The Special Meeting of the High Point City Council on September 22, 2025, focused on the presentation of municipal service districts, led by Budget Performance Director Stephen Howarluk. The meeting began with Howarluk addressing the council and providing context for the discussion, which has been a recurring topic in previous retreats and budget deliberations.

Howarluk explained that municipal service districts, also known as business improvement districts (BIDs), are defined areas within a city where an additional property tax is levied. The revenue generated from this tax is intended to fund enhanced services within the district, rather than replacing existing services. For example, if garbage collection occurs once a week, the funds could be used to increase it to twice a week, but not to cover the cost of the existing weekly service.

The presentation outlined the process and requirements for establishing a municipal service district, which includes creating an official report that details the proposed district's boundaries, the need for additional services, and a plan for providing those services. This report must be made available for public inspection for a minimum of four weeks.

Howarluk emphasized the importance of these districts in enhancing community services and provided a potential timeline for implementation should the council decide to move forward with establishing a municipal service district in High Point.

The meeting concluded with a clear understanding of the next steps needed to explore the establishment of a municipal service district, highlighting the council's commitment to improving services for residents and businesses in the area.