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Council debates downtown incentives and consistent policing as construction winds down

Clarksburg City Council · December 18, 2025

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Summary

During a work session on downtown recovery, councilors proposed B&O tax relief for a defined Central Business District, a one-time grant program for businesses affected by construction, and discussed persistent calls for consistent beat policing to improve safety and attract customers.

Clarksburg City Council discussed strategies to help downtown businesses recover as major construction finishes, focusing on incentives and policing to encourage foot traffic.

One council member proposed making the Central Business District (CBD) a B&O (business and occupation) tax-free zone for qualifying retail businesses to spur post-construction growth, saying waivers could be offset by increased retail sales tax receipts if new businesses draw customers. Council requested staff identify CBD boundaries (suggested stretch: Monticello to Chestnut along Main Pike) and produce fiscal estimates before FY2026 budget deliberations.

Separately, staff presented a draft one-time grant program for downtown businesses to address immediate construction impacts; the presenter said the grant is funded without using the general fund and will be placed on the next agenda for consideration.

Council also discussed public-safety strategies tied to downtown revitalization. Members argued a visible and consistent police presence — whether permanent beat officers or part-time courthouse/retired-officer programs — would make residents and customers feel safer and support businesses. Speakers noted operational constraints that pull officers off downtown duty and recommended exploring creative staffing (part-time officers or dedicated downtown patrol hours) and nontraditional options that would not reduce current patrol coverage in other neighborhoods.

No formal incentives ordinance was adopted at the session; council instructed staff to return with boundary maps and revenue estimates and scheduled additional work-session discussion ahead of budget season.