Discussion of community redevelopment agencies resumed at the Brevard County Board of Commissioners May 9 meeting.
Commissioners argued about the agencies at several meetings in April, with some wanting to abolish them on the basis they devour tax money needed for other purposes and are unaccountable, while others supported their mission of fighting urban blight.
At an April 13 workshop, commissioners decided to negotiate individual agreements with the various CRAs in the county that will address concerns about funding and oversight.
“We need to come up with parameters we can live with and they can live, something to finish their plans whether three, six or eight years,” said Commission Chairman Curt Smith. “A finite time is a big plus. That’s been my goal since the beginning.”
Commissioner Kristine Isnardi said, “For me I would like to see CRAs sunset in 20 years and that plans be for five years.” The extra years would account for paying off debt service.
Commissioner John Tobia, an ardent critic of the agencies, cautioned that the county has little leverage in such matters because of existing state statutes. “We would have to ask for something to bind the CRAs.”
Added Scott Knox, the county attorney, “The way they can get around [having a sunset date] . . . is to issue debt and take it out 30 years.” Under those circumstances, if an agency was using property tax money to service a long-term debt, it would have to remain in existence and could launch new projects which would extend its life still further.
Another recommendation was to prohibit new debt for existing CRAs, but Commission Vice Chair Rita Pritchett pointed out that this might hamstring planned projects. The Cocoa Beach CRA would need to issue new debt to construct its proposed parking garage, as an example.
“With Cocoa Beach, we can have no new debt beyond 14 years,” Smith said. “Other than Cocoa Beach, we can have no new debt.”
The discussion then turned to surplus money and the county needs. Critics have long complained CRAs, which are run by independent boards and have specific local goals, consume tax revenue needed for county infrastructure projects.
“Many CRAs receive more money than they have debt,” said Tobia, arguing that any extra funds should go to the county. Smith said the extra money should go to fixing county roads within the boundaries of the agencies.
Other recommendations were that any new CRAs should be based not on length of time but what it intends to accomplish; that CRAs be required to have a long-term comprehensive business plan; and that they provide an estimate for how long each project will take to complete.
In coming up with suggestions, Interim County Manager Frank Abbate and his staff looked at CRA legislation floated this year in Tallahassee.
None of that legislation was approved but he said some of the ideas proposed were worthy of incorporating.
“Let’s give Mr. Abbate the tools to get this done,” Smith said of the idea to negotiate separate agreements with each of the CRAs.
