A special downtown taxing district, tax increment financing and general revenue support from the City of DeKalb are possible funding sources for the Downtown DeKalb Council.

The newly developed DDC will look into revitalizing the downtown business district.

DeKalb’s Economic Development Commission sponsored its final Downtown revitalization meeting Thursday at Matthew Boone’s Restaurant, 122 South First St. Future meetings will be sponsored by a steering committee formed to discuss Downtown revitalization issues.

Steering Committee member Larry Beaty said the committee had identified possible funding sources for the DDC’s revitalization efforts.

A special service taxing district might support the “day-to-day” operations of the DDC, Beaty said.

Matthew Boone’s owner Don Kirshner said he would support a special taxing district. “Speaking as a property owner, I definitely think it’s a necessary thing if landlord’s are not taxed too heavily.”

Kirshner said tenants also should provide funding to the project. With “help and cooperation” from downtown businesses and landlords, the project “will get off the ground and follow to a successful conclusion.”

TIF funds might be used for one-time capital projects, Beaty said. Since the level of TIF funding varies yearly, it cannot be used to support day-to-day efforts of the DDC, he said.

Under TIF, a portion of the state’s sales tax is reallocated to DeKalb. City Manager Mark Stevens said downtown DeKalb is included in the city’s TIF district.

Steering Committee Chairman Lance Hansen said funding for the DDC should be shared between property owners, retailers and the city.

ansen said the steering committee has established general goals for revitalizing DeKalb, including attracting, improving and preserving commercial districts. He said the committee will establish specific goals in future meetings.

Economic Development Commission Chairman Don Urech said he would like to see more student input into revitalization efforts.