Posted: | June 20, 2017 09:50 AM |
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From: | Representative Scott A. Petri |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Creates Cultural Improvement Districts |
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce my legislation that amends the Neighborhood Improvement District Act into its own chapter in Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) and expands the act to allow for the creation of cultural improvement districts. Cultural districts help municipalities generate revenue through tourist dollars. They provide numerous economic benefits relating to employment and to capital investment. They also provide many social and educational opportunities, including exposure to arts and cultural programming. Statewide cultural district programs are established in 15 states and more states are considering implementation of such policies. The approach in my bill differs from the state programs because it sets up a framework for local options and local control, whereby the people who live/work in a community make the decisions that affect their quality of life. The communities that want to establish a CID will use this bill to create an advisory committee that will explore options to create and maintain district. The bill also enables a local funding mechanism through local taxing options that must be approved through a referendum vote. Last session, this was House Bill 1490, which the House adopted and sent to the Senate. The bill and summary is available here: http://ldpc6.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BS/2015/0/HB1490P2542.pdf Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1676