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Lynn Haven CRA adopts 2025–26 final budget after public questions on TIF split with Bay County
Summary
The Lynn Haven Community Redevelopment Agency approved a final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that relies on a transfer from reserves to cover a projected shortfall. A resident questioned why Bay Countyappears to be receiving a larger share of tax increment financing (TIF) revenue.
The Lynn Haven Community Redevelopment Agency on Sept. 12 approved a final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that lists $1,193,582 in proposed revenues and $1,999,274 in proposed expenditures, with a transfer from CRA reserves to cover the difference.
The budget passed after public comment raised questions about how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) receipts for the cityarea within the CRA are shared with Bay County. Resident Walker of 1106 Michigan Avenue asked why Bay Countyappears to be receiving an increased portion of TIF funds returned from the county.
Walker said during public comment, “Why are they getting more money?” and pressed city officials to explain the change. City staff member Mister Janke responded that the countynot the cityis assessing a higher millage rate, which increases the countys share of increment revenues even though the property base is unchanged. “The county is proposing a higher millage rate ... thats the reason why their portion of the tax-increment funding is $677,000 and some change,” Janke said.
Janke told commissioners the proposed CRA revenue total was reduced by $26,268 compared with the prior draft because of a change in the citymil-lage rate used in projections. He also said CRA expenses increased by about $5,200 owing to a newly itemized liability insurance line. That combination, he said, is the reason the CRA will draw on reserves to balance the budget.
The adopted resolution is numbered 20250912 and, according to staff statements during the meeting, appropriates amounts in the redevelopment trust fund and authorizes disbursement according to the document presented to the commission.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 20250912: Adopting the final budget for the Lynn Haven Community Redevelopment Agency FY 2025–26 (motion to approve; mover and seconder not specified in the roll). Roll-call votes recorded as yes from Purnow, Wark, Tender, Peebles, Ward and Carnot. Outcome: approved.
Context and next steps
Janke said the reduction in projected revenue reflects a change in the millage assumptions used to calculate TIF receipts, and that staff worked with the citys insurance broker to allocate liability insurance costs to the appropriate funds. He told the commission the shortfall would be covered by a transfer from CRA reserves. Janke and other staff did not clarify a second figure listed in the packet (a separate amount, $6,805,692, appears in the draft budget printout) during the discussion; staff advised looking at the published budget documents for the detailed line-item breakdown.
Before the budget vote, the commission voted to excuse Chair Mary Nelson from the meeting. The commission then moved on to approve the consent agenda and minutes before taking up the CRA budget.
The meeting record indicates the commission took public comment on TIF and the CRA budget during the agenda item before adopting the final budget; no additional motions or amendments to the budget were recorded on the floor.
(End of story.)
