Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/289950
"increment" is almost $7 million, with more than half of that reflecting the county's share. As with all tax plans, the CRA represents a shift of assets. In medieval days, the shift went one way — from the peasant to the lord. With today's income and sales taxes, property and business taxes and others com- mingled and jumbled by legislatures and the U.S. Congress, it is hard to discern who gets what and who is paying. But for the CRA in downtown Sarasota benefits when the city and county property tax increment cannot be spent anywhere elsewhere. Instead of devoting the full afternoon to the subject, the county commissioners insisted on adding to the agenda a discussion of a tran- sient shelter, which consumed four hours. (See the related story in this issue.) By the time the boards were ready for the original agenda item, commissioners were looking at their watches and telling their chairmen they had evening engagements. They will return to the CRA extension debate on April 22. QUESTIONS FLY A majority of the city commissioners, it is safe to assume, think the CRA increment scheme is wonderful. This year, $4 million that nor- mally would have gone to Sarasota County was shifted instead to downtown Sarasota. Recently, the city has been tapping the CRA "cash cow" to help with the Sarasota Police Department budget, while "brick and mortar projects" use up about half the CRA budget, compared to 95 percent in the earliest days. A number of local government leaders are in the audience as members of the public speak on the homelessness issue, the first item on the meeting agenda. At left on the front row are County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh and County Administrator Tom Harmer. Behind them is Sheriff Tom Knight. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader April 4, 2014 Page 36