Clermont CRA adopts $977,732 budget, schedules workshop to set spending priorities

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) of the City of Clermont on a 6-0 vote approved a $977,732 budget for fiscal year 2025–26, adopted a year-end budget amendment, approved an agreement for downtown services with Main Street and scheduled a workshop to set policy and priorities for roughly $1.7 million in CRA reserves.

Finance Director Scott Bohr told the board the year-end amendment adds just over $77,000 in slightly higher-than-expected ad valorem and interest revenues but requests no additional expenditures, and that the new fiscal-year budget includes allocations for personnel related to compactor service and an anticipated debt-service payment tied to a proposed parking garage project. "The resolution before you would establish the CRA budget for fiscal year 25–26 in the amount of $977,732," Bohr said.

The board approved the year-end reconciliation (Resolution No. 34) and the FY25–26 budget (Resolution No. 35) unanimously, with the clerk recording a 6-0 vote for each action. The CRA also approved a services agreement with Main Street and voted 6-0 to table agenda items 5–9 until a workshop.

Why it matters: board members said they want clearer policy guidance on when projects should be funded from the CRA, the general fund or enterprise funds. Several members argued the CRA should be used strategically to fund downtown redevelopment and marketing, while others warned a rigid policy could reduce necessary flexibility.

Board discussion focused on the size and purpose of the CRA fund balance and how future downtown projects should be paid. Bohr said last year’s actual CRA spending was about $280,000 of a roughly $900,000 budget and that the audited fund balance will be closer to $1.7 million after the most recent activity. He said the CRA’s primary revenue source is ad valorem taxes paid by the county, city and the special district.

Board members raised a specific debt-service concern tied to a proposed parking garage. One member asked where an approximately $400,000 projected debt-service payment would come from; Bohr responded the budget anticipates the debt service and that available dollars would be managed through fund-balance allocations as the board directs.

Board members also discussed an annual $100,000 grant line in the CRA budget that supports façade and food-service grants downtown. Board members said the grant line historically is only partially used (typically about half) and that residential improvements have been explicitly excluded from the grant programs despite being referenced in the 2015 redevelopment plan.

The board asked staff to produce clearer financial detail before a workshop: annual and remaining debt obligations tied to projects such as Victory Point and recent roadway work; how much of multi-project loan repayments are paid from stormwater, general fund or other sources; and an itemized picture of current and anticipated CRA-related expenditures. Bohr said he would provide specific repayment schedules and funding sources after the meeting.

Action on downtown projects and several agenda items (5–9) was tabled and consolidated into a workshop to be held on October 21 at 3:00 p.m., to be noticed as a joint workshop for council and CRA where appropriate. Board members said the workshop will review policy criteria, individual projects and potential interlocal agreements if the CRA funds projects administered by the city.

Staff also announced a new comprehensive-plan team. Planning staff said the city will work with DPC Design Co. and ABA Ethos; a new economic development director will begin the week of Oct. 20. Staff estimated a 12–18 month timeline for the comprehensive plan, with the form-based code for the northwest quadrant expected in roughly six to eight months.

Votes at a glance: Approved items included minutes (item 1), Resolution No. 34 (FY24–25 year-end budget amendment, item 2), Resolution No. 35 (FY25–26 CRA budget, item 3) and the Main Street services agreement (item 4). The board voted to table items 5–9 until the October 21 workshop. All recorded motions passed by a 6-0 tally; votes were recorded as "aye" with no recorded no/abstain votes.

Board members and staff said the next steps are (1) staff will provide detailed schedules of outstanding debt and funding sources before the workshop, (2) the board will use the October 21 workshop to develop criteria and priorities for CRA spending and (3) the board will consider pursuing a refresh of the 2015 redevelopment plan alongside the ongoing comprehensive-plan and code work.

Ending: Board members emphasized they want the CRA to be strategic and transparent in how it uses its funds. Several members said they favor a forward-looking approach that avoids retroactive reimbursements but establishes clearer criteria for what qualifies as a CRA-funded project.