The Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) has submitted a proposal to redirect nearly half a million dollars toward directly benefiting local youth through the County’s Summer Youth Employment Program.
- On March 14, 2025, ECT formally requested that the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners grant them an exemption from paying $495,157.18 in tax increment revenues (TIF) to the County’s Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) for the 2024 tax year. Instead, ECT proposes an interlocal agreement with the County to directly fund the Summer Youth Employment Program.
Background: Under Section 163.387 of Florida Statutes, ECT is required to contribute tax increment revenues to the County’s CRAs. However, ECT’s primary mission is to provide dedicated funding for children’s services within Escambia County, and the organization believes that using these funds for CRA infrastructure projects doesn’t align with their core purpose.
- The proposed agreement would establish a cooperative funding arrangement that ensures these funds directly support services benefiting children and youth in our community. The County’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides valuable workforce development opportunities for young people, helping them develop essential job skills while earning income.
Commissioner Lumon May likes the idea and waits to hear the details at the Board of County Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, May 1. He said:
“I think that money should be used for children. We had over 1,200 kids apply for the Summer Youth Employment Program, and we don’t have the funds to cover all of them. This is one of your programs where you’re actually putting money in the hands of disadvantaged kids and teaching them real-world job skills.”
Key Agreement Terms
The interlocal agreement includes several important provisions:
- ECT would allocate funds equivalent to what would have been paid to CRAs.
- Funds would be used exclusively for the Summer Youth Employment Program or another County-administered program directly benefiting children.
- The County would provide quarterly reports on program expenditures and outcomes.
- The agreement would be effective for the 2025 tax year and could be renewed or amended by mutual consent.
Next Steps
The County Commissioners must decide whether to grant or deny ECT’s request within 120 days of its submission (by mid-July 2025). The proposal represents an innovative approach to ensuring that funds intended for children’s services are used in a way that directly impacts the community’s youth.
- If approved, this agreement could serve as a model for how special districts and county governments can work together to maximize the impact of tax dollars on programs that directly benefit our community’s children and youth.