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Escambia commissioners delay decision on Children’s Trust waiver; set May 15 public hearing
Summary
After hours of public comment and debate over whether $450,000 in tax funds should go to community nonprofits or to CRA infrastructure, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners postponed a decision on a requested waiver from the Escambia Children’s Trust and scheduled a follow-up public hearing for May 15.
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…
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