[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6141026,"mediaKeyId","5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a","parentId",5576548,"title","Finance staff tells council enterprise funds will fund major FY26 capital work; $3.5 billion projected debt through 2060","audioSeconds",4516,"startMs",104000,"endMs",4620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a&start=104&end=4620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6141026/Tampa/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Finance-staff-tells-council-enterprise-funds-will-fund-major-FY26-capital-work-35-billion-projected-debt-through-2060","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141026-bbddd30bcab1c7f2f04bcc62998e2b03/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236841&Signature=ieiMhz1S4cfZZKYwm3xyT0dmfPwGSOogJ4XsGSERcbw5OvkB1~9SMX77H7vtbqvn8Tt~XrbHMOEZlUaAI7KmUkzgIbEkpMq5dUrD8rsKdyJuWkh1kjv1gh6eFBzImZ6MA5TlfFGVRxpnaMmfpjQob9KqInaQFCM39VpqsCQVgvq3HQk869tfL561eLj0GO~~eXawNGPL91S5IJzJfhuh8dnuejqV9~yoD6CYx6aQfz0mk13-B-Cc2ZNmD-EbMA7UYxIOvWJAH~8qpmHh23tmbz75ePGdrFSUaIgKEBBD-an-9jFtJ-MuL3PXbkdpT8k3gyDQA8Tz78MM82dmPjXQyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Tampa, FL","date","2025-08-12T04:20:22Z","article","At a council workshop, Dennis O'Hara, the city’s chief financial officer, told members the city’s enterprise funds — water, wastewater, solid waste, parking and golf operations — are being used to finance a large capital program and that borrowing will be paced to project schedules rather than taken as a single large issuance.

O'Hara said, “Enterprise funds, again, for those at home or those watching who may not know, are those agencies that we mandate operate, similar to a business. Everything they charge must be spent on their services. You know, you can't charge water rates for for the police, things like that.” He added that staff will avoid “borrow[ing] and start[ing] paying interest on any money that we're not putting to use.”

Why it matters: The enterprise funds hold most of the city's utility and user‑fee‑supported infrastructure. Decisions about when and how to borrow affect ratepayers, bond markets and long‑term operating budgets. Council members pressed staff for details on fund‑balance rules, reserve minimums and the likely timing of bond issues.

The most notable figures in the presentation: staff showed an anticipated FY26 capital improvement program (CIP) for enterprise funds near $300 million and roughly $1.3 billion over five years. For water and wastewater, staff presented an anticipated future principal need of about $764 million and projected total system principal of about $1.7 billion with roughly $1.8 billion in interest — a combined anticipation of about $3.5 billion of principal and interest through 2060 under conservative assumptions (the slide used a 5% interest rate and 30‑year terms for planning purposes).

Solid waste: staff described two short‑term borrowings that are intended to be rolled into a single 30‑year bond for solid waste, and presented an estimated future principal need of about $270 million for that fund. O'Hara said the solid waste fund has been building fund balance to meet repair and renovation subreserves and debt‑covenant requirements; he noted those subreserves include a 90‑day operating reserve that staff estimated at roughly $21 million and that comprises part of the fund's roughly $44–45 million balance now in the presentation.

Water and wastewater: staff showed water and wastewater fund balances rising and then being drawn down as the CIP accelerates. Rory Jones of the Water Department and Eric Weiss of Wastewater described major projects and operating‑cost pressures. Jones said higher chemical and electric costs have pushed operating expenses higher and that the department is exploring on‑site generation options (including limited hydroelectric and solar) but that payback periods are long.

Rates and bond feasibility: Mike Perry, with revenue and finance, said the city obtains financial feasibility reports from an external rate consultant before issuing bonds for water and wastewater. “Every time we issue a bond deal for water and wastewater, we have a financial feasibility report done by our rate consultant to ... answer questions to the ... potential buyers of our bonds that we have enough revenues coming in at the rate sufficient to support those future debt issuances,” Perry said. He said current rates and the city's AAA ratings support the next planned issues, subject to updated operating‑cost projections.

Parking and other enterprise funds: staff showed parking revenues increasing but also said parking is spending down fund balance to pay for modernization projects (license‑plate readers and garage work). The presentation flagged the arena parking agreement that guarantees a minimum — staff cited a $1,500,000 guaranteed payment under the arena arrangement — and noted renegotiation is underway and will affect future parking revenues.

Timing and approach to borrowing: O'Hara and staff repeatedly emphasized they expect to borrow as needed and not all at once. O'Hara told the council that the water/wastewater debt plan likely will be issued in multiple transactions over several years and that staff do not expect an immediate large single borrowing in FY26. Several council members asked for sensitivity analyses and for the administration to present long‑range scenarios showing how operating cost changes and different interest‑rate environments would affect rates and affordability.

What was directed: Council asked staff to provide more granular materials — breakouts of principal vs. interest on debt schedules, the subreserve percentage calculations for solid waste, the total outstanding debt for solid waste (short‑term and long‑term combined), project‑level CIP cost histories and a refreshed water/wastewater master plan and financial feasibility update. Staff indicated they have those analyses in progress or scheduled.

Bottom line: enterprise funds are financing large capital programs. Staff presented conservative debt projections to give council a planning envelope, said issuing will be timed to cash needs, and pledged more detailed feasibility and sensitivity work before future bond sales.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tampa City Council Special Call - 08/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","At a council workshop, Dennis O'Hara, the city’s chief financial officer, told members the city’s enterprise funds — water, wastewater, solid waste, parking and golf operations — are being used to finance a large capital program and that borrowing will be paced to project schedules rather than taken as a single large issuance.","taxTitle","Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida","taxId",2914,"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},6141019,"Council hears plan for $783 million city share of Hillsborough County’s CIT renewal, debate on balancing parks, public safety and debt mitigation",1517,1823000,3340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a&start=1823&end=3340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a/thumbnail_1823000.jpg","/articles/6141019/Tampa/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Council-hears-plan-for-783-million-city-share-of-Hillsborough-Countys-CIT-renewal-debate-on-balancing-parks-public-safety-and-debt-mitigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141019-3e38f46ac9bc8846c8b0e895cf65528a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236841&Signature=Q69Api9jzVZ-Aan9tEHF4s0wLJPqYk2HSHlkHMdIUlYLnP89nPMrZFwoqJDilVzfWfpl9nBW1Hh~dtfgKKuooe6wLVPZuFdJY7aL4oMifC8rcs7u18ItDmJoEt4s4POWkKxUAmBDvV9HWNF5ZsEmMtecbWvDVQjQ1XoWuICgjOnWQWler2rWiN2Z6Kbb9YwIhPdU-PItbOg61vABOXiSPAIevvS6WC4d9Zv888P0dSHF7FwMXgf2rxv7DjaYZWnu43xnmuP97Yld~mX2H5cbZK9FpLAvldASwlXUDKTV3Gb7BHazZ7-Q-WXwN3s4wrgysCtGfEtoUXSgtUX7w7~VOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a council workshop, finance staff presented the city’s planning view of the Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax (CIT) renewal. The slides were taken, staff said, from county material and showed countywide projected CIT proceeds of about $3.76 billion over 15 years and an estimated City of Tampa portion of roughly $783 million (about 22 percent of the county total).

Dennis O'Hara, the city chief financial officer, reminded council that the CIT proceeds will not arrive at once. He said the city expects roughly $175 million through fiscal year 2030 under current projections and that the renewal — if enacted as shown on the county’s website — would begin collections in December 2026.

Why it matters: CIT proceeds are a significant near‑term revenue source that the city could use for capital projects, to pay down or mitigate general‑fund debt service, or to fund one‑time investments such as parks and public facilities. Council members pressed staff about flexibility and trade‑offs between spending for capital projects versus debt mitigation.

How staff laid it out: the city’s high‑level allocation framework showed broad categories (transportation and public works; public safety vehicles; public safety facilities; parks and conservation; public facilities; Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena assistance). The presentation flagged roughly $61 million for public safety vehicles and equipment in the near 4‑year window, about $17 million for parks projects in that initial period, and $35 million set aside for stadium and arena in the five‑year horizon shown.

Staff warned council that using CIT to securitize long‑term debt is more complicated in a 15‑year renewal than with the prior 30‑year CIT. O'Hara said the shorter renewal period makes securitization less likely in most circumstances and that the county historically used a significant share for debt service. He also noted that county allocation formulas incorporate population formulas set by state statute.

Questions and public remarks: Council members sought detail on whether parks maintenance or basic park upgrades could be funded from CIT money and whether the city had received a definitive estimate from the tax collector on the city's annual yield. John Bennett, the mayor’s chief of staff, said city administration and the CFO had met the county administration and asked the county to analyze county assets inside city boundaries and consider an MOU to direct more work like paving to avenues within city limits.

Council members also raised equity and allocation concerns. Councilman Maniscalco pressed for use of CIT to avoid new long‑term bonding where feasible (particularly citing park maintenance), while other members stressed public safety and facility needs. Councilman Miranda highlighted a perception that the city receives a smaller share than he expected and asked staff to clarify allocation mechanics; O'Hara said the split is a function of the county’s state‑statute formula and of negotiations at the county level.

Next steps: staff said they will continue discussions with the county (including the MOU analysis) and will present more detailed options to council for trade‑offs between capital PAYGO, facility investments and debt‑mitigation uses of the funding.","At a council workshop, finance staff presented the city’s planning view of the Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax (CIT) renewal and showed a projected City of Tampa share of about $783 million over 15 years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141010,"Residents and council press parking department on revenue, contracts and employee parking in Ybor",6650,170000,6820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a&start=170&end=6820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a/thumbnail_170000.jpg","/articles/6141010/Tampa/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Residents-and-council-press-parking-department-on-revenue-contracts-and-employee-parking-in-Ybor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141010-3e690d6e1f2cf168afc6d075fc1b4827/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236841&Signature=SK09XzO0sq3n5hygu23W4OEP82D03jiHmjKrxSc67d8FVSYoIvQEI6QDiMwdN7Bdsf9fAQ5c8ax4mFiXJUpPLRXESZURqk6tJeEB4tPj3r0XtcwkapBH1zkrXK0eutjBm0Dgu8Qop1SLsOx-~cV8rjYj8LV3PNC26A0anpZib6RHN6OtaaECG5VW8fprP7JkmxE3mMwk914rDgPMSefGfw05CU~JtQ48Yj9SLRk0qB50ZmMlNon7WM7u4MA6GRdrS9kxjnldR~VphXAaFLL0OItF7i-r-RiC5w3TztfIKRVKAZnnkTIwsCp5rUnWaWF7wohaQzjugyX4p5KxQm1zgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members and members of the public raised multiple questions about parking operations and parking revenues during a council workshop that also reviewed enterprise funds and capital projects.

Staff and council discussion: Dennis O'Hara and parking staff told council the parking fund is seeing revenue increases and that the department is spending down fund balance to pay for modernization projects, including fixed license‑plate readers and garage maintenance. O'Hara said parking had roughly $10.3 million shown for the current year and about $11 million projected for next year in the presentation.

Council members pressed staff on a historical arena parking agreement that covers areas south of Kennedy; staff said the agreement remains in force and was in its last year of the current term and would expire the following September under the schedule cited in the presentation. The staff reply included that the arena agreement guarantees a $1,500,000 minimum payment and that the percentage of revenues from the primary garage (the share paid above the guarantee) is being renegotiated.

Public concerns and employee parking: multiple public commenters and council members said parking garages in Ybor and downtown are frequently full, that employees who work in entertainment and dining districts struggle to find low‑cost parking, and that enforcement actions such as booting can create hardship. One resident asked whether the city could reserve or designate employee parking areas or change pricing to better support workers; mobility staff responded that the department is working with a consultant on parking strategy and that no new city garages are currently planned.

Why it matters: parking management affects small businesses, employees, downtown visitors and city revenues. Council members noted the high capital cost of structured parking (estimated in the workshop discussion as $30,000–$50,000 per space) and discussed trade‑offs between encouraging shared parking models, pursuing targeted garage investments, or expanding transit and shared‑use approaches.

Next steps: staff said they are conducting a parking analysis with a consultant and will provide follow‑up information to council; several council members requested offline briefings on employee parking and strategic property acquisition opportunities where shared or publicly accessible parking could be developed.","Council and the public raised questions about parking access and enforcement downtown and in Ybor, the arena parking agreement, and whether the city should pursue additional garages or employee parking programs as downtown demand grows.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141015,"Council told nonprofit funding gap; staff, council agree to reconvene with refined list before public hearings",3582,7289000,10871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a&start=7289&end=10871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576548-ff896d31bb2556d32fb5b0df483e384a/thumbnail_7289000.jpg","/articles/6141015/Tampa/Hillsborough-County/Florida/Council-told-nonprofit-funding-gap-staff-council-agree-to-reconvene-with-refined-list-before-public-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141015-41f7e7afb06d2b9a515cb17e5434da5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236841&Signature=L0xsLWhOe51Nmid4-YWsJhhGjB8VzCAk6TYllgZelMZPYdPdSF20jmPkNEC8M9OlgSkBoayt94kvDAQT-vefl6FjUupBKGxGlgExCjxqaa3Be89wS-2qnJ7t5k0kTFxpdfaM8~J1Yg4~MVrVvmPWqNWJzwPGR8GwBOzqXzyHFnvxjizFzXGQ9L8rlvQioJIxBmVPtv3dqE~PrkQEdDai3WRL79oy60x3FdVUzfJjQM-akhBnEAxbG1fE7UoK90PmJKizNx-zn6aZFFJ9q4X5LP7Cq11Bt~UeMy7og0kh8do3bRXo1DwucH9I2QdXJnDgcuSRJTXbg64ctMblhSvONg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and council members discussed the Social Action & Arts Fund at a council workshop and identified a shortfall between prior‑year allocations and the mayor’s recommended budget. Staff explained the item as part of a broader reorganization in which some programs were moved to other departments (economic development, city assets) or handled through different funding mechanisms.

John Bennett, the mayor’s chief of staff, and Osea Winn, director of Administrative Neighborhood and Community Affairs, described the history and administration. Bennett said the city previously managed a larger consolidated fund and that staff reclassified some items into economic development or departmental budgets to align funding with strategy. Winn described the mechanics of the current program and the reporting process for grants and agreements.

Why it matters: Dozens of small and mid‑sized nonprofits receive recurring city funds; changes to the program or the funding pool affect neighborhood services and cultural organizations. Council members and public commenters urged clarity and outreach so groups with community services do not lose funding because of application or deadline issues.

What staff presented: staff said the former annual total for the combined programs was about $2.9 million. After transfers (including about $500,000 moved into economic opportunity and other departmental transfers) the mayor's recommended social‑action allocation included a $1 million placeholder. Staff calculated that maintaining the prior year’s list of awards after the transfers would require roughly $1.4 million in addition to the $1 million placeholder.

Application and reporting process: staff described a two‑tier process. Grants below a $25,000 threshold are handled through a streamlined quarterly tranche and logic‑model reporting (inputs, outputs, outcomes). Awards above that threshold require formal agreements, additional audit and state‑law compliance steps, and quarterly outcome reporting tied to invoicing. Staff said they do not issue payment tranches if required reports are missing; a quarterly reporting program is used to trigger subsequent payments.

Council direction and public comments: council members and public speakers asked for better outreach and for fewer piecemeal, short‑term awards. Several speakers representing neighborhood groups and nonprofit programs said either that deadlines or communications could have been clearer or that the city should provide technical assistance to community groups seeking funds. Council members generally agreed to avoid making individual $100,000 discretionary allocations and instead to ask staff to return with a vetted, strategic allocation plan for the funds before the first public budget hearing.

Next steps: staff and the budget office will review the applicant list, follow up with nonprofits that historically received funds but had not reapplied, and present a recommended allocation approach at the next public hearing cycle.","City staff told council that moving several items out of the Social Action & Arts Fund and other transfers leaves a gap between the mayor's recommended allocation and prior year totals. Staff and council agreed to reconvene with a vetted list and follow‑ups before the first public budget hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance staff tells council enterprise funds will fund major FY26 capital work; $3.5 billion projected debt through 2060

Council hears plan for $783 million city share of Hillsborough County’s CIT renewal, debate on balancing parks, public safety and debt mitigation

Residents and council press parking department on revenue, contracts and employee parking in Ybor

Council told nonprofit funding gap; staff, council agree to reconvene with refined list before public hearings