History repeats. In Canton, town leaders met at a “special-called meeting” to do something about a proposed municipal service district, business improvement district, or whatever nice name it may need to acquire for buy-in from the masses. The BID, for anybody who doesn’t know, is an extra layer of government that allows municipalities to collect an extra tax for basic city services while providing for corporate welfare, planning, and other more controversial functions with general funds. They are usually created through a series of meetings where no action is taken, but subtle non-actions are construed as implied consent and thus mandates. In Canton, we are told the BID will “compliment [sic.] economic development incentive programs.”
by Leslee Kulba
Wild West blogger