At the end of this month’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, there was an update to the Board from their lawyer regarding efforts in Tallahassee to end Community Redevelopment Areas. Which isn’t new. Changes were made to how CRAs operate in HB 9 in 2019. The general argument against them is that they are a misuse of taxes for pet projects and ripe for abuse.
The current language in the House Bill (HB 991) would prevent new CRAs from being created, sunset all CRAs by 2043 and the most controversial—end appropriating funds after Oct 1 2025 (FY 26). That stipulation some are hopeful will be stripped from any final bill.
And while the bill did pass out of committee on 4-3 party line vote, there’s no guarantee that it would make it through in any form. Destin’s City Council motioned Monday night to have their legislative delegation oppose the bills. They might be one of the first municipalities, but I suspect they won’t be the last. The criticisms of the bill were much stronger from the Democratic delegation on the committee. I thought this point from the lobbyist for the Florida Redevelopment Association was particularly important.
Lobbyist Ryan Matthews, representing the Florida Redevelopment Association, which includes all 213 CRAs in the state, said cities without CRAs wouldn’t be able to use TIF funding to multiply their investment dollars and significantly improve their ability to issue bonds for projects.
The Tampa CRA doesn’t issue bonds, but they do take advantage of TIF funding. The recently approved Gasworx CDD agreement is a prime example of the use of TF funding. That is, obligating future tax rebates for infrastructure work being done now. TIF funding doesn’t have to be for infrastructure however as there have been requests in the past for the use of TIF funding for housing development as well.
But that’s about future CRAs. And while there’s been debate on whether a new district for Sulphur Springs should be created, the only part of the proposed bill as written that would affect Tampa is the FY26 deadline. All of the districts in the Tampa CRA sunset by 2043 already. So this all might wind up being much ado about nothing as it relates to Tampa, it does highlight a broader issue with Tallahassee continuing chip away at the idea of “home rule”. I haven’t done enough research to hit on that issue, but year end and year out the Florida Legislature chips away at the power of local government. This year is no different.
