In a unanimous vote, City Council approved Ordinance 2023-0496 on Aug. 22, terminating the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Area.
The JIA CRA, an area of 22.25 square miles and 14,245 acres, was created via a designation of blight conditions in the area surrounding the airport via Council Resolution 90-406-242, approved in July 1990; and the creation of the CRA boundaries, CRA plan and tax increment trust fund via Ordinance 93-159-57, approved in March 1993.
By state law, CRAs have a maximum lifespan of 30 years. Fiscal year 2022-23, which ends Sept. 30, is the 30th year of the JIA CRA’s existence.
The JIA CRA board enacted its Resolution 2023-03 on Aug. 8 declaring that the goals of the CRA plan were accomplished and finding that the CRA’s existence no longer is warranted.
The board also published its 2023 End of Term Report summarizing the history and accomplishments of the CRA and outlining how the blight conditions in place three decades ago are remediated and how the goals of the CRA plan have been met.
Publicly funded projects within the CRA completed include construction of the JIA South Access Road, the Interstate 95/Airport Road Interchange project and the widening of North Main Street and Duval Road.
Private development completed in the CRA cited in the report includes the expansion of Coach Leatherware, Majestic Realty Company, the development of several hotels, the River City Marketplace retail center, substantial growth within the Jacksonville International Tradeport and Amazon.com opening.
The report notes that the taxable value of land within the CRA boundary increased from $214.19 million in the 1995-96 tax year to $1.86 billion in 2022-23 and that a total of $173.1 million in tax increment revenue has been collected for use in meeting the CRA plan goals.
Elimination of the CRA’s tax increment district means that previously dedicated revenue will be added to the General Fund for use throughout Duval County.
In fiscal year 2022-23, the increment revenue was $18 million. Remaining CRA obligations of $3.8 million, comprising Recapture Enhanced Value and Qualified Target Industry grant payments and debt service, will become the responsibility of the general fund.