Boca Raton leaders warn fast-moving Florida bill could phase out community redevelopment agencies

Deputy Mayor Drucker warned at the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency meeting on March 17 that a fast-tracked state bill, HB991, could eliminate community redevelopment agencies in future years and urged constituents to contact their state representatives.

"It's basically this bill would eliminate CRAs, in future years," Drucker said, and added that the change was being discussed with the Florida League of Cities. She urged residents to inform their Tallahassee representatives about how CRAs support local economic drivers.

Drucker said some misuse of CRA funds in other jurisdictions has prompted the legislation, but added, "Not here, not in our city, not necessarily in our county," and appealed to lawmakers not to apply those cases to well-run CRAs. She said the League of Cities asked local officials to document how the agency benefits downtown economic activity.

Commissioner Wigder said Boca Raton officials and lobbyists have raised the issue in Tallahassee and are preparing scenarios and arguments to protect ongoing projects. He told the board that some downtown infrastructure work is staged across subareas and could require reprioritization if deadlines tied to the bill change project timelines.

Why it matters: The CRA helps finance downtown infrastructure and public improvements through tax increment financing; eliminating CRAs would affect projects the city says are planned or in progress, including government center infrastructure and other multi-year capital work.

Next steps: Board members said staff and lobbyists will continue to track bill amendments and report back; the director said significant amendments were anticipated and that staff will prepare materials and, if needed, a resolution for the council on next steps.

No formal vote was taken on policy changes related to the bill at this meeting.