Alachua County directs staff to negotiate High Springs CRA repayment plan and sunset provisions

Alachua County commissioners on May 24 instructed county staff to negotiate terms with the city of High Springs before approving a proposed extension of that city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA).

The full‑day presentation by Amanda Rodriguez, executive director of the High Springs CRA, described a proposed 30‑year renewal of the CRA with projects aimed at downtown economic development, sidewalks, facade grants and a rails‑to‑trails segment. Rodriguez said the board had prepared amended language after earlier joint meetings with county staff and CRA members.

Commissioners pressed city and county staff for specifics about an earlier forensic audit and several years when the city reportedly failed to deposit required trust‑fund payments. “We need an accounting: what happened to the funding, was it spent, and how will it be made whole?” Commissioner Chestnut said. County budget staff said they had found a shortfall of roughly $199,824 for a multi‑year period and could not confirm yet whether corrections had been implemented.

County budget and legal staff told the commission that the city and county disagree on whether the proposed action is a renewal or effectively a new CRA (and therefore whether county approval is required). County legal staff advised the commission that if the CRA is treated as a new agency the county has greater leverage over base‑year calculations and other terms.

After extended back‑and‑forth, the board voted unanimously to direct the county manager and county attorney to negotiate with High Springs on a package of items: a plan to make the trust fund whole, a base‑year and millage contribution framework, a measurable set of goals and a sunset provision to end the CRA when goals are met. The motion also asked staff to obtain a written plan from High Springs addressing issues raised in the forensic audit and to seek assurances on new financial controls before the commission considers a longer term extension.

County staff said the goal is to return to the commission with a clear accounting and negotiated terms in time to allow the city to finalize budget decisions in July. The commission also scheduled a special meeting on July 5 to continue related discussions.

What’s next: County staff will exchange documents and convene negotiations with High Springs staff and legal counsel, then return recommendations and any proposed interlocal language to the commission for formal action.

Provenance: Presentation and Q&A, SEG 1450–SEG 2746.