Baltimore City has proposed a new special tax district that would stretch from the Inner Harbor to Fells Point.
The Waterfront Benefits District, a quasi-public agency with the authority to tax businesses in some of the most popular tourist spots in the city, was to be proposed to the Baltimore City Council on Monday night. The agency will be charged with providing extra amenities, including security, trash pickup and marketing. The district would cover the city?s waterfront from Rash Field near the Rusty Scupper restaurant to Bonds Pier in Fells Point.
The bill, sponsored by Mayor Sheila Dixon?s administration, will create taxing districts different from the city?s existing authorities in Charles Village and Mount Vernon.
“Only business will be taxed; residential homeowners will not be affected” said Andrew Frank, deputy mayor for neighborhoods and economic development.
Franks said extra taxes would be approximately 15 to 17 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The Greater Baltimore Committee in its 2003 report initially proposed the need for a new district.
“It found the management of the Inner Harbor was fragmented,” said Gene Bracken, spokesman for the GBC. “Lots of different agencies were managing the Inner Harbor, and there needed to be more coordination.”
Former Deputy Mayor Julie Schwartz said the plan for the district was formalized during the administration of former Mayor Martin O?Malley through a series of meetings with waterfront business owners.
“We met with businesses throughout the waterfront area, and the consensus was more needed to be done,” Schwartz said.
She said some of the proposed services are now being provided through the Waterfront Management Partnership and funded through voluntary contributions.
“Things have been going well,” she said.
Jeremy Fennema, president of the Fells Point Development Corp., which represents waterfront business owners, said the new district has the support of his membership.
“One of the biggest things we get requests for is additional trash cleanup and landscaping services and guides,” he said.
Fennema said the higher tax rateswould be offset by increased business in Fells Point.
“Higher taxes [are] always a concern, but all the business owners agree it will generate more business in the long run,” he said.
