Downtown Camrose: The City of Camrose's Business Improvement Area
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a specific and defined area in a community where businesses pool resources to work together, through a formal association, to improve and promote their area. All businesses in the area belong to the BIA and are required to pay their tax levy for the BIA.
BIA's are established by a local Bylaw and regulated according to the Municipal Government Act Regulations. The bylaw defines the physical boundary of the BIA, the BIA's name, and the purpose and some processes of the BIA. It also confirms the number of directors on the board, how long they can serve, and how roles on the board are filled. Under the MGA regulations, all board members are appointed by Council and the BIA budget must be approved by Council.
The BIA's Board of Directors is responsible for the administration of the BIA. Board members must be nominated by the business members of the BIA. The board develops the BIAs' annual operation's plan and submits the BIA’s budget to the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Once passed at the AGM, the budget and operation plan is submitted to city council for approval.
Council notifies all businesses in the BIA of the budget deliberation and bylaw consideration each year and every business has the opportunity to attend Council to speak to either or both the budget and the bylaw. Once the budget and the Business Area Tax Bylaw is approved by Council, the City sends tax notices to all businesses in the BIA. The City collects the levy and transfers it to the BIA, Downtown Camrose.
For more information on the work that Downtown Camrose does, please visit their website.
BIA Area Map
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