Escambia County commissioners on May 1 postponed a decision on a requested waiver from the Escambia Children’s Trust that would let the Trust keep roughly $450,000 collected in the most recent tax cycle, and they scheduled a second public hearing for May 15 to allow more negotiation and input.

The request is for a one‑year waiver that would let the Trust retain and directly spend the funds; county staff and some commissioners said the board can instead deny the waiver and have the money remain in the Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) where statute requires it be spent principally on infrastructure. County Attorney Allison noted, “You have 2 choices tonight. You can grant the requested waiver,” and explained that granting a waiver would require the board to direct staff to negotiate an interlocal agreement with the Trust spelling out how the funds would be spent.

The proposal drew lengthy public comment from nonprofit leaders, youth participants and county commissioners. Kristen Fairchild, founder and executive director of Chain Reaction, urged the board to let local nonprofits compete for Trust funds to expand programs that serve youth directly; Chain Reaction’s operating budget, she said, is about $250,000 and the organization serves roughly 240 children. Students who attend Chain Reaction spoke in support: Taiwan Moss told commissioners, “When I first started Chain Reaction, I had a 1 GPA,” and other students described academic and social gains they credited to the program.

Board debate focused on two binding tradeoffs: deny the waiver and the money would be spent under the statutory constraints of the CRAs (largely infrastructure in the CRA footprint), or grant the waiver and require an interlocal agreement to route funds toward a county‑run summer youth employment program. Commissioners and Trust representatives discussed a potential compromise that would use past unpaid Trust deposits (the board and staff referenced roughly $700,000 in 2021–22 funds still not transferred) and a multi‑year funding arrangement to expand the summer youth employment effort.

Several commissioners said they favor funding jobs and youth employment but expressed concern about shifting long‑term CRA infrastructure money to programs without a formal interlocal. Commissioner Stephen Berry and others pressed the Trust to show a multi‑year commitment if Trust funds would be used to largely underwrite county summer jobs. Commissioner Michael S. Kohler said county staff and the Trust should try to reach a narrow, time‑limited agreement; staff and Trust leaders agreed to meet and discuss options before the board reconvenes.

Action: the board voted to schedule a second public hearing on the Trust waiver for May 15, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.; the motion passed 5–0. The hearing will allow the county and Trust to continue negotiating a possible interlocal agreement and for commissioners to gather more public input.

Why it matters: the Escambia Children’s Trust collects a dedicated tax intended for children’s services. The question before the commission was whether that money should stay under the Trust’s control to fund programs countywide or be redirected into CRA accounts where statute limits spending largely to infrastructure projects tied to the CRA footprints. The outcome affects nonprofits that serve youth directly and the county’s ability to fund summer employment slots requested by hundreds of young people.

What’s next: the board asked Trust representatives to discuss options with staff and return to the May 15 meeting with either a draft interlocal or a clear statement of how the Trust will use the funds. Commissioners said they want firm deliverables if the Trust will fund the county’s summer youth employment program.