Not even a major recession can keep some people from pushing for tax hikes. This time the idea for a so-called “business improvement district” comes from Durham where the group Downtown Durham Inc. is proposing a 7-cent property tax hike in the Brightleaf Square/Durham Bulls Athletic Park area.

No mention in the story that when the cost of doing business goes up — and that’s exactly what a tax hike will do — it is passed on to consumers. An official is quoted as saying they expect “a number of questions” from some folks who will be impacted, and apparently that includes some private homeowners.