Garnering BID support
States have varying requirements in the amount of business community approval needed for BID formation. However, all BID supporters want to ensure that their organizations have sufficient support to survive the formation process and flourish in years to come.
Elizabeth Jackson, president of the International Downtown Association, Washington, D.C., the leading membership organization representing BIDs and their managers, suggests the following two-pronged test as the “soundest option” for proving support. * Make sure that 51 percent of all downtown owners of record support the project. If there are 100 property owners, at least 51 should support the BID, even if 10 own more than half of the assessed property values. * Furthermore, the potential BID should secure support from owners of at least 51 percent of the total assessed value of the district’s commercial property. For example, if the value of downtown property is $100 million, BID supporters should own at least $51 million of that amount.
If the BID sponsors can secure that degree of support in both groups, then the organization will have a strong foundation, Jackson says.
