(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

SEVEN PER CENT LEVY INCREASE

City council approves 2025 Downtown Business Association Budget

Dec 3, 2024 | 11:42 AM

City council approved the Downtown Business Association’s (DBA) 2025 budget during their regular meeting Dec. 2, which includes a seven per cent levy increase.

DBA board chair Brandon Bouchard said in his report to council that “absolutely everything has been done to keep this budget as low as possible,” regarding the increase.

The budget was approved unanimously by the DBA board of directors, save for one member that abstained from the vote, and equates to $297,000, with $19,275 funded through the Business Improvement Area (BIA) levy. The remaining is funded through things like grants and contracts.

Amanda Gould, DBA executive director, added that a planned review of the downtown governance model will be critical for the DBA to move forward.

“As we look forward to 2025, I prepared the proposed operating budget with the knowledge we are going to be utilizing the DBA’s remaining $60,000 in reserve funds to offset our initiatives instead of increasing the burden on our business community beyond what is unavoidable — meaning the current status quo cannot extend past 2025,” said Gould. “Should there be no progress in the reimagining of downtown governance, the DBA will not exist in its current format past 2025.”

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Some of the notable factors that contributed to the 2025 bottom line include: reduced revenues due to expired or renegotiated contracts; savings through reduced service levels; increased expenses due to an added part time marketing position; and a draw of $65,447 from operating reserves to cover some of these changes.

Despite the struggles faced by the DBA, Gould highlighted some of the accomplishments of the organization over 2024, including:

• 14 DBA-led events
• 20 DBA supported community events
• Two large-scale Ross Street Patio parties
• 60 musical performances on Ross Street Patio
• 20 farmers markets

For 2025, Gould said the most exciting project will be the launch of a downtown gift card.

“That is going to be absolutely key: a key part of what we focus on and a key part in generating revenue for the downtown, and really just providing more opportunities for consumers to spend and more reasons to visit the downtown,” Gould said.

The BIA was established in 1983 and there are approximately 400 businesses within that area today. The DBA and its board of directors endeavour to provide a healthy atmosphere of business development and social and cultural improvements for this area.