[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6164582,"mediaKeyId","5428066-93a9e4857c04b336e0f2e1e1b5dcc569","parentId",5428066,"title","Eustis CRA advances preliminary 2025–26 budget including coordinator post and $140,000 for master-plan implementation","audioSeconds",468,"startMs",651000,"endMs",1119000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428066-93a9e4857c04b336e0f2e1e1b5dcc569&start=651&end=1119","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428066-93a9e4857c04b336e0f2e1e1b5dcc569/thumbnail_651000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164582/Florida/Eustis-CRA-advances-preliminary-202526-budget-including-coordinator-post-and-140000-for-master-plan-implementation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164582-39dafcb2bf8e314aad09fda8ae61088a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773521941&Signature=mZTzQYWqjIyqeCb0hAb0yyVUrHRwnTB7oEYVdKBSHv6H7GRgBpKjnrrvBE1Mnq5mORs1U2dZlpc~ksFZsbOTdbcs4j5OOhEABV64cSMzU8u9eunc7J0xSQ7uG204mKSIeO~SCti-feId1C9W9a6AHXWLlRx55Woo4BpuSU~fRSCt6cM4jH0YBN1cFE8YB~jc8s~reRd6DcHMuDFi2caTNvsLk-G1dRCY53inyiJ58QDfkyyMkFIQ7uFa-ePBE7CI8nIzq5OlA8aS3y~impOuolf1QPzViTW-OeCqVw9QvdjoyeOi0rH9TAA6qFr23vw75gbjvyOln4CVn9KwBYXVtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Eustis, FL","date","2025-07-18T10:00:20Z","article","The Eustis Community Redevelopment Agency voted July 17 to advance a preliminary fiscal-year 2025–26 budget that adds a CRA coordinator position and funds consultant services to implement the downtown master plan.

The move forwards a spending plan that staff said projects about $1.8 million in total revenues and an estimated $377,812 in revenues over expenditures for 2026; staff described the action as a preliminary adoption before final budget readings in September.

Mary, a CRA staff member, summarized the numbers at the meeting and said, “The estimated revenues over expenditures anticipated for fiscal year 2026 is $377,812.” The presentation also lists roughly $175,000 in interest revenue and identifies tax-increment revenues as the principal revenue source. Tom, a city staff member, told the board the formal adoption will occur during the city’s two September budget readings.

Board discussion and staff answers focused on a handful of line items: the addition of a dedicated CRA coordinator position; $140,000 for contractual services described as real-estate and master-plan implementation (staff said this would cover work by consultant Mike Gohman and other consultants as needed); a $50,000 parking study; a $100,000 housing rehabilitation allocation; and capital projects such as sidewalks, street rehabilitation and splash-pad repairs. Staff also said Palmetto Plaza remains a roll-forward project pending commission direction and that no specific new capital projects for Easttown were listed in the proposed 2026 line items.

Staff presented outstanding loan and reserve information. According to the presentation, the CRA received a $3,000,000 loan on Sept. 4, 2020, at 2.875 percent with a balloon payment due Sept. 4, 2025; staff estimated a remaining balance around $2.4 million and said the finance department will bring refinancing options to the board. Reserve balances shown in the packet included an estimated 2025 reserve of about $2.5 million and an estimated ending reserve of $2,900,708 after projected 2026 revenues; staff also presented a five-year projection that, as of the end of the projection period, anticipates available funds for CRA projects.

Commissioners questioned staffing and consultant spending. One commissioner asked why the CRA should add a coordinator when $140,000 is budgeted for consultants; staff replied that the coordinator would be a day-to-day city staff role to implement and coordinate master-plan tasks while the contractual line covers specialized real-estate and implementation consultants. Staff also noted that economic development currently operates with limited personnel and that other Florida CRAs commonly have dedicated staff.

A motion to advance the proposed CRA budget as the agency’s recommendation for fiscal 2025–26 passed on a roll call. Vice Chair Ashcraft voted no; Commissioners Holland and Lee voted yes; Chairman Hawkins voted yes. Staff and presenters emphasized that the preliminary approval can be revised before final city budget adoption in September.

The board instructed finance staff to return with refinancing options for the CRA loan and left Palmetto Plaza on the list as a potential roll-forward project pending further planning and possible land acquisition efforts. No binding contract awards or final budget adoption occurred at the July 17 meeting; those are scheduled with the city’s formal budget process in September.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting - 17 July, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Eustis Community Redevelopment Agency voted July 17 to advance a preliminary fiscal-year 2025–26 budget that adds a CRA coordinator position and funds consultant services to implement the downtown master plan.","taxTitle","City of Eustis, Lake County, Florida","taxId",71128,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6164579,"Residents press Eustis CRA to add voting community voices, ask how Easttown gets redevelopment dollars",566,81000,647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5428066-93a9e4857c04b336e0f2e1e1b5dcc569&start=81&end=647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5428066-93a9e4857c04b336e0f2e1e1b5dcc569/thumbnail_81000.jpg","/articles/6164579/Florida/Residents-press-Eustis-CRA-to-add-voting-community-voices-ask-how-Easttown-gets-redevelopment-dollars","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164579-4fc2f8cf17b2ffccc3465d237acebad0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773521941&Signature=gkdbMmsyCpf5h84zjRKQYsNUKuVP1zkAnXFuJLDxr7zoYJfxnk4Ytnlu8fv3y1zDMtrmKPoKzOiA1UN1SJZxAo5VvrxVHbczNVMK8GUNUOIn4lPDZY5Se~j4QvY9Zm10GNbyXQNM4zSDiQRMl3RiTjKTJ3qvLMkE--coAgMv3Qwlxw~DXOHh02zJsskCgOqfp2Cpv9bEsjhittkSkIFvCfsefczQ4Ni5h9~CXBqSwxj-ZnSbaB2VTRBzdxdzXbGrX~Bq8hwLj-7D3XE9To-pWxPwhvm8Z2S6UhYAUM3LqO-4t5xCVeNU5fDfQ0vIXoSs3EyLku1wO~eUKQZbVlHBmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents urged the Eustis Community Redevelopment Agency July 17 to reconsider board composition and to clarify how CRA funds reach Easttown, saying neighborhood voices need stronger representation.

Deidra Lewis, who said she lives at 1992 Meadowside Drive, asked the board whether any of the two newly added community members represent Easttown and where Easttown projects appear in the CRA budget. “I wanted to know, are any of those community members out of the Easttown area?” she asked, and later, “Can you tell me in your budget where is it that East Town is getting any of the dollars and funds? Because I don't see it.”

Tom, a city staff member, told residents that CRA projects are not always separated by neighborhood in the CRA packet and that many East Side improvements are funded through the city’s general fund. He also explained that Palmetto Plaza has been a multi-year roll-forward project and that staff would involve community input during planning.

Theo Waugh, a longtime resident, asked the board to “relook at” the legal structure and membership, saying he wanted more community members serving. Waugh asked whether the community member Tanya Wilder was the only Easttown voice; board members replied Wilder is present but not the only community voice the city recognizes.

Board and staff provided two explanations for why some community members serve as nonvoting participants. Tom and another staff presenter said the commission decided to limit voting members to those who are answerable to voters and taxpayers — meaning elected commissioners — and noted a legal limit. Tom said the state allows two additional community members when the city commission itself serves as the CRA board, which is why the CRA roster was expanded from five to seven members but limited to two community voting members.

At the meeting Mary, the CRA presenter, and other staff encouraged residents to use the planning process for projects such as Palmetto Plaza; staff said the project’s next steps would include planning for a tot lot, parking and active recreation and that community input has been part of past planning efforts.

No change to board voting rules was made at the July 17 meeting. Residents asked staff or the city attorney to provide the statutory language; Tom and other staff said they or the mayor could provide the statutory citation. The board’s composition and the question of whether to convert community members to voting members can be revisited in a future meeting, staff said.","Residents asked the Community Redevelopment Agency why community members on the CRA board are nonvoting and where Easttown-specific projects or funds appear in the CRA proposed budget; staff and residents cited state limits on voting membership and said Easttown work often uses general-fund resources rather than CRA line-items.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Eustis CRA advances preliminary 2025–26 budget including coordinator post and $140,000 for master-plan implementation

Residents press Eustis CRA to add voting community voices, ask how Easttown gets redevelopment dollars