2020 BIA budgets approved
Commercial and industrial properties within the Simcoe and Delhi downtown business improvement areas (BIAs) will learn about their special levy for 2020 in the next round of county tax billings.
Norfolk council approved the respective BIA budgets for 2020 at its March 10 meeting. In Simcoe, the special levy is $203,700, which is $100 less than the 2019 levy.
In Delhi, the BIA levy this year totals $28,350. This is $350 more than the 2019 impost. Delhi BIA member Bev Heath moved the amount at a meeting last fall.
“The budget was increased by $350 from 2019 to cover the cost of having our books done by Wilbur Bookkeeping,” the minutes of the Oct. 10 meeting say.
The motion to approve the Simcoe BIA budget was made by director Joe Botscheller at the association’s monthly meeting last month.
In designated BIA zones, commercial and industrial properties are assessed a separate, dedicated tax for cosmetic improvements and promotion of member businesses and institutions. Boards consisting of elected stakeholders are responsible for drafting and spending BIA allocations.