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The stakes are high for the city, with that half-billion-dollar pot of gold for downtown investment. But the county commissioners may set a high price for their approval. While the battle lines are not clear yet, a joint city- county venture to create a homeless shelter in Shaw's north Sarasota district is facing resistance from Shaw and City Commissioner Susan Chapman. Would they be willing to drop their resistance to the shelter in return for county approval of a CRA extension? A smaller matter regarding the future of the old downtown police department site on Ringling Boulevard — over which the two local gov- ernment boards have been wrangling — could be another log that could be rolled for CRA approval. The county commissioners could modify the recommendations of the extension study committee, changing the extension to 20 years instead of 30, for example; or they could demand more control of the proposed new CRA governing board. They also might want to retain a share of their annual CRA contribu- tion instead of turning it all over to the city. If so, perhaps they might need to add a "sweet- ener" to get City Commission approval. As the extension committee's work drew to a close, a few members began to look beyond their final report. "It will be a tall order to get both commissions to vote on a series of items," said member Michael Beaumier. "As I look at it, they will read our report and decide if there is a basis to continue the discussion to con- tinue the CRA — with this panel or another group or staff to develop the framework for an interlocal agreement both commissions can accept." Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown summed it up: "The two most important decisions: Extend the CRA? And for how long? All the rest can be negotiated." CRA IN A NUTSHELL A Community Redevelopment Area (or, sometimes, Agency) is a tax revenue-splitting scheme to benefit a specifically designated zone. A city or county or both can decide to freeze their property tax revenue "take" for a specific year. As property values rise over time, the extra tax revenue coming in above the "base year" accrues to the designated zone. In the case of the Downtown Sarasota CRA, that "zone" runs from 10th Street south along the bayfront to Mound Street, and then it skirts around Laurel Park to encompass the Deputy City Manger Marlon Brown has been the city liaison to the Downtown CRA Extension Study Committee. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader January 31, 2014 Page 58