By Emory Morsberger, including contributions from Georgia’s 30 Community Improvement Districts
Did you know the roundabout that eases your daily commute, the sidewalk you stroll down for lunch or that inviting green space in the middle of your city might not be the result of your local government? In fact, they could very well be the result of a Community Improvement District (CID)? Across Georgia, these self-taxing districts—formed and funded by commercial property owners—are delivering real, measurable improvements in infrastructure, mobility, beautification and redevelopment. And they’re doing it faster, more efficiently and more strategically than many traditional public funding mechanisms will allow.
Georgia’s first CID was established in 1988, when business leaders in Cobb County formed the Cumberland CID to address growing traffic and area infrastructure needs. Since then, the model has expanded across the state and more than 30 active CIDs are operating in Georgia today, collectively investing over $1.5 billion in locally generated funds that have leveraged more than $5 billion in additional infrastructure and economic development investments.
At the heart of the CID model is a simple idea: property owners know what their community needs, and they’re willing to invest in making it happen, ultimately resulting in increased property values across the district. By using a small additional property tax on commercial properties within their boundaries, CIDs create a pool of funding that stays local—supporting infrastructure, transit and mobility projects that improve quality of life, attract businesses and drive long-term economic success. These districts also work closely with city, county, regional and state agencies—including the Georgia Department of Transportation, MARTA, the Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority and local governments—to deliver projects through powerful public-private partnerships.
CIDs come in all shapes and sizes. Some cover vast urban corridors while others serve smaller suburban or industrial areas, but size doesn’t determine impact. Even the smallest CIDs are driving meaningful change in their communities, and many districts are looking to expand their boundaries to meet growing demand, strengthening their ability to improve infrastructure and support new economic development.
Continue reading in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.