Findlay's Downtown Improvement District seeks renewal

The Downtown Findlay Improvement District is petitioning for a five-year renewal of its operations. The district notified Findlay City Council of its intent to seek the renewal in January. The special improvement district is funded through tax assessments of district members. The district then uses the money to provide services that improve downtown Findlay's safety, cleanliness and vitality. Under Ohio law, property owners in a "special improvement district" can tax themselves to pay for projects and services. In a letter to council, dated Jan. 10, Phil Rooney, district attorney, asked council to review its plans for the next five years and its budget. The state requires the improvement district to seek input from council as part of its petition for renewal. It's the first step of the renewal process, and future legislation by council will be required, Rooney said. The district was first established in 2009, and renewed in 2013 and 2020. Its budget is expected to be about $60,000 per year, with $40,000 a year paid to the city to provide services to the downtown area. In March 2023, the city of Findlay entered into an agreement with the district to provide and maintain downtown florals, Christmas lights and music, along with weeding, maintenance, beautification and snow removal along Main Street and in the downtown district. About $16,000 a year will be spent on initiatives to keep the downtown vital. The balance of the district's budget is used for organizational expenses like accounting fees and insurance.