THERE ARE NO CRAs IN ZONE 1, SO WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

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Each year, millions of your tax dollars plop into the Community Redevelopment Authority.  These dollars would be available citywide, in the General Fund, if CRAs successfully addressed their blight and ceased to exist.    Additionally $3M will become available each year with the final payment to CRA debt service. 

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ISSUES:

1. The CRAs are 17-27 years old and have received over a hundred million of your tax dollars.  They have proven unsuccessful in eliminating the blighted conditions they were created to address.

2. There is inadequate oversight of how the money is being spent or of how revenues are distributed.  The annual report has very high level views of expenditures but the most current version available is FY 2016.

3.  CRA activities permitted in the Comprehensive Plan may no longer be useful in addressing blight.

4.  There is an inequitable distribution of project manager time. 

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POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS:

1. Expand the CRA board to include four citizen members and meet on a regular basis, not only as needed.

2. Expand the role of the boards to include regular review of current revenues and expenditures.

3. Review the Comprehensive Plan to adjust the guidelines for permitted activity.

4. Set annual specific goals for each CRA and hold the City Manager accountable to meet them.

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To learn more about CRAs:

CRA Basics - Basic facts about CRAs

Florida Redevelopment Association Videos - To see lots of amazing CRA projects, in other cities

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