Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/227385
Sarasota News Leader December 13, 2013 as we can, based on what we've learned. I don't believe staff should be funded by TIF. It has become a bit of a slush fund, and I don't think that's appropriate." Member Joel Freedman thought differently. "The CRA of the future is a different one than in the past. There's a check and balance in the new CRA because of the city-county-citizen mixture [on the governing board]," he pointed out. "I agree there [have] been abuses in the past, but we don't know what the future is going to bring." Russell said, "I think Casey makes some good points. I would like to think we can communicate clearly that our committee is fairly concerned over the growth of CRA expenditures towards operations, as opposed to project-based investments to grow the TIF." Russell suggested a friendly amendment "to strongly discourage the increasing reliance of transfers from TIF for operations." However, Gallagher did not accept the amendment as "friendly." Russell then suggested rewording Gallagher's amendment to say, "We defer determination of allowable uses of the TIF [money] to the new CRA board." That won approval on a 7-1 vote, with Coburn in the minority. With those two items decided, only one remains. It regards an amorphous "other rules" category/catchall. That will come up at the group's next meeting on Dec. 18. In the meantime, with six of the seven general decisions behind them, the writing of the committee members' report will begin. It is scheduled to be delivered to the City and County commissions by late January. % The Church of the Redeemer 222 S. Palm Ave., in downtown Sarasota Warmly Invites the Community to Join in The Celebration of the Birth of Christ Christmas Eve Family Mass - 4 pm Music & Carols begin at 3:30 pm Choral Mass (with incense) - 6:30 pm Brass Quartet, Organ & Carols begin at 6 pm Midnight Mass (with incense) - 10:30 pm Brass Quartet, Organ & Carols begin at 9:30 pm Christmas Day Holy Communion at 7:30 am Choral Mass at 10 am Mass in Spanish at 1 pm Complimentary parking for Christmas Eve available at BMO Harris Bank Parking Garage, McAnsh Square Christmas Eve beginning at 3 p.m. Page 76 Child Care Available During 4pm Family Mass. www.redeemersarasota.org / call 941.955.4263