[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6467227,"mediaKeyId","5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0","parentId",5808468,"title","Residents urge caution over Brightline reliance and downtown transit‑oriented spending","audioSeconds",2103,"startMs",1008000,"endMs",3111000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0&start=1008&end=3111","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0/thumbnail_1008000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467227/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Residents-urge-caution-over-Brightline-reliance-and-downtown-transitoriented-spending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467227-a2378d89070316ce5c7824d34b556400/orig.mp4?Expires=1770535381&Signature=flTalnTtzjfhYHI-L9gabM9~LCh555XSQ0q-0-ALJ3cArOxKzuDgMcwTW9Enzf0L-H9x~YcqTv9~bHIsH2FZb31adtC7wgARsq7qeAF6YfpT~5bS9JFFxNKUd6tAq5WBS2-DLZR~hQT0gsvuLgPsXsFIve98SRNGE-5ORhVhgIgyPeHmPTdDajgGcb3MAo7DmMIBF0z8xt8t66ejlL18g8RNHcIDYJiIegRIYjvv5qX1CNOSNghuPXs44Po0pYfh4iJ88Shl7yQWOi4SYAo8Bkf3ctDEpBNKb3ODNJ~44~c-jQ-2Ep4NlBkglhnnT619LyELC4vpyy-id9Fz0wVC~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boca Raton","date","2025-09-22T09:46:00Z","article","Public commenters at the Boca Raton CRA meeting on Monday urged the agency to be cautious about planning downtown redevelopment around Brightline and to provide more transparency about how large reserved sums will be spent.

John Perlman, founder of Save Boca, told the board the city is “planning and structuring the future of our downtown to surround the BrightLine and BrightLine Station” while Brightline faces financial challenges. Perlman said Brightline missed a bond payment and that credit ratings and news reports show financial strain; he warned the board not to commit downtown plans solely on the assumption Brightline will operate for decades. \"Here we are building our future around the Bright Line. I mean, I can't believe it,\" Perlman said.

Perlman also told the board he had filed a public records request after noting the budget presentation showed large increases in capital outlay and an $80,000,000 line item described generally as transit‑oriented redevelopment; he said the records provided did not include detailed line‑item expenditures. \"We don't know what it's being spent for,\" he said.

Barbara Powers, a downtown resident, said she supports renovating city hall, the community center and the police department and wants them kept downtown, but she opposed private partnerships that would reduce public parkland. \"Reducing our Living Memorial parkland with private sector development goes against who we are,\" Powers said.

Commissioners and staff responded that Brightline is a private company and that the CRA must reserve funds for multi‑year projects until they are fully scoped. Mayor Singer said reserving funds is standard and emphasized projects must be viable whether or not Brightline continues service in Boca Raton. \"...whatever we do downtown, it should be able to withstand the test if BrightLine stays or goes,\" he said.

Commissioner Drucker said she had requested a Brightline update for the board and emphasized public education and safety efforts related to trains. Vice Chair Thompson and others noted safety campaigns and partnerships such as suicide prevention outreach and public service announcements; Thompson said some accidents are the result of attempts to \"beat a train\" and encouraged public education.

Mr. Brown and finance staff reiterated that tax increment financing (TIF) revenue must be spent on redevelopment projects in the CRA area and that unspent funds without a designated purpose could be remitted back to underlying taxing authorities. Jim Zervos explained the tax increment is the difference between the frozen base and current property values and that the CRA receives increments from Palm Beach County, the City of Boca Raton and the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District.

The meeting record shows these concerns were raised during the public request portion and during the budget hearing; the board moved to adopt the budget after discussion. Staff said they will provide more detailed project budgets and procurement documents to the board when projects are ready to be allocated.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Boca Raton - C.R.A. Regular Meeting * Special Start Time","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters and some board members urged transparency and caution about building downtown plans around Brightline, citing Brightline’s financial troubles and safety concerns; the CRA and city officials said reserved funds are part of normal multi‑year planning and project allocations will return to the board for review.","taxTitle","Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",3932,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467231,"Boca Raton CRA approves 2026 meeting calendar adjustments",202,2988000,3190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0&start=2988&end=3190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0/thumbnail_2988000.jpg","/articles/6467231/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Boca-Raton-CRA-approves-2026-meeting-calendar-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467231-713e95f7e7254325627ae734120f6c97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770535381&Signature=TyG5aFTYDNjae~ZN8~HWEbm-C11sW5JNBycy1GSNHlxBRq04A7RFEGkhKPrzO0hE2wAVpOSdKDsjfEtDi4hAQepwB~Sc2vZW4BSj7AP6OFpby00ScAZ8KgWaGxNhNzw8aSQIsktgQ8H8no8fdTue6obO-kSelpQRMCOSjcudzUskPg1DML0V3GqAmvtC511LX4WKe~bwEYp6kQpJitEVH9HiShIWPjqLa1X0-Fu8Qypc4F0CfTOvdNrStcZmc7dNPmlClX5~f~HWL5P7q17Nd0Toqz2A5nJQsedLeTXteCe7aHdkL93lEbfplA0fQQOJrl42Sb40k60OARfv723dpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Monday approved a calendar of meeting cancellations and rescheduling for 2026 to avoid conflicts with holidays, the city election and the state legislative session.

Staff presented Resolution 2025‑59 CRA, which adjusts the regular second‑and‑fourth‑Monday meeting schedule in several months. The adjustments noted include no meetings in March because of the city election, moving Memorial Day week meetings to Tuesday, May 26, moving Labor Day week meetings to Tuesday, September 8, and adjusting January meetings to accommodate anticipated staff travel to Tallahassee for the legislative session.

Mr. Brown, addressing the board, said the adjustments align CRA meeting dates with the city council schedule where appropriate. The resolution passed on a roll call vote of 5–0.

Commissioners did not request further changes during the public hearing on the scheduling item. The CRA staff will post the adopted 2026 meeting calendar and any amended dates on the city website.","The Community Redevelopment Agency approved Resolution 2025‑59 to cancel or reschedule certain 2026 meetings to avoid holidays, the city election and legislative travel.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467236,"Boca Raton CRA adopts $54 million budget, reserves funds for downtown redevelopment",1426,1577000,3003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0&start=1577&end=3003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808468-0fc6b539af968b444889d5d0ef6a50b0/thumbnail_1577000.jpg","/articles/6467236/Boca-Raton/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Boca-Raton-CRA-adopts-54-million-budget-reserves-funds-for-downtown-redevelopment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467236-164db7e86f1a6b239f22315e3b82a285/orig.mp4?Expires=1770535381&Signature=CO05iLqO1d8ZYvG~HUO987AAhhDnId6G9c4q8PgBP~u9p19ScHw3HmYn1lLdsMNjHf9U~rqSgOzBLDiHYQ1m0Gr8~Gn8xF0F0gqmup-V5Qr76lT-HhBIg159Bw8HH~mF-8wVScHoYwmsvMEIJGw5UsFbwHWZ-sytyWNGKetPcp2IkYF0smIjERge3C3NbEUmlKTrCYRjhKPnHwLCr9pC1NBlNeJKe1CeT3bdU7YWH4LD~DTi9NCC6LkXcPLkgaII25vVtA1JsA1rfD5~CKn0j~I4PefLHKCR81FFW3HhCD59av6~ONjSJfGF4bLh9KzuT~dTaInTWYvydXnbYNPChA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Monday adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget, approving roughly $54 million in spending and reserving tens of millions for multi‑year downtown redevelopment projects.

The agency adopted Resolution 2025‑58 CRA after a public hearing and discussion among board members. Chair Wictor opened the budget presentation to the board and public, and Stephen Timberlake of the Financial Services Department and Jim Zervos, the city’s chief financial officer, presented the plan.

The adopted operating budget funds day‑to‑day CRA operations and pays for city staff services provided under an interlocal arrangement, including development services, police, code enforcement, public works, engineering, recreation services and finance. The presentation said the CRA expects tax increment revenue of about $26,750,000 for 2025–26 and showed an expected budget of $54,000,000 with $15,000,000 held for additional projects. The materials also described capital outlays and specific redevelopment projects totaling about $70,000,000 and noted $39,250,000 would be held over across three multiyear projects.

The CRA listed near‑term capital priorities including a transit‑oriented community program, downtown sidewalks and hardscape improvements, Meissner Park amphitheater roof replacement, downtown traffic signal work, Palmetto Park Road connectivity and an east–west connectivity study, as well as downtown parking analysis, decorative street lighting and park electrical upgrades. The FY26 budget also funds hiring three positions: a community customer service representative, a police officer and a cultural and community programs administrator.

During public comment, John Perlman of Save Boca pressed the agency for line‑item detail on the large reserved sums for transit‑oriented redevelopment, saying he had received a 65‑page records response that did not show line‑item expenditures. Mr. Perlman said the agency appeared to be reserving about $80,000,000 for a “transit‑oriented community redevelopment downtown” category without specific project detail.

Mayor Singer and other board members responded that reserving funds for multi‑year projects is standard budget practice and that detailed allocations and project bids will return to the board for approval when specific projects are ready. Jim Zervos explained that the CRA’s tax increment revenue is derived from the difference between the frozen base value when the CRA was established and current downtown property values, and that funds must be spent on redevelopment projects; unspent funds without a designated purpose would be remitted back to the underlying taxing authorities proportionately.

Commissioner Drucker requested an update from Brightline be scheduled for the board; Drucker and Vice Chair Thompson also addressed public safety and education efforts related to train crossings during the discussion. The board noted that downtown investments should be resilient whether or not Brightline continues service in Boca Raton.

On a roll call vote the resolution passed 5–0 (Vice Chair Thompson, Chair Wictor, Commissioner Nacklis, Commissioner Singer and Commissioner Drucker voting yes). The board’s approval forwards the CRA budget as part of the city’s broader annual budget process, with final city budget approval scheduled for Thursday.

The CRA staff said more detailed project budgeting and procurement items will be presented to the board as projects are scoped and bids are received.","The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency approved its fiscal 2025–26 budget, authorizing roughly $54 million in spending and reserving multi‑year funds for downtown capital projects including a transit‑oriented community program.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents urge caution over Brightline reliance and downtown transit‑oriented spending

Boca Raton CRA approves 2026 meeting calendar adjustments

Boca Raton CRA adopts $54 million budget, reserves funds for downtown redevelopment