HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-19 Public Comment - D. Schliem (on behalf of the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce) - Parks District Mill LevyFrom:Daryl Schliem
To:Agenda
Cc:Chris Mehl; Andrea Surratt; Terry Cunningham; Cyndy Andrus; ihopomeroy.bozeman@gmail.com; Jeff Krauss
Subject:[SENDER UNVERIFIED]Parks Bond Decision - Ask for Delay in final decision
Date:Monday, December 02, 2019 3:05:17 PM
Commissioners,
Tonight a decision is being made to parks and trails special district. At this time we would ask the
commission to delay any type of new taxes to be put on the back of the Business Community and
Residences.
The main concern is that as “we plan for a more livable, affordable , more connected city, we are
eliminating the affordable portion of this statement.
We have just been hit with a significant increase in property tax, water rates, sewer rates,
stormwater rates, street and tree rates, property appraisal values by 30% in some cases.
We have talked to several business and residence that have seen a 40% + increase in property tax
bill.
We also need to keep in mind that we have the $39 M Public Safety building, the remainder of the
$120 M second high school bonds and a possible 9th elementary school in May of 2020 that will hit
our tax bills in the next couple years.
Other questions that still seem unanswered are the HOA parks that all businesses are being asked to
support. Why would we take over HOA responsibilities, when there are avenues to bring into
compliance.
As we continue to pass parks bonds and trail bonds, it is never taken into consideration the labor,
equipment and cost of upkeeping them, which brings us to our current short fall in funds to maintain
parks.
The main concern is that as “we plan for a more livable, affordable , more connected city, we are
eliminating the affordable portion of this statement.
The three issues facing the business community, Workforce/Affordable Housing, Workforce
Transportation and Workforce Quality Daycare, we would hope that the City of Bozeman’s efforts
would start to align more in addressing real issues affecting our business climate and not continue to
send conflicting messages. (Affordable housing is the complete opposite spectrum of Public Art or
Parks district taxes, but we continue to push both agendas as the 3rd quarter report reflects)
It is not that businesses do not like parks, trails or connectivity, it just seems that we are pushing an
agenda in solving things that make us feel good, than working on the real issues we currently face in
keeping our businesses moving forward.
I apologize for not being able to make it tonight to discuss in person, but would hope the
commission would pull together a business and community stakeholder meetings to discuss a
solution that we all come up with and I am offering to assist in facilitating such meetings.
Daryl
Daryl W. Schliem
CEO
Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce
Bozeman Covention and Visitors Bureau
Gallatin County Tourism Business Improvement District
406-922-0448
www.bozemanchamber.com
www.bozemancvb.com