Carra Looking Into Options for Creating Special Improvement District

By Emma Uk

RARITAN, NJ - Raritan Borough is considering dissolving the Economic Development Committee to establish a Special Improvement District downtown, but will have to work on a plan alongside the borough attorney and planner to make it a reality. 

Mayor Nicolas Carra said it's something Somerville, Flemington and a few other train towns have, a separate organization from the town that can use special tax revenues to host events and help businesses downtown, similar to a chamber of commerce, but with a better funding source. "There's a bunch of legalities to that because it does create a tax base, essentially, so it's going to take a little bit to create it," said Carra. "But then we spoke to some members of the EDC, and that was one of the things they were hoping for – they were concerned about the lack of revenues compared to other towns.”

“This is just my opinion, this is the only way we can get funding for those types of events beyond just the $30,000 we've been getting over the last couple of years,” he added.

Any businesses or residents of the town can join the organization, which will also have sub-committees, such as a marketing committee and an events committee. It also has a liaison who works directly with the county chamber, state chamber and county economic development manager. Carra said that with a revenue source like Somerville, the borough could have a full-time staff with volunteers or part-time hires since money can be an incentive.

Councilman Michael Patente said it sounds like a good idea, but he would like to get more information about how it works. "I had wanted to keep the placeholder for the Economic Development [Committee], just in case,” he said. “But if it makes sense, then I would feel better about it, rather than fully get rid of economic development. So I just want more information."