Support Your Local Small Businesses & Neighbors!

Save Your Local Small Businesses from this Predatory tax

Please ask the City Council to stop this additional tax on property owners in Old Town. Tell them that this proposal should be withdrawn. We defeated it before, and we can do it again. See this link for the guiding legislation. Here are some of its more problematic details:

1. BISD's 10% Tax Hike Plan

   The BISD will increase real estate taxes almost 10% by increasing the proposed rate of $1.12 by another $0.10.

2. BISD: Duplication or Redundancy?

   The BISD does not replace City Services, but duplicates many services we already pay for, including marketing by Visit Alexandria and Economic Development by Alexandria Economic Development Partnership. Both are already fully funded by taxes in the city.

3. BISD Overlooks Existing Collaborations

   There is no proposal for the BISD to work with other groups that already run events, like the Torpedo Factory, Volunteer Alexandria, Ballyshaners (Irish Festival), or the City of Alexandria. The BISD proposes to run events, however the likelihood is that they would only work to promote events that help their members.

4. BISD's Million-Dollar Mystery

   The BISD is not offering a list of benefits to property owners, and no strategic or marketing plan. A third of the budget will be used for administration. Decisions will be made by five already existing board members who will handpick eight additional board members, who decide how the money they collect will be spent. Their proposal will give control of $1 million in taxpayer dollars to a small group of people.

5. Small Businesses: Unsung Heroes

   Small Businesses already pay a 6% Sales Tax and contribute significantly to revenue for the city.

6. BISD's Hidden Organizational Details

   No bylaws have been made public, so the details of the organization are hidden.

7. BISD's Rushed Proposal Approach

   The presentation of the proposal has been too rushed and there is not time enough to consider the proposal or unintended consequences. The proposal began with a six month “quiet” period where proponents sought support from large property owners first, leaving some small locally owned businesses out of the conversation. Then there was only a two-day notice given by press release (on Feb. 13th) before the first presentation to the public, not enough time for many people to attend.

8. BISD's Diversity Goals: Hollow?

   There is no plan to create stronger incentives for diverse business ownership even though diversity is a proposed goal of the BISD. The City recently tried to create grants for B.I.P.O.C. businesses, because many of those businesses missed out on grants distributed by the city during the pandemic.

9. Old Town Association's Membership Mystery

   The Old Town Business Association does not list its current members. There are 450 properties in the proposed district and there needs to be 270 or 60% in order for the City Council to consider the proposal.

10. BISD Tax: Irreversible Damage?

    Taxes are rarely repealed once in place, so the proposal should be considered carefully. The BID could have a detrimental effect on the number of small businesses in Old Town.