New Community Benefit Districts Spark Controversy

From today's BeyondChron,

Two new Community Benefit Districts (CBDs) located in the Fillmore and Mid-Market neighborhoods moved forward yesterday, but only after enduring unusually contentious hearings that raised questions about their formation process. CBDs, which levy a tax on property owners, then direct the revenue towards improvements in the community, have until this point represented rare instances of broad consensus in often fractious neighborhoods. It appears that neither the Fillmore or Mid-Market CBDs will be sailing such calm waters, however, as accusations of trying to rush both proposals at the expense of adequate community outreach were leveled at the CBD organizers yesterday. The next obstacle for the CBDs comes today, when the full Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to allow these districts to take the next step towards formation.

In order to be formed, CBDs must first prove that 30 percent of property owners in the area are interested in the idea. The Board of Supervisors must then authorize an election to take place in the community, the result of which will determine whether the CBD will move forward or not. [more...]

Two SF Neighborhoods elect to tax themselves [SFHomeBlog]