The Thornbury Business Improvement Area (BIA) board has decided to waive its member levy to help area businesses recover from COVID-19 closures.
“This is the best way we can help our members at this financially challenging time, and will finance what initiatives we feel necessary from our surplus of $90,000,” said BIA board chair, George Matamoros.
At a recently held BIA board meeting, the board of management decided to submit a budget for council’s approval, which includes no levy amount for 2020.
Matamoros says at a rough estimate, the BIA initiatives will amount to approximately $65,000, which will limit the BIA’s ability to make capital investments going forward.
“We anticipate that 2021 will still be a difficult year for our members and we may be looking at a reduced levy,” he continued.
In order to reduce some of its expenditures, the Thornbury BIA has decided to cut back on the flower baskets in the downtown area by 20 per cent.
“Our main priority is to have the town looking its best as visitors begin to return,” Matamoros said.
Matamoros will be presenting a deputation to the Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM) council next week with an ask for financial support to assist in watering the lamp post flower baskets.
“Watering the baskets is a major expense in our budget. Last year, the parks department charged $22,389.50 for watering. Hopefully, with the reduction in the number of flowers this charge will be lower in 2020,” Matamoros said.
Matamoros is set to present the ask to the TBM council on June 15.
