Children’s Trust board accepts interlocal agreement with Pensacola resolving TIF demand, with one dissent
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Summary
After extended debate the board voted to accept a negotiated interlocal agreement with the City of Pensacola to resolve tax‑increment funding claims for 2021–2025, directing the city to spend the agreed sum on child services; one board member opposed the agreement citing concerns about reporting specificity.
The Escambia County Children’s Trust board voted to accept a negotiated interlocal agreement with the City of Pensacola intended to resolve the city’s demand for tax‑increment (TIF) payments from the trust for tax years 2021–2025.
Legal counsel described the agreement as a compromise negotiated with city counsel and the mayor’s office. Counsel said the proposed interlocal would provide tax‑increment funding payments net of allowable deductions and includes a partial credit tied to prior grants between the trust and Parks & Rec. Counsel cited a payment figure of $1,851,333.70 and discussed a partial credit in the range of several hundred thousand dollars that would reduce the total payment obligation; the agreement would resolve prior years through 2025 with 2026 reserved for future discussion.
Board members pressed city obligations in the draft, requesting clarity on what reporting and measurable outcomes the city would provide in exchange for the funds. Doctor Northup said he was concerned that the draft relied on broad assurances that the city would spend funds "on children" without the same specificity and measurable deliverables the trust requires of contracted providers. "If another provider came in here and requested dollars from us with these terms," Northup said, "we'd expect measurable outcomes and regular reporting."
Miss Cannon and legal counsel responded that the interlocal was a negotiated compromise in the face of an unresolved statutory question about the city's obligation to receive TIF funds; counsel said the proposed language requires the city to provide quarterly reports on expenditures and mutually agreed participant data, and staff emphasized that the funds would target 0‑to‑18 childcare and related services within the city’s CRA areas.
After discussion a motion to accept the interlocal (option 1 presented by counsel) carried; the vote recorded one opposed (Tory) and the remainder in favor. Counsel said the next procedural step will be to forward the approved redline to the city attorney and request placement of the trust’s exemption request on the city council agenda. The trust’s acceptance would be communicated to city staff and the mayor, who is expected to request the council grant the exemption and enter the interlocal.
Board members asked staff and counsel to ensure the council presentation includes the reporting expectations discussed at the meeting. Counsel said staff and the mayor’s office have been in ongoing discussions and that the board’s approval would permit timely presentation to city council.
Next steps: trust staff will notify the city attorney of the board’s acceptance and provide the redline for council consideration; staff will report back on council scheduling and any requested changes.
