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Commission on Human Trafficking: board directs staff to work on justified budget proposals and regular reporting
Summary
After public testimony on the Commission on Human Trafficking, staff presented FY23–25 expenditures; the board directed staff to work with the commission on data‑justified budget amendments and semiannual reports rather than approve a recurring flag item immediately.
Brandon Wagner presented expenditures for the Hillsborough County Commission on Human Trafficking for fiscal years 2023–25. The commission’s adopted baseline recurring budget stands at $267,000 annually; additional flag‑item funding provided $300,000 in FY24 and $400,000 in FY25, for a total of about $667,000 allocated. Wagner said encumbrances and outstanding contract payouts mean only around $32,000 remained unspent at the time of the report.
Public commenters and commissioners urged recurring, predictable funding to sustain outreach, foster care placements, emergency housing and training. Commissioner Cameron Cepeda proposed adding $233,000 in recurring funds, but a substitute motion by Commissioner Wostel (seconded and approved) directed staff to work with the commission to develop data‑justified budget proposals and to provide semiannual reports; that substitute motion carried 7–0.
Why it matters: commissioners and community partners argued that predictable funding would enable strategic planning and partnership with law enforcement and service providers, while some board members wanted tighter expenditure reporting and justification before adding recurring budget items.
What’s next: staff will collaborate with the Commission on Human Trafficking on any proposed budget amendments, request semiannual reporting from the commission and return to the board with proposals supported by data and cost justification.
