CRA annual report: Lincolnville spending and West City plan noted; West City steering committee dissolved

City staff presented the Community Redevelopment Agency's 2024 annual report and reviewed revenues, allocations and project activity across three redevelopment areas: the historic-area CRA, Lincolnville CRA and the recently created West City CRA.

"The annual report is a synopsis of everything that has happened in the previous fiscal year," Jamie D. Perkins, Neighborhood Services and CRA Manager, told the steering committee. Perkins said the report was published March 31 and was filed with the state on time per statutory requirement.

Perkins summarized allocations and expenditures for 2024 (unaudited figures) across the CRAs. She said county tax increment financing (TIF) revenue totaled about $1,400,000 and city TIF about $2,500,000; grants for the year were approximately $3,400,000. Perkins reported roughly $2,400,000 in capital community improvement projects and approximately $2,500,000 in historic and cultural preservation spending. She said resident stabilization (including Fix It Up) totaled a little over $400,000 and about $498,000 was allocated to affordable housing or property acquisition. Administrative costs were reported at about $42,000. Perkins noted that for Lincolnville specifically, the CRA spent or allocated about 49% of its available revenue during the year; staff also reported an overall allocation rate of 98% across the CRAs in the reporting period (West City had limited activity because it was newly established).

A public commenter, BJ Kalady, asked whether a West City project — a proposed U.S. 1 and King Street parking garage mentioned in report materials — would be funded with West City CRA tax dollars. Perkins replied the report lists "active projects" as any project to which funds were expended or appropriated and that the West City steering committee was dissolved after it approved the West City plan. She said the annual report includes links and QR codes for more detailed project information.

Perkins also clarified how the report treats appropriations versus cash expenditures: unaudited annual-report figures can include appropriated funds set aside for projects even if checks have not yet been issued. For example, she said Greater St. Mary's appears in the historic-area CRA project list because the project has appropriated funds; final construction expenditures may occur over several reporting periods.

The committee did not take additional formal action on the annual report at the meeting. Earlier in the meeting the committee approved the January minutes by voice vote during the roll call and approval process.

Perkins invited committee members and residents to review the annual report on the CRA website and said staff will continue outreach and post material from the report in multiple formats, including newsletters and public workshops.