The revitalization of the downtown center is going into its 30th year with not much success. Is it not supposed to be the City’s responsibility to take care of it with funding from our land taxes? I am disappointed at City Council for being blinded by this D.B.I.A. scheme.

 

This is what I see:

Firstly, I should say I am an owner of a building downtown, and I reject the D.B.I.A scheme. Kirk Gable Incorporated a Co. called Prince George Downtown Business Improvement Association, and his proposal says he needs approx $200,000.00 to run his Incorporated Co. This is where I smell a fish. The fine print of this scheme is that the city of Prince George is to grant all monies to PGDBIA and president Kirk Gable once a year. The truth of the matter is that no one knows how much tax money will be collected. Is it $200,000.00 or is it $500,000.00? I’m thinking between $300,000 and $400,000.. How is it that this DBIA can tax each downtown business when the City can’t give out tax information to anyone? 

 

And where does it end? Will this ‘special’ tax increase every year as everything else does? Who’s going to be able to afford to own a building downtown in 5 years? It’s also very unfair to allow only a month for a scheme, as well as a 50 % margin, especially when a lot of the owners of downtown buildings don’t even live in Prince George. The average businessperson doesn’t have contact information for them. Are they being notified by this PGDBIA by registered mail for proof? Or is it all hearsay from City Hall? 100% of the owners of the downtown buildings, whether in Prince George or not, should be given the chance to say no to this. They have a right to disapprove of the City imposing more tax upon them every year.

 

Not one business downtown should have to have this imposed on them. And what an absurd time in our economy to impose such a ridiculous thing! I’m certainly going to be voting next time for more business experience in City Council. I, personally, don’t appreciate that they sit back and say yes, yes, yes to something that won’t affect them because it looks pretty. It’s kind of like the city would be playing Robin Hood for the D.B.I.A. Once again, the City’s downtown problem is the whole City’s problem!  This is why we all pay taxes! A secondary tax, for a few, and not places like the casino, is ridiculous and not acceptable. 

     

Yes, I smell fish. Sorry Kirk.....NO DEAL.

 

~Peter Campbell Sr.

  Prince George