Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/185868
Sarasota News Leader October 4, 2013 Merrill's "Want a CRA?" solicitation to South County communities puts the County Commission on the twin horns of dilemma. One option is to let the downtown CRA expire three years from now, even though downtown is an economic and employment hub for the county. The other option is to approve some form of downtown CRA extension without offering any type of concessions to South County. With two county commissioners espousing "South County causes" at nearly every breath, it is difficult to see how one city could keep all the marbles for itself. Arching over these options is the indication county commissioners feel the city has not been the best custodian of the county's revenue contribution. The city has used CRA monies for purposes ostensibly outside the Page 46 CRA's approved orbit. Each year, the city skims $2.5 million to pay for police and maintenance downtown. Taking that from the CRA pot frees up general fund monies for other purposes. There is not a thing the county can do about it, even though the money is meant for capital projects and not routine operations. The City and County commissions are scheduled to hold a joint meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 22, starting at 2 p.m. A draft agenda is already circulating. It calls for a "status report" by the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area Extension Study Committee. So in less than three weeks, the committee has to find another chairman and scrounge up something to report — and report it in a charged atmosphere. % AFFORDABLE ACUPUNCTURE FOR EVERYONE Our Mission MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE $5 OFF THE NEW PATIENT FEE To provide our community with high quality and affordable acupuncture and herbal medicine and to create a treatment space that connects people and builds community. •Gene Burgess and Melonie Burgess, licensed acupuncture physicians •Serving Sarasota since 2008 •Treatment rates are on a sliding scale, from $15-$35; new patients pay a onetime additional fee of $10 Click To Schedule An Appointment Online 3615 Webber St • Sarasota, FL 34232 (941) 922-4611 SarasotaCommunityAcupuncture.com Click for larger map and driving directions Open Tuesday through Saturday