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Dade City CRA reviews annual report and vows to monitor state bills that could end redevelopment agencies
Summary
At its March 11 meeting, Dade City officials reviewed the Community Redevelopment Agency's draft annual report for fiscal 2023–24 and discussed pending Florida legislation (Senate Bill 1242 and House Bill 991) that would limit or eliminate CRAs; commissioners asked staff and local stakeholders to track the bills and prepare outreach.
The Dade City Community Redevelopment Agency on March 11 reviewed a draft annual report summarizing work in the downtown redevelopment district and discussed new state legislation that could curtail or terminate community redevelopment agencies (CRAs).
The draft report, prepared for the 2023–24 fiscal year, outlines projects such as curb repainting, additional flowerpots, sidewalk pressure washing, sandblasting and powder-coating benches and trash cans, a residential paint grant program and storefront awnings funded through CRA grants. Heather Erwiller, identified in the meeting as planning director, said the district map was updated and the draft will be posted to the city website if the board approves the text.
Why it matters: commissioners said the CRA fund helps concentrate local tax revenue on downtown improvements and economic development. Several members warned that recent bills filed in Tallahassee would sharply reduce the agency’s ability to undertake new projects or issue new debt, threatening small-town downtown revitalization efforts.
"When they begin to understand how it works … the way a CRA works is usually the type of legislation and the type of, way that government runs that they prefer, for that money to stay right in the district where the taxpayers are paying it and being used to their benefit," Mayor Scott Black said, urging education and outreach to the Legislature. He invited downtown merchants and the Florida Redevelopment Association's contacts to join the effort.
City attorney Patrick Brackens flagged the bills by name during the meeting as Senate Bill 1242 and House Bill 991 and highlighted a provision described by commissioners that would bar CRAs from initiating "any new projects" after Oct. 1, 2025, and prohibit issuance of new debt after that date. Commissioners and staff expressed concern the bills’ language is vague about what qualifies as a "new project" and how the measures would affect existing bond obligations; Brackens and others said some provisions reference a later sunset (Sept. 30, 2045) to avoid immediate conflicts with outstanding bonds.
Commissioners asked staff to monitor the bills and to coordinate with the Downtown Merchants Association and the city's lobby contacts in Tallahassee. Commissioner Cosentino said he had already shared information with the merchants association and asked the CRA’s redevelopment advisory committee (RAC) to continue meeting on downtown projects.
Ending: The CRA item on the agenda was informational; the board took no formal vote to change policy but directed staff to publish the annual report draft online and to continue outreach and monitoring of the legislation. Several commissioners said they expect the topic to be a priority during upcoming visits to Tallahassee.
