Liberty’s Downtown

A Path Forward?

Liberty’s Downtown

Lack of vision50 year decisionsAging infrastructureBudgetary constraintsLack of administration day-to-dayPart time attentionPiecemeal solutions

So this is a Long Standing Problem

Downtown Vacancies

Picture Taken Today

Is this what we are doing?

So do we just give up?

Concerned citizens / businesspeopleMembers of council ready for actionLayout of town is uniqueCentral location of town within countyChange of administration creates new energyUpcoming electionUntapped funding source

Our Strengths and Opportunties

Untapped Funding Source

Others are already using this approach

#022-000 Hospitality Tax $71,426.67 #023-000 Hospitality Tax Grant$41,720.59 #003-000 Accommodations Tax $ 3,537.95

Proposal would not spend any of these funds 

HTAX /ATAX Funds

80% of the future revenues from this one fund

20% remain for city’s useWould fund a bond over $500,000.00Pay for a basic downtown streetscaping

immediatelyNot a piecemeal solution – a comprehensive

oneMake downtown attractive and conducive to

business Increase our tax baseActually would PRODUCE NEW tax revenue

without spending any new taxpayer money

#022-000 Hospitality Tax

Liberty Idol sponsorship $10,000 per yearLiberty Idol prize money $6,000 per yearLiberty Idol to pay Costner Productions (SWP

acct)Liberty Idol equipment, storage and lightingLiberty Idol Security and portajohnsScoreboard for ball fieldGazebos almost $40,000.00 in the last three

yearsPedestrian Park (good, but piecemeal

improvement)Miscellaneous (which is scary)

Current uses of this fund

Continue grant applicationsSeek citizen inputCoordinate with Duke Power, AT&T, Northland

CableEducate local businessesUtilize CDBG funding if possibleUtilize annual County paving stipendUtilize MASC Main Street programDepartment of Commerce $6,000.00 grantsACOG expertiseCounty resources

Only part of the puzzle, however

Bottom Line

We have the resources RIGHT NOW to fix the problem, but we have to decide to do it.

Downtown’s Condition is OUR choice

Q&A?

Thank You