(1) Existing tax rates in many municipalities are at or near their statutory cap.

(2) The General Fund revenue derived from these taxes many times is not sufficient to provide adequate municipal services or additional services needed in specific geographic areas within the municipality, including, but not limited to, downtown commercial districts.

(3) As a result, municipalities should be encouraged to create, where feasible and desired, assessment-based neighborhood improvement districts which would include, but not be limited to, downtown commercial districts. Designated district management associations would initiate and administer programs to promote and enhance more attractive and safer commercial, industrial, residential and mixed-use neighborhoods; economic growth; increased employment opportunities; and improved commercial, industrial, business districts and business climates.

(4) Municipalities should be given the broadest possible discretion in establishing by local ordinance the type of assessment-based programs most consistent with neighborhood needs, goals and objectives as determined and expressed by property owners in the designated district.