Based on his comments, even liberal Durham Mayor Bill Bell seems to understand the negative impact of this new “business improvement district” tax — 7 cents on $100 valuation. His solution was to support a new tax but at a lower rate. That went nowhere, and now downtown business owners have yet another government imposed impediment to success. And what will they get for it? More marketing of downtown.
By the way, this new tax hike comes as the city council is preparing to impose a 1 cent per $100 valuation city-wide property tax hike as well.
Bottom line: Durham officials’ insatiable thirst for more cash leads to this latest transfer of even more hard-earned money out of the wallets of hard working families and business owners, and into the public trough.
