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north Sarasota, and every year since 2006, it has declined in value. In effect, its tax incre- ment is negative. Every year, the city has taken money from the Downtown Sarasota CRA to keep this Newtown CRA afloat. The county authorized the geographic expansion, but it contributes nothing to the Newtown CRA (which has its own advisory board and list of projects and accomplish- ments). While the monies are commingled with downtown CRA funds and used to pay for Newtown CRA projects and administra- tion, the Newtown CRA has a term of 40 years from its start in 2006. The city commissioners are sure to resent losing their absolute authority over CRA expenditures, but the addition of $133 million in county monies over the next three decades is also sure to ease their pain. However, the report has no similar balm for the county's continued loss of tax revenue for use in down- town Sarasota. Outgoing County Commissioner Nora Patterson has remained opposed to the exten- sion of the CRA from the time it was first mentioned. As a former mayor of Sarasota, her voice may resonate with the two younger members of her board. However, it is doubtful the April 1 meeting will be a time of decision. Both boards can accept the report, thank the ad hoc committee and ponder their moves. One possibility is clear. The Sarasota County Commission could refuse to extend the CRA and begin to recoup the increment. In fact, over the past four years, the county has found new uses for the old tax-increment finance money in its post-2016 environment. Budget projections for the 2017 fiscal year and beyond show the county taking back the money. Conversely, the county might accept a larger role in deciding how CRA monies are spent, angling perhaps for its use in larger projects such as a new cultural district, a convention center, a research and development corri- dor once proposed for mid-county energy efficiency endeavors or other large pub- lic projects. Or the county commissioners may use their votes as a lever to force other issues to swing in their direction. A homeless shelter is one current hot topic, as is conveyance of land on Ringling Boulevard next to the Silvertooth Judicial Center in downtown Sarasota. Is the county willing to forgo $133 million in long- term money for some short-term solutions? With city and county elections looming, noth- ing is certain, and no decision in the near future may be final. Two county commissioners are term-limited (Patterson and Joe Barbetta), while one city commissioner must resign to run for Barbetta's seat (Paul Caragiulo). And City Commission district elections will be held in the spring of 2015. New players with new ideas will be coming to the party. Regardless of who is voting, the stakes are perhaps a profound half a billion dollars. But fundamentally, the question is simple: Should Sarasota County continue to funnel a share of the county property tax revenue paid by downtown Sarasota property owners back into the city? % Sarasota News Leader March 21, 2014 Page 70