Boca Raton CRA adopts FY2025–26 budget, reserves tens of millions for downtown and transit projects after public objections

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Sept. 22 adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget, approving the agency’s operating and capital plan and reserving funds for several multiyear downtown projects, including support for transit‑oriented development. The motion to adopt Resolution number 2025‑8 CRA passed on a 5–0 roll call.

The budget presentation by Stephen Timberlake of the Financial Services Department laid out recent downtown accomplishments and next‑year goals. “When the CRA was established ... the taxable value of the downtown was essentially frozen,” Timberlake explained, and the agency now projects roughly $26,750,000 in tax‑increment revenue that must be spent on redevelopment projects. He listed planned capital work — sidewalks, Meissner Park amphitheater roof, decorative street lighting, Sanborn Square renovations, an East‑West connectivity study — and said the CRA anticipates a $54,000,000 budget with substantial capital outlay reserved across several multiyear projects.

The budget discussion focused on how tax‑increment financing (TIF) works and what happens to unspent funds. “Those funds could be remitted back to the underlying taxing agencies proportionately,” CFO Jim Zervos said in response to a question about carryover and allocations, noting that monies earmarked for specific projects can be carried forward but unallocated excess would return to the county and other taxing agencies.

Public commenters pressed for more transparency in the CR A’s reserves. John Perlman, founder of Save Boca, challenged the agency to disclose line‑by‑line spending details for large increases in capital outlay, saying the presentation showed capital outlay rising from $1,000,000 in 2024 to $40,000,000 in 2026 and warning that roughly $80,000,000 labeled “transit oriented community redevelopment” lacked line‑item specificity. “BrightLine might not be in business in a couple years,” Perlman said as part of a broader argument that the city should not plan downtown projects around a single private rail operator.

Agency leaders defended the process and the reserve strategy. Chair Wictor and other commissioners said reserving funds for anticipated multiyear projects is standard practice; the budget authorizes spending year‑to‑year, while the redevelopment plan guides longer‑term projects. Commissioner Drucker and Mayor Singer emphasized that improvements such as street, sidewalk and utility work serve public needs and are not simply developer subsidies, and that safety outreach around trains is a separate public‑safety priority. “You cannot beat a train,” Mayor Singer told the meeting in urging public education on crossings.

The agency also detailed staffing and program priorities funded wholly or in part by the CRA next year, including one community customer service representative, a police officer position and a cultural and community programs administrator, and noted $39,250,000 would be held over across three multiyear projects.

After questions, public comment and discussion, Commissioner Drucker moved to adopt the resolution and Ms. Nockelson seconded. The roll call recorded five votes in favor and none opposed. The agency will include project‑level allocations in subsequent annual budgets when specific projects and bids are ready to proceed.

The meeting record indicates the CRA will continue coordinating with city departments (public works, engineering, recreation, police and development services) on downtown projects; the finalized city budget adoption is scheduled for the following Thursday.