[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6262576,"mediaKeyId","3115043-b44aa7463b7942ed7ec22d836abcd8ae","parentId",3115043,"title","Hillsborough County officials outline fiscal 2026 priorities, flag pressure on unincorporated-area fund","audioSeconds",923,"startMs",648000,"endMs",1571000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115043-b44aa7463b7942ed7ec22d836abcd8ae&start=648&end=1571","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115043-b44aa7463b7942ed7ec22d836abcd8ae/thumbnail_648000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262576/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Hillsborough-County-officials-outline-fiscal-2026-priorities-flag-pressure-on-unincorporated-area-fund","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262576-3a1775a7d78057dc8a15a7be5bfa1a37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159127&Signature=KZmAssi9Zi9vHNcbGsCCEh54aSFWipQRFjniOUhsL6Bu9cFk03OiQqW0XAz9n1KP2y3su9fBmYewLyS0-rYt958EWt0Fw471hMzCpPJ-vQ70hF1iGle3B~ggC87n4CNQ6d8xAfjdGIoGKzHHO-7cGSEiZvp8Djy~MGiEUDAVQGPjyKFffaF~VO69X8VptDzOYe~lScYZDtx6iizJLawOtAu0NM8E~Ck9-LoHkKKpMn8sWgaj3zTcGVsBGc-8vHWIptw0pE0DwlwDV5PYcOQTe92uCcn3Z05kO4FEiPFVFEf713BGsZRv13TW-0KDFtPfUu3I~uumE7~3jV7gXZ4h4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hillsborough County, FL ","date","2025-04-25T00:03:55.997Z","article","Hillsborough County officials offered an initial overview of the fiscal year 2026 budget framework at an April 23, 2025, budget workshop, saying countywide finances remain strong but the unincorporated-area general fund faces continued pressure from growth-driven public safety needs.

County Administrator Bonnie Wise opened the workshop by noting the process timeline and public hearing schedule and reminding the board that no votes would be taken at the workshop. Kevin Birkey, director of Management and Budget, told commissioners the county has maintained AAA credit ratings and “strong reserves,” then reviewed the county’s adopted FY 2025 budget as context for FY 2026 planning.

The presentation showed the county’s FY 2025 total budget at about $10.331 billion and an operating budget near $3.97 billion. Birkey told the board the two operating general funds — the countywide general fund and the unincorporated-area general fund — are where the board has the most discretion; together those two funds rely heavily on property tax revenue. “A third of [current revenues], a little over a third of that, 36% is from ad valorem property taxes,” Birkey said. He reported countywide taxable value growth of about 6.8% this year and a conservative FY 2026 estimate of about 6.3%.

Birkey and Wise emphasized that public safety is the largest operating cost. The presentation showed the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue as the largest line items funded from general funds; staff summarized figures discussed in the workshop as sheriff roughly $632 million and Fire Rescue roughly $281 million (both numbers discussed during the workshop). In the unincorporated-area general fund — the county’s fund for services where cities usually provide them — public safety accounted for about 68% of that fund, with the unincorporated operating millage at 4.4745 mills (about $13.42 on an assessed value of $350,000). The countywide operating millage was reported at 5.6026 mills (about $16.80 on an assessed value of $350,000).

Staff reiterated policy targets and constraints that will frame budget choices: a general fund reserve policy of 20%–25% (reserves were reported at about 23.8% in FY 2025), the state-prescribed truth-in-millage (TRIM) process for establishing millage rates, use of restricted funds first (for example, fuel taxes for transportation), and the goal of a structurally balanced budget. Birkey also reviewed the county’s capital improvement program (about $2 billion in FY 2025) and noted major capital sectors: water enterprise and transportation. He said the county projects more than $3.1 billion in new capital funding over six years from sources including the Community Investment Tax (CIT) beginning December 1, 2026, transportation surtax returns, bond proceeds, and a CDBG disaster recovery allocation discussed later in the meeting.

Commissioners pressed staff on specifics they said residents raise frequently. Commissioner Whitstell asked whether staff had a recommended percentage for the annual road maintenance and repaving program; Birkey said the FY 2025 budget included $69 million for repaving and that department requests for FY 2026 were still being evaluated. Commissioner Whitstell also asked whether that $69 million was rollover; staff said some of it would likely roll into FY 2026. Several commissioners expressed concern about backlog and the annual repaving need (Birkey said a full repaving program at the county’s pavement index would cost on the order of $95–100 million annually).

Other fiscal items discussed: the county’s workforce count (about 6,200 total positions in FY 2025), ongoing implementation costs tied to new fire stations and emergency units added since February, and an ongoing IAFF contract the board previously approved (staff noted the fiscal impact will be included in FY 2026 planning). Commissioners also discussed the indigent health care surtax: staff reported reserves around $400 million and that annual surtax receipts had slowed; the board previously directed about $15.7 million to the Sheriff and $5.0 million to Fire Rescue from that surtax in FY 2025.

On schedule, Birkey reviewed the budget calendar the board will follow: a second budget workshop May 28 (draft topics: nonprofit policy and solid waste), county administrator’s recommended budget delivered July 16, a budget reconciliation public hearing to set millage rates (the TRIM/“budget reconciliation” hearing) on July 30, and two public hearings in September (tentative and final budget adoptions on Sept. 4 and Sept. 18).

Commissioners asked for follow-up information on multiple items, and some members requested an additional workshop or briefing after the Florida legislative session to prepare for possible statewide changes that could reduce or shift local revenues. Staff said they would provide updated transportation and reserve slides at the July budget delivery and could schedule supplementary workshops if the board requests them. The meeting was a policy- and planning-focused session; no board votes or formal budget approvals were taken at this workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners: 2026 Budget Workshop - 4.23.25","oneSentenceSummary","Hillsborough County officials offered a fiscal-year-2026 budget overview at an April 23 workshop, saying countywide finances remain strong but the unincorporated-area general fund faces continued pressure from growth-driven public safety needs.","taxTitle","Hillsborough County, Florida","taxId",2865,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6262573,"Hillsborough County staff outline plan to use about $700 million in CDBG disaster-recovery funds, stress HUD rules and LMI requirement",835,2370000,3205000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115043-b44aa7463b7942ed7ec22d836abcd8ae&start=2370&end=3205","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115043-b44aa7463b7942ed7ec22d836abcd8ae/thumbnail_2370000.jpg","/articles/6262573/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Hillsborough-County-staff-outline-plan-to-use-about-700-million-in-CDBG-disaster-recovery-funds-stress-HUD-rules-and-LMI-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262573-61a1860238a3cbaed53ed6f70458ce30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159127&Signature=aJDVkY02kKftR0MBJRm5osSw0bro4Y90YMGBiN~jj01Kwl6LgHrncf4Ys3qpPy2T7EolM7NNHm1DndZ5SZmGZdCxwoZz5QNqR1TDazJFDAUu9HOIT7BWGGsROqrIbQ5FgWIChwptX6U~a6qfIDi5aSI-SeZSWkS3O6xKLqDMxyO28FkzgIS554RQD98xW7Mb4b50fX-kqVcztY2ZOxOr68Xsytc-qtRBzF-Kt0iVCXwvqft~2K8skpngGa85lF5AojWlKBkkH1Twg2cTWngiA0s8sBq16DH3UeGX~FuLFD7e-Sxr6jktcnuwjML2EuN4m1tHURFBebobLaVkiB4pdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hillsborough County staff briefed commissioners April 23 on the newly announced Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) allocation the county is preparing to administer, describing a fast-moving timetable, federal rules that limit use of funds, and staff recommendations to prioritize large infrastructure projects.

Tom Fessler, chief financial administrator, said the county received notice from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that it would receive what his presentation discussed as roughly $700,000,000 in CDBG-DR funds. Fessler said the county did not apply for the funds but that HUD awarded the allocation; staff hired a consultant (Indelible Solutions) to draft the action plan the county must submit to HUD. “Based on the federal requirement, the funding must be spent in the following categories: housing, economic revitalization, infrastructure, mitigation planning, public service, and administration,” Fessler said.

Fessler described key federal constraints that will steer programming: at least 70% of expenditures must benefit low-to-moderate-income (LMI) individuals or areas tied to the disasters; all expenditures must be tied to the disaster event except mitigation, and the action plan must document an unmet-needs assessment. He said HUD allows up to 6 years to spend approved funds and that the county will need to use competitive processes and strict program controls. Fessler said staff expects to seek flexibility in the action plan but warned that plans typically evolve over time as needs and projects are refined.

On program design, Fessler said the consultant and staff believe much of the allocation will best be spent on infrastructure — particularly stormwater and road-related projects that reduce future flood risk — rather than direct business reimbursements or large-scale home elevations. “They're recommending to not cross the threshold of businesses,” Fessler said, summarizing consultant guidance that favors infrastructure and cautions that direct-assistance programs can carry long monitoring and reporting obligations beyond the six-year spending window.

Fessler also said the county has already obtained HUD approval to draw 5% of the grant (about $35 million) for administration up front; those funds will support plan development, compliance and reporting. He said the board will be asked to approve a draft action plan for public comment on June 4 and a final action plan on July 16 (staff requested and was granted an extension so the plan is due to HUD by July 20). He noted cities were invited to participate and that implementation will likely be a mix of county-run programs, subrecipients and competitively awarded projects.

Commissioners sought clarity on how consultant work and other studies would be integrated into the action plan. Commissioner Cohen urged staff to coordinate Black & Veatch’s infrastructure recommendations with the CDBG-DR action plan so the two efforts align before the July deadline. “I want to make sure that Black and Veatch's recommendations are integrated into what we adopt on July 20,” Cohen said. Commissioner Whitstell asked who decides the allocation percentages across housing, economic revitalization and infrastructure; Fessler replied that the consultant-derived unmet-needs assessment proposes percentages but the board will approve the final allocation in the action plan.

Other points staff and commissioners raised: the plan must document unmet needs in LMI areas and HUD will require some homeless-related services in the plan; selected projects cannot supplant existing, previously committed funding; and technical assistance from HUD and outside consultants will be used to limit compliance risk. Fessler recommended the board consider large, shovel-ready infrastructure projects tied to disaster impacts and warned that certain housing-elevation strategies may pose long-term monitoring burdens or uncertain return on investment.

Staff said the draft action plan will open a 30-day public comment period when it is presented (a draft was scheduled to be brought back to the board in early June), with the board expected to act on a final plan in mid-July. Fessler and staff committed to include cities in outreach and to return to the board with implementation details, allocation choices and any proposed memoranda of understanding if the board elects to allocate funds to municipal partners. Commissioners requested timely notification of public engagement dates and more opportunities to review consultant findings before finalizing the county’s submission to HUD.","County financial staff said they have 45 days after consultant work to finalize an action plan for roughly $700 million in HUD CDBG disaster-recovery funds; 70% must benefit low-to-moderate-income areas and 15% must be used for mitigation. Staff recommended focusing much of the funding on infrastructure projects tied to storm damage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hillsborough County officials outline fiscal 2026 priorities, flag pressure on unincorporated-area fund

Hillsborough County staff outline plan to use about $700 million in CDBG disaster-recovery funds, stress HUD rules and LMI requirement