What Is a CID?

A Community Improvement District (CID) is a self-taxing district which uses its revenue to improve a district through the facilitation of various projects and initiatives in an effort to bolster economic development. CIDs are comprised of private, taxable, commercial and/or industrial properties. Residential and multi-family properties are not eligible to participate in a CID.

CIDs are one of the most powerful and successful public-private partnerships used today, which consist of businesses, governments, and communities working collaboratively with a joint vision for the district.

Community Improvement Districts are formed through the enactment of a resolution by a local governing bodies. Prior to enactment, the County's Tax Commissioner must certify the required CID formation criteria has been met. The Georgia Constitution sets forth a simple majority, 51%, of CID-eligible property owners must consent to participating in the CID, and those property owners must represent 75% of the total value of CID-eligible properties in order to be eligible for formation.

CID revenue is determined based on the assessed value of the participating properties assessed by the millage rate set by the CID's Board of Directors and participating CID members. CID funds are collected by the County's Tax Commissioner office and disbursed to the CID’s Board of Directors.

The CID Board of Directors consists of property owners within the district who are elected by the district’s property owners and appointed by the Board of Commissioners and/or City the CID's boundary is within. A CID's Board of Directors have full authority over the use of these funds, but must direct the funds to one or more of the following uses:

1. Street and road construction and maintenance
2. Parks and recreational areas and facilities
3. Storm water and sewage
4. Development, storage, treatment, etc. of water
5. Public transportation
6. Parking, terminal and dock facilities
7. Other services and facilities i.e. Public safety