Frequently Asked Questions

A Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a public entity that finances redevelopment within focused, geographic areas created under Florida Statutes, Chapter 163.340 (8)(A).  Brooksville was able to designate areas as Community Redevelopment Areas when certain conditions existed. Since all the monies used in financing CRA activities are locally generated, CRAs are not overseen by the state, but redevelopment plans must be consistent with local government comprehensive plans. To be eligible to create a CRA, conditions that can support the creation of a Community Redevelopment Area include but are not limited to the presence of substandard or inadequate structures, a shortage of affordable housing, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient roadways, and inadequate parking. To document that the required conditions exist, Brooksville conducted a survey of the proposed redevelopment area and prepared a Finding of Necessity. The Finding of Necessity determined that the required conditions existed, and Brooksville could create a Community Redevelopment Agency to provide the tools needed to support redevelopment of the targeted area.

The purpose of the CRA is to revitalize the physical environment and the economy of the Community Redevelopment Area. The CRA's activities are designed to solve the underlying problems of slum and blighted conditions through planning, redevelopment, historic preservation and affordable housing so that the tax base can be protected and enhanced by these mutually supportive activities. The work program for the CRA is defined in the Community Redevelopment Plan for the Community Redevelopment Area. In the redevelopment plans, comprehensive strategies were formulated to promote community development in the Community Redevelopment Areas and the annual budget is adopted to support these activities.

CRA projects are funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from each redevelopment area. When a redevelopment area is established, the current assessed value of the property within the project area is designated as the base year value.  TIF is a mechanism which captures a percentage of any new tax revenue generated within a redevelopment area. For example, if a CRA area is established in 2001, the Agency receives a percentage of any tax revenue greater than the amount of revenue captured in that base year. This percentage can range between 50% and 95%.  Currently, the CRA areas receive 95% of this increase as TIF funds to be used in the community redevelopment areas. TIF funds collected from a particular CRA area are invested back into that area only.   Generating TIF is not an additional tax levy or a supplementary assessment on property owners. It is not an additional tax. TIF is an economic development tool used to leverage funds to promote private sector investment within the primary urban service boundary, and to generate revenues to finance projects.

On June 7, 1999, the City of Brooksville formally established a CRA Area in its downtown. The CRA Area is approximately 110 acres in size.  Ordinance 590 created the funding mechanism for the CRA Area using 1998 tax levels for the first CRA Area.  The CRA Area was expanded in 2024 and a second Trust Fund was established for the expansion area.

This map depicts specific areas within the CRA areas. The purple area is the original CRA Area and the lighter pink areas are the 2024 expansion areas.

The Community Redevelopment Agency is responsible for developing and implementing the Community Redevelopment Plan which addresses the unique needs of the area. The plan includes the overall goals for redevelopment in the area, as well as identifying the types of projects planned for the area.  Examples of traditional projects include façade grants, building renovations and site improvements, directional signage, streetscapes, sidewalks, street tree plantings, community facilities and public parking lots. Any projects funded with Redevelopment Trust Fund revenue must be identified in the redevelopment plan.  The redevelopment plan should be updated every five years to meet a community’s changing needs.

An Executive Review Committee reviews the applications and approves the grant requests. The Committee consists of: 

           Director of Community Development or designee

           Public Works Director or designee

           Finance Director or designee

Public Information Coordinator

Brooksville Main Street Director or designee

The City Council serves as the CRA Board.  Elections of a Chair and Vice chair are held each December following the City Council selection of the Mayor and Vice Mayor for the following year. 

The CRA meets quarterly or as required to address business.  The meetings are held in the City Council Chambers 201 Howell Avenue at 6:00 PM before regular City Council meetings with some exceptions when the CRA meets during a council meeting.  For up-to-date meeting information, please view the Calendars on the City of Brooksville home page. 

Stormwater is precipitation that accumulates, in natural/constructed storage and stormwater systems, during and immediately following a storm event. 

According to the EPA,

"Stormwater is rainwater or melted snow that runs off streets, lawns and other sites. When stormwater is absorbed into soil, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers."

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, "When rain falls on lawns, forests and fields, the water not absorbed by plants filters through the soil before reaching and replenishing Florida’s groundwater supply. Ninety percent of the state’s drinking water is supplied by groundwater."
 

You can make a difference to the future of Florida's water systems. We can all contribute to a safer water supply and healthy future for all generations to come. Here are some things you can do to help improve natural water resources:

• Use phosphate free soaps when washing your vehicles, boats and homes. Use environmentally safe cleaning products on your animals.
• Do not let paint, thinners, or other chemicals flow into the street.
• Remember to blow leaves, soils, and other yard debris back into your yard, not onto the walkways or streets.
• Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground cover and stabilizing erosion-prone areas.
• Dispose of garbage in proper bags/receptacles.

1. Building Contractors should keep excess silts and soils from roadways, and keep chemicals from reaching the streets. We can recycle as much construction debris as possible.
2. Restaurants should remember to clean grease traps regularly, recycle cans, and other containers, and use environmentally friendly cleaning solutions.
3. Lawn Services should always blow grass clippings back onto the property instead of the sidewalk or streets.
     

Federal Regulations define an illicit discharge as “…any discharge to a stormwater system that is not composed entirely of storm water…” with some exceptions. These exceptions include discharges from NPDES-permitted industrial sources and discharges from fire-fighting activities. Illicit discharges are considered “illicit” because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-storm water wastes. You can report an illicit discharge charge by contacting the Department of Public Works at 352-540-3060.

• Sanitary wastewater
• Effluent from septic tanks
• Car wash wastewater
• Improper oil disposal
• Radiator flushing disposal
• Laundry wastewater
• Spills from roadway accidents
• Improper disposal of auto and household toxics

The City’s Public Works Department recently engaged in a Storm Drain Marking Campaign.  The City has put forth an effort to educate people regarding the hazards associated with pollutants such as oil, dirt, chemicals and lawn fertilizers that may flow directly into our storm drains, and ultimately, our drinking water via Peck Sink.

If you have any questions or comments please contact the Public Works Department at (352) 540-3860