CRA approves $30,000 budget amendment to hire consultant for Silver Springs program analysis

At its Dec. 16, 2025 meeting the Marion County Community Redevelopment Agency approved a budget amendment to reflect lower-than-expected increment revenue and to allocate $30,000 to professional services for a consultant to analyze and propose options for a Silver Springs financing/rebate program.

Christopher Reisen, planner with the Growth Services Department, said that when the Board of County Commissioners set millage rates for the fiscal year, the resulting lower millage reduced projected increment revenue available to the CRA. “The income revenue to the CRA was actually lower than expected,” Reisen said, and staff recommended adjusting the budget and shifting funds into professional services so the county can bring on a consultant to complete a pro forma and related analyses.

Reisen told the board the consultant would provide a formal analysis to satisfy statutory pro forma requirements and would produce task-specific feedback that could be used to design a model agreement or a recurring grant program. Tracy Straub, assistant county administrator, said the consultant would present the different options available for the board to consider and that the board could then choose whether to adopt a program.

A commissioner asked whether the engagement was intended as a one-time study or the start of a permanent program; Reisen said the current engagement is a one-time effort but that the board could formalize a recurring grant program later. Commissioners asked staff to return the consultant’s options and any suggested model agreement at the February meeting. A motion to approve the budget amendment and allocate $30,000 to professional services was made, seconded and passed unanimously.