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Below is information that you can share with committee members when urging them to vote no.
CRAs: Locally Funded Without Raising Taxes or Using State Dollars
CRAs were created to revitalize areas suffering from urban decay and crime, encourage private-sector investment, support job creation, and address the affordable housing crisis—all without raising taxes or relying on state funds. Instead, CRAs use a self-sustaining financing model known as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), where a portion of the increased property tax revenues generated by redevelopment is reinvested back into the area. This ensures local tax dollars are used locally to improve infrastructure, attract private investment, and support the businesses that choose to be in a CRA.
CRAs Are Essential to Addressing Florida’s Affordable Housing Crisis
Florida is experiencing a severe shortage of workforce and affordable housing, which threatens our economic competitiveness and workforce stability. Rather than eliminating CRAs, the Legislature should recognize them as a critical tool for increasing affordable housing supply—without additional state spending. Many CRAs already prioritize workforce housing, using their funds to incentivize private investment in new housing projects, rehabilitate existing properties to increase housing stock, and improve infrastructure needed to support housing development.
Eliminating CRAs would strip local governments of one of their most effective, locally funded tools to address Florida’s housing crisis.
CRAs Are Critical for Small Businesses and Local Economies
Florida’s economy thrives when small businesses succeed. A primary focus of CRAs is to support entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing funding for commercial property improvements to revitalize business districts, investing in streetscape enhancements and safety improvements that attract customers, and driving private-sector redevelopment projects that create jobs and economic opportunity.
At a time when small businesses are struggling with inflation and high costs, eliminating CRAs would make it even harder for them to grow, compete, and create jobs.
A More Responsible Path Forward
Instead of eliminating CRAs, we urge the Legislature to strengthen accountability while preserving this vital tool for local economic growth. The League supports reforms that:
- Focus CRA expenditures on core priorities like infrastructure, affordable housing, and small business support.
- Review reporting and auditing requirements to ensure necessary transparency and accountability.
- Create opportunities for CRAs to support Live Local Act projects
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