Waukesha Business Improvement District Officially Disbanding

The Waukesha Business Improvement District will officially disband after more than 59 percent of the property owners in downtown Waukesha want the special taxing district gone – despite attempts to save the BID.

The petition to dissolve the BID was presented two months ago. Despite public hearings, attempts to change the operating plan and a major property owner withdrawing from the petition, owners representing $31.6 million remained on the petition, according to Community Development Director Steve Crandell.

One hundred properties were on the petition – a total of 154 properties are in the district. The total value of the district is $52.9 million.

 “The appropriate staff will meet to develop a timeframe for the required audit of the BID, discuss and develop a recommendation for the disbursement of any BID funds or assets,” Crandell said in an email.

The petition was filed Feb. 5 after controversies and resignations plagued the board. The majority of the property owners in the downtown area signaled that they no longer wanted to be part of the special taxing district.

The BID has been in a state of upheaval for months — although some say problems have been occurring for years. After the former executive director resigned from her position citing bullying and a harassing work environment as the reason for her departure, the majority of the BID board resigned. After months of battling, the Common Council and the mayor finally came an agreement to appointment enough members and restore the board. 

The BID has existed since 1986. The Waukesha mayor appoints members to the Board of Directors, which are then approved by the Waukesha Common Council.

The special tax assessment was used to promote business growth and development in the downtown area.