To the editor:

Probably like many readers, I was unaware that our state Legislature has lately approved a new kind of taxing district until a recent (May 2) article in the Journal-World pointed that out. Called a “Community Improvement District,” its new twist is that, whereas before, tax revenues had to be used for genuine public good that all can use — street improvements, etc. — now tax revenues can be used to defray private expenses of developers (including advertising, beautification and embellishments, security, etc.). Who will be watching to enforce any restrictions at all on the revenue’s use?

It is a dubious and dangerous move to so extend taxing power that it pays private persons for their business endeavors. And whatever happened to the entrepreneurial risk-taking that was supposed to justify large monetary returns?

Still more dubious is that there is no requirement to notify patrons of the special districts that they will pay a larger tax. Without that, it cannot be said that persons are “agreeing to tax themselves” to pay for the supposed benefits. The tax would then constitute a hidden extra profit for developers, since it would reduce their costs.

I suppose there is also no mechanism to ensure that the new “benefits” are not really chain stores that will tend to put homegrown businesses out? And what about letting the people at least have a say by voting on this?