Downtown Prince George Seeks Levy Renewal

Downtown Prince George is looking to renew a bylaw that would continue to tax business owners to pay for some downtown amenities.
The Downtown Business Improvement Levy has been in place since 1999, and this is the 7th request of Council to renew it.
The bylaw allows the Association to tax downtown businesses for improvement projects. Examples include the Facade Improvement project, Summerfest and Winterfest.
The current bylaw expires at the end of next March, but much work needs to be done by Downtown Prince George before that time. The process requires a public notice to each of the property owners located in the downtown. It only affects commercial properties, not residential.
Approval must be given by a minimum of 50 percent of property owners who represent at least 50 percent of the total property assessments in the downtown.
Traditionally, the Association renewed on five-year terms, but this time, it is seeking renewal over a seven-year term.
Council approved first two readings of that bylaw.