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CRA board considers expanding $5,000 residential grant to help demolition, rebuild or elevation for flood-impacted homes
Summary
Board members discussed modifying the CRA residential grant program to allow the $5,000 benefit to be used for demolition, rebuilding or elevation for disaster-affected properties, but staff cautioned that CRA budget and plan rules make mid-cycle funding changes complex.
The Port Richey CRA discussed a proposed policy change that would allow its existing $5,000 residential grant to be applied toward demolition, rebuilding or elevation projects for properties impacted by flooding or disasters.
A board member framed the proposal as a way to get better outcomes for blighted or flood-damaged properties by permitting the $5,000 allocation to support demolition or a rebuilding/lift effort tied to new construction, rather than limiting the grant to cosmetic improvements. Staff and legal reviewed potential constraints: CRA funds and plan changes are tightly controlled, amendments require plan and budget adjustments, and mid-cycle budget reallocations are administratively difficult.
Why it matters: If adopted and funded, the change could help homeowners recover after disasters and reduce blight by encouraging redevelopment. Staff recommended that policy language be drafted and considered as part of the next budget cycle to ensure CRA compliance and appropriate auditing controls. The board directed staff to begin exploring policy language and to consider whether additional funding or program parameters would be needed when the item is taken up in the budget process.
Ending: Staff agreed to start drafting policy language for board consideration and to report back with recommendations and potential fiscal impacts during the normal budget cycle.
