About the Downtown Wrenford Business Improvement Area
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a designated zone where local businesses work together to fund projects that boost the area. The Downtown Wrenford BIA raises money from businesses inside the zone to pay for promotions, events, street beautification, and other community projects. The City of Wrenford collects the BIA tax on behalf of the BIA and passes the funds directly to them.
How your BIA assessment is calculated
Your BIA tax bill is based on the value of the space your business occupies. The City looks at the typical net annual rental value for similar commercial spaces in the downtown core. This rate is set every year using rental market data from the previous July 1. We multiply that rate by the total square footage of your business space to figure out your share of the BIA budget. This value is for tax purposes only and does not reflect how well your business is making money.
Receiving and paying your tax bill
BIA assessment and tax notices are mailed to all downtown businesses in February. The full payment is due on March 31. The bill shows your assessed premises value and details the review period if you disagree with the amount.
Monthly payment plan
If you prefer to pay in smaller amounts, you can join the BIA Tax Monthly Payment Plan. Your monthly tax amount will be withdrawn directly from your bank account on the first business day of each month. This plan helps you avoid late-payment penalties. When you enroll, your first withdrawal will cover the current year's taxes up to that month, plus any unpaid taxes from previous years and a small one-time administration fee. You can join at any time between January 1 and December 31.
Late payment penalties
If your payment is not received by March 31, a 5% penalty is added on April 1. An additional 1.25% is added each month until the balance is paid in full.
Disagreeing with your assessment
If you believe your assessed value does not match the typical rental rate for your space, you can request a review. The City offers a free staff review process for businesses that dispute their BIA tax assessment. You do not need to pay a formal complaint fee to start this review. Contact us during the review period listed on your tax bill, and a staff member will look at your property details with you.
Contact and related information
For questions about your specific BIA tax bill or to request a payment plan form, call 311 inside the city or 519-555-0100 from outside. For details on how the BIA spends its funds, contact the Downtown Wrenford BIA directly.