By Ryan Merriman
Like most of Provo's 105,000 residents, Lindsay Wiblin likes to shop, but not downtown. Wiblin emigrated to the United States over 20 years ago and enjoys the economic security and individual rights he's found in happy valley, including what he calls 'the right to shop.'
'At the moment I don't choose to shop in the central business district because there's nothing there to buy,' he said.
This problem isn't news to Provo City. The downtown area has struggled to lure in big retail businesses since proposals for a downtown mall were turned down decades ago.
After the creation of a downtown business alliance in 2001 was met with mixed results, the city and local business owners have overhauled the program and believe they may have finally found a workable solution, replacing the Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) with 'the District.'
'I can't wait to hear from the businesses and see what they say,' City Councilwoman Midge Johnson said.
Under the old system, all businesses paid an assessment of .14 percent of their property values to the Downtown Business Alliance. The alliance used these funds primarily for marketing and beautification projects in an attempt to attract and retain businesses downtown.
The new proposal attempts to shift the financial burden to those receiving more direct benefits from the alliance's activities. The new assessments are less than before and are also tiered according to a property's proximity to downtown.
Businesses between 500 W. and 100 E. on Center St. and 300 N. to 100 S. on University Ave will be assessed .112 percent of their property values. Properties surrounding Center St. on Freedom Blvd. will be assessed .084 percent, and remaining properties on the edges of the new business district will be responsible for .056 percent of their values.
'It's really minimal considering the benefits,' said Char Coleman, the DBA's Interim Executive Director. 'A property valued at 200,000 dollars would pay 224, 168 or 112 dollars annually. I actually own a business in the District and moved there because there was an alliance.'
But not all property owners share Coleman's enthusiasm. Local property owner John Beesley and Attorney Richard Bradford are the most outspoken opponents of the District and propose a voluntary business association.
'If this was a voluntary assessment I'd be on the other side of the fence,' Beesley said.
His plan would allow businesses to opt in and out of the association, which, according to Beesley, would insure the association benefits all of its members.
But according to BYU economics professor James Kearl, voluntary assessments may not be realistic.
'All taxes are involuntary,' he said. 'If would volunteer to pay for something then we wouldn't need the government involved. Something could be valuable and those who might receive it would not be willing to pay for it. Everyone wants something, but private provision is undermined by free-riding.'
In other words, everyone wants a vibrant downtown but would prefer someone else foot the bill.
Businesses in the District have until Oct.15 to file an official protest at the city recorders office. If over 50 percent of properties in the proposed business district submit protests the District will not be created.