Downtown Troy BID secures assessment increase and council backing in budget talks

Leaders of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District urged the city council to approve an increase to the BID assessment that the BID board had voted to request, and council members included support for the BID in budget amendments and funding decisions.

"Our board voted for a 10% assessment increase because that level of support would allow us to sustain the services our businesses rely on," Olivia Clemente, executive director of the Downtown Troy BID, told the council during public comment. Clemente said the BID can help drive foot traffic, manage downtown events and assist small businesses.

Evelyn Preston, the BID’s director of marketing, described limited staffing resources and asked the council for support so the BID can expand services; Tom Grant, a local business advocate, also praised the organization’s role in downtown resurgence. Council members and the administration said they worked closely with BID leaders and negotiated a funding path that the council majority advanced in committee and approved in the special meeting.

Council members framed the measure as a way to sustain a partner that supports the downtown tax base. After committee amendments and a subsequent special meeting, the council adopted the budget and ordinance changes that implement the assessment and related support; several council members who had been engaged in negotiations said their involvement spanned months of talks with the BID board.

Olivia Clemente returned to the council after the committee vote to thank members for passing the BID amendment.