CHARLESTON,S.C.(WCBD)–KingStreetbusinessownersgavetheirfeedbacktoCharlestonCityCouncilonaplanthatthecitysayswouldimprovetheKingStreetexperience.Somebusinessessaytheplanwouldcostthemmoneyforthingsthecityshouldbehandling. “Whyisn’tlivabilitydoingtheirjobandwhyareyouaskingmetopaymoretaxes?”saysHarrisCohen,OwnerofKingStreetCookies. CharlestoncityleadersheardobjectionsandcommentsfromKingStreetbusinessownersabouttheBusinessImprovementDistrict(BID)plans.MayorJohnTecklenburgsaysthiswouldaddbeautificationandsafetyamenitiesthatwouldenhancethearea. “Itwillkeepitcleaner,saferandhelpallkindsofdailychallengesthatpresentthemselvesinarealbusybusinessdistrict,”saysMayorTecklenburg. TheBIDplansaresettocostnearly$11millionover10-yearsandcreateaspecialfeeassessedtopropertyownersinadditiontotheirnormaltaxes.Somebusinessownerssaytheydisapproveofthathappening. “Ireallydon’tlikeincreasingourtaxes.Iwouldrathertakeapercentageofourexistingtaxestogivetothisagencytoseeiftheydoagoodjobforayear,ortwoorthreewhateveritis,”saysoneowner. SuePrennerandherhusbandhaveruntheirbusinessonKingStreetformorethan40years.Prennerwantscitycouncilmemberstolookatusingcitybudgetmoneyfortheimprovements. “Wedon’tbelievethatnon-governmentalagenciesshoulddofunctionsthatareallocatedthroughtaxpayerfunds,tothecity,”saysPrenner. MayorTecklenburgsaystokeepupwiththegrowingcentralbusinessdistrictaddingthesemeasureswillmakeitamoreenjoyableareaforpeoplewhoworkorvisittheHolyCity. “WewanttoprovideextraservicetobusinessthatoccurshereinordertomakeKingStreetanessentialbusinessdistrict,asgreatasitcanbe,”hesays. CitycouncilwillgooverthebusinessobjectionsatnextTuesday’scitycouncilmeeting. Sourcelink

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