Downtown Committee outlines special-assessment-funded services, grants and programming for Downtown Syracuse

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse presented an overview of the programs and budget supported by the downtown special assessment during a meeting of the Syracuse Common Council meeting, emphasizing maintenance, security, events, economic development and grant-funded projects.

The presentation, delivered by the Downtown Committee’s executive director, explained how the 82-block special assessment district (bounded roughly by I-690 to the north, the I-81 viaduct to the east, Adams Street to the south and Onondaga Creek to the west) funds staff and services while grants, sponsorships and event revenue supplement operations.

According to the executive director, the committee employs a professional staff of more than 20 people and is governed by a mayor-appointed board of directors. Eleven of 15 board seats must be paid assessment holders. The board oversees programming funded by the special assessment and makes budget recommendations to the mayor.

Most visible services funded wholly or in part by the assessment include environmental maintenance (litter pickup, graffiti removal, sidewalk flushing, seasonal snow assistance and summer landscaping),…