High Springs CRA votes to approve FY 2026 budget, keeps downtown redevelopment and parking as priorities

The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency on Sept. 22 approved its fiscal 2026 budget, maintaining last year's priorities with the majority of spending directed toward downtown redevelopment and parking projects.

CRA staffer Amy presented the budget as largely unchanged from the prior year and said the plan "mirrored what we did last year with the focus of the bulk of the money going towards our redevelopment projects downtown as far as parking goes." She told the board staff is continuing work on a parking plan and exploring options for the water tower area and that the agency would return with additional details.

During discussion a member asked about rising workers' compensation costs observed across municipal budgets; no specific budgets beyond an observation that workers' comp in the CRA budget had risen "2 and a half times" compared with the prior year were presented. Board members discussed higher post‑COVID operating costs generally but did not change budget line items on that basis.

A motion to approve the budget was made and seconded, citizens were invited to comment (none were recorded), and the board voted in favor by voice. The chair called for the ayes, and the motion passed.

No specific dollar total for the overall CRA budget was read into the record at the meeting; staff said they would break down line items on request at a later date if the board wanted. Amy said the agency is earning interest on CRA funds and noted that once those funds are spent, the interest-earning balance will decline.

The board did not adopt new ordinances or change redevelopment project authorizations during the meeting; it approved the budget "as presented."