OGDEN — The Ogden City Council voted to renew and extend a special assessment area that is expected to generate $120,000 a year for downtown events.
The assessment will collect about $1,632 per $1 million of property valuation yearly from all business owners between the Ogden River and 28th Street and between Adams and Wall avenues.
Funds from the assessment area will continue to be allocated to Downtown Ogden Inc., a nonprofit organization that contributes money to a variety of activities, such as the Ogden Farmers Market, Ogden Marathon and Ogden Arts Festival.
The assessment has previously been evaluated and renewed on a yearly basis, but now the assessment period will be extended to three years, with a review coming when that time is up.
Several property owners within the assessment area have protested the tax, saying it’s arbitrary and that not all property owners in the area benefit from it.
“We receive no benefit from the activities taking place on 25th Street,” said Richard Reese, who owns Standard Plumbing Supply Company at 1970 Wall Ave.
“If the city’s goal is economic growth in Ogden, then help all business owners, not just the mega-corporations or people selling their goods through street markets, parades and art festivals.”
The assessment area was established in 1994 and currently levies about $175,000 per year against businesses, based on property values.
However, because some businesses don’t pay, the city collects only about $120,000 annually.
The city also allocates $23,000 from its general fund and pays Downtown Ogden Inc. an additional $180,000 annually for other contracts associated with downtown activities.
The assessment will become effective immediately. Residential property owners will not be assessed.
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