CRA presents 2025 annual report: $7.3M revenue, $5.2M encumbered and neighborhood programs expanded

Jamie D. Perkins, the city’s Community Services Director, presented the Community Redevelopment Agency's 2025 annual report to the board, summarizing 25 years of CRA activity and the agency's fiscal performance for the year.

Perkins reported $7,300,000 in total CRA revenue for FY2025 and said the CRA had expended or encumbered $5,200,000. She detailed revenue sources including county TIF dollars ($3,023,664), city TIF dollars ($2,879,153) and grants or carry-forward dollars ($1,454,722). Expenditures highlighted in the report included downtown parking-facility debt service ($1,445,500), capital/community improvements ($1,364,208), historic and cultural preservation projects (just over $2,000,000) and the Fix It Up residential repair program ($317,000).

The annual report also highlighted project and program activity: Francis Field concept funds set aside ($61,000), a $189,000 concept-phase allocation for Cordova Street, a partially funded kayak launch at Eddie Vickers Park and institutional rehabilitation projects such as Saint Mary's and the Fountain of Youth Elks Lodge. Perkins said the Revive and Restore West City program launched in 2025 with $25,000 in grant funding and already has an active waiting list and three approved applications about to begin work.

Perkins told the board the Robert Hayling statue is complete and currently in secure storage; installation and related site construction are expected to mobilize in May with a target of substantial completion around November to align with what would have been Hayling’s 90th birthday. Perkins said staff had been working closely with the Hayling family on scheduling for an installation and ceremony.

Commissioners praised the CRA’s work and asked questions about specific projects and the flow of TIF dollars. A commissioner noted that county TIF dollars remain in the city because of the CRA structure. Perkins said the agency will continue to refine project budgets and bring formal designs forward for approval when appropriate.

The presentation was informational and not an action item; no formal vote was recorded to accept the report. Perkins will continue to work with stakeholders on designs and project mobilization timelines.