Bill > S2065

This bill establishes Community Benefit Districts (CBDs), which are defined geographic areas within cities and towns that can provide supplemental services beyond standard government services. A CBD is managed by a non-profit corporation, the CBD Corporation, which receives funds and implements the district's purposes. These districts are initiated by a petition from property owners within the proposed area, outlining the boundaries, the CBD Corporation's details, and an Initial Management Plan detailing proposed supplemental services, programs, and a fee structure. The local municipal governing body, such as a city council or board of selectmen, holds a public hearing on the petition and can then declare the district organized. Property owners within the CBD are required to pay a "CBD Fee," a payment for services or improvements specified in the management plan, with potential waivers for financial hardship. The bill also details the powers of a CBD Corporation, including economic development, property management, and fundraising, as well as procedures for amending district boundaries and dissolving the CBD, ensuring all outstanding obligations are met. Importantly, participation in a CBD is permanent until dissolution, and the bill allows for CBDs to include non-contiguous areas or span multiple municipalities, with provisions for differing circumstances in each area.