Title
Financial Support of the Florida Redevelopment Association (B)
Explanation
The Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) focuses on statewide redevelopment activities. Over the past several years, as CRAs in larger cities have become extremely effective, the counties in which they are located in have been trying to exert more control over CRA activities. Rather than handle these issues at the local level, the counties have brought forward statewide legislation that impacts all CRAs. Though the efforts of the Florida Redevelopment Association and the Florida League of Cities, to date, the legislation has protected all existing CRAs and has a limited effect on future CRAs.
The FRA has stepped up its lobbying efforts on behalf of the CRAs and is requesting voluntary donations of $1,000 to help cover additional costs. The CRA made a similar contribution in April 2003.
Fiscal Note
The CRA could fund this using the 43/43/10/4 formula normally used in operating expenses. Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board and College Park University Heights each have $5,000 budgeted in Professional Services, Fifth Avenue Pleasant Street has $1,000 budgeted in Professional Services and Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board has $500 budgeted in Professional Services.
Recommendation
Executive Director to the CRA: Recommend that the CRA provide the Florida Redevelopment Association $1,000 to cover the cost of additional lobbying expenses, to be split between the four districts using the 43/43/10/4 funding formula.