important reminder that the financial story can shift depending on bookkeeping cleanups.
Discuss Business Improvement District Boundaries and Status of Any Discussion on Possible Changes to Those Boundaries
The board reviewed a BID map that hasn’t changed since 1997 and noted mismatches where businesses that benefit from Main Street activity—or want to contribute—sit outside the district. With an affiliate program idea apparently going nowhere in the past, the board directed Community Development staff and Main Street to develop boundary alternatives. They agreed to a joint meeting with the Main Street board next May, with City Council expected to take it up in 2026—meaning any boundary change is still a long way from a decision, but the process is now officially underway.
Consider Setting 2026 BID Assessment Rate at $1.77 per $1,000 of assessed value, consistent with the 2026 Main Street Budget and unchanged from 2025
Passed 7-0
The board voted to keep the BID assessment rate unchanged at $1.77 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2026, with an estimated $55,000 to support Main Street. City staff noted property values are expected to keep rising, which matters because a “flat rate” can still mean higher bills for individual owners as assessments climb. The discussion also touched on balancing tax burden concerns with the need for Main Street to broaden its funding beyond shrinking Room Tax support.