Proposed BID initiative for King Street defeated

Proposed BID initiative for King Street defeated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2016

BRIDGEWATER - The votes have been tabulated and a proposal to establish a Business Improvement District in Bridgewater has been defeated.

Town Council had formally greenlit the voting process on a proposal to introduce a levy on commercial properties and establish a Business Improvement District in the King Street area on May 30.

The request came from the Business Improvement District (BID) Steering Committee, which has been working with the Bridgewater Development Association and Town staff for more than two years on a BID proposal.

A total of 68 ballots were received, with 23 ballots cast in favour of the BID proposal and area rate levy, while 45 were cast against the proposal.

Voter turnout was approximately 40 per cent, as some 170 commercial property and business owners in the downtown core were eligible to vote.

A report from Town staff will go to Bridgewater Town Council at the August 8 regular Town Council meeting.