Before last night’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission, the Escambia Children’s Trust had five votes to approve an exemption request and interlocal agreement that will direct Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to the Escambia Children’s Trust for the county’s youth programs.
- After the Trust had a series of providers, a volunteer and a parent spend 35 minutes touting the impact of programs funded by the organization, the commissioners voted 5-0 to resolve a contentious funding dispute that had lingered for over a year.
However, the personal attacks behind the scenes on the commissioners, particularly on Commission Chair Mike Kohler, and the Trust board’s preferential treatment of the City of Pensacola, which is asking for twice as much money, plus interest and late fees, nearly scuttled any reconciliation with the Board of County Commissioners.
Understanding the TIF Exemption Issue
At the core was how to allocate TIF funds generated within CRA districts that the Trust had received. Traditionally, these funds support infrastructure improvements, and before June, the Children’s Trust disputed whether it had a legal obligation to return those funds to the county.
However, to avoid going to court, the Trust board sought an exemption and an interlocal agreement to redirect the money toward the county’s youth services. The dispute involved tax years 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
Attorney Meredith Bush, representing the Children’s Trust, explained the request: “The Trust is asking the county to grant the exemption allowed by the statute to allow the TIF funds to be paid to the county for use for children’s services rather than to go to the CRAs or infrastructure.”
The approved interlocal agreement establishes that funds will be used for “county youth programs” at the county’s discretion, resolving all outstanding disputes between the entities.
Support for the Trust
Multiple speakers testified about the transformative impact of Children’s Trust-funded programs throughout the community. The supporters painted a picture of comprehensive services reaching vulnerable populations across all districts.
Lisa Smith Coleman from Children’s Home Society highlighted remarkable results: “The navigator program active in 24 of your county schools answered the call for help for over 32,000 referrals this year alone. That’s an incredible impact.” She noted that their SAIL Academy “has doubled the number of students served” thanks to Trust funding.
Parent Lauren Merritt shared a deeply personal story about her adopted children affected by the opioid crisis: “Owen and Maya were two of the first 10 kids enrolled in the program, and when they joined Help Me Grow, we gained an instant family and a support group of professionals who surrounded us with acceptance, information and resources.”
MaryAnn Bicherstaff from ARC Gateway emphasized early intervention success: “We’ve screened 243 children just in the past year, connected 86 children to Early Steps, the state-funded early intervention program, and Child Find, the public school entry point into exceptional student education.”
Kohler Addresses Equity Concerns and Misinformation
Commission Chair Mike Kohler made clear that opposition to certain aspects of the funding structure should not be misconstrued as opposition to helping children. He directly addressed false rumors circulating in the community:
- “I want to start out with the misconception that I’m against Children’s Trust. I believe in kids. I’ve been a nurse for 34 years. I’ve heard a lot of passionate stories here, but I’m for equity.”
Kohler specifically rebutted claims about the Navigator Program: “Did you email my office about this? I’ve been getting emails today from the navigator program, basically saying Commissioner Kohler’s trying to get rid of the navigator program. That’s a lie. I had nothing to do with that… Never happened, and so I just want honesty to be out there all the time.”
His primary concern centered on geographic equity in funding distribution. Kohler questioned why the city receives $2.4 million in TIF funds for 55,000 residents while the county receives only $1.1 million for 280,000 residents: “I just don’t get how the city gets $2.4 million for their CRA with services. 55,000, and the county gets $1.1 million to serve the other 280,000. I don’t know how that’s equitable.”
Despite these concerns, Kohler committed to supporting the agreement while reserving the right to advocate for improved performance in underserved areas: “I’m a man of my word and I will honor the interlocal because we came back and that will open up opportunities with the other money for cameras and things in my district.”
Need to Target Underserved
Commissioner Lumon May, who serves on both the County Commission and Children’s Trust board, provided important context about the program’s original intent and target population. He emphasized that the tax was passed based on specific promises to underserved communities:
- “That targeted group on whose back you raised this money are the people that we should try and help first… It wasn’t all the children; it was all the children in the pockets of property that we passed this tax on, and their grandparents went out and voted for it with no hope.”
May stressed that while services should eventually reach all children, the original campaign materials, which secured voter approval, featured vulnerable populations who should remain the priority.
The agreement resolves the immediate funding dispute while establishing a framework for continued collaboration between the county and Children’s Trust to serve Escambia County’s youth.