More questions? Email treasurer@stlhills.com.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
We had hoped to get a newsletter in everyone’s mailboxes before they got the notice, but longer than expected lead times with our newsletter created a delay. Here’s an article from that upcoming newsletter:
Letter from the “Special Business District Steering Committee”
As noted in the Fall St Louis Hills Neighborhood Association (SLHNA) newsletter, a group of SLHNA members began the process of researching to see if a Special Business District (SBD) could be a viable option to assist our community in supplementing declining city service offerings. As you may be aware, the City of Louis Parks department ceased landscape maintenance in Francis Park in 2022. Since the park is a centerpiece of our community and holds various community events, local organizations led by St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association Friends of Francis Park, and Grub n Groove all worked together to privately finance regular recurring grass cutting so our park could serve the needs of its community and look great for all of its events. This was a major unexpected expense for all these organizations that was not expected in their original 2022 budgets but all agreed to take on since the park is vital part of our community. This remains an ongoing problem for 2023 and beyond which is why focus shifted to exploring possibility of Special Business District in effort to ensure that our local parks receive the attention they need to meet the needs of the community.
Additionally, in 2022, due to an uptick in neighborhood crime, the AwareNet security project was tested out on a trial basis and the feedback received by the SLHNA was significantly positive and residents wanted it to help supplement a perceived lack of police resources in our area. The folks running the AwareNet project are trying to rely on donations in 2023 to bring back services to the community but need substantial amount of donations before they will engage a security firm. A SPD would allow costs to be spread out to the entire community rather than rely on voluntary contributions.
These are just two examples of how a Special Business District could help serve our community in a positive way. Besides those two items, there other things this district could do. However, as you all know, there is a cost to everything. A SPD would be funded as an additional tax that is part of your annual real estate tax bill. All funds collected for a SBD have to be spent in the boundaries of that SBD, so you can be assured that unlike other collected taxes that may be spent elsewhere, everything collected would be spent 100% for benefit our community. A SBD is required to have open annual meetings and community engagement and feedback to help understand what the community needs. SLHNA engaged Park Central Development to help explore this option for us and will be assisting in community engagement. Park Central sent out the letter that most of you received in the mail today and they will help ensure that all voices are heard on this endeavor. After receiving support from our alderman, Tom Oldenburg, Park Central prepared a petition, submitted by Tom for the Board of Alderman to begin the formal process which would culminate in a future election, quite possibly via special election, in August 2023. If the measure is passed at a future election in 2023, the tax would be part of the residents 2023 real estate tax bill which means that the SBD would start operating in 2024. The cost of the SBD would be determined after community engagement meetings, but for planning purposes, to at least cover park upkeep and additional neighborhood security, an initial SBD tax would be assessed at .35 per $100 of assessed value, so if your residence is appraised by City Assessor at $350,000, your assessed value is $66,500 and your SBD portion of your RE tax bill would be $233. This would generate around $500,000 of funds annually for the SBD.
The Ways and Means Committee invite is just the first of many upcoming opportunities to express your support or against this measure. We invite all residents to attend the SLHNA general meeting at Bishop DuBourg at 7PM on February 16, 2023 to listen to presentation and ask questions. Additionally, please feel free to send questions to treasurer@stlhills.com. We will continue to post information as this process develops so please stay tuned for more information.”
Tom Bené