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Hillsborough County approves one-time funding after public appeals to support human trafficking commission
Summary
After extensive public comment from survivor advocates and service providers, the Hillsborough County Commission approved a one-time, nonrecurring funding allocation for the County Commission on Human Trafficking and asked for semiannual reports, voting 7–0.
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted Sept. 17 to approve a one-time, nonrecurring funding allocation for the County Commission on Human Trafficking and requested semiannual updates to track outcomes.
The decision followed an extended public-comment period in which survivors, advocates and service providers urged the board to continue and expand investments in prevention, emergency housing and survivor services. Connie Rose, chair of the county commission on human trafficking, thanked the board for its past support and underscored the commission’s emphasis on prevention, awareness and cross-agency collaboration.
“Through those partnerships, we ensure efficiencies, avoid duplication, and serve as a connector so efforts complement rather than compete with one another,” Rose told the board.
Advocates described several urgent gaps. Claire Reynolds, president and CEO of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, said the commission’s awareness campaign and coordination strengthened local response capacity and urged continued budget support. Dottie Groover Skipper, vice chair of the commission, told commissioners the county recorded 220 trafficking reports in fiscal year 2023–24 and stressed that funds were encumbered but not yet invoiced.
“Community awareness, investment in victim survivor placement, and emergency housing” are among the priorities the commission proposed, Groover Skipper said.
County staff presented a set of funding options. During discussion, commissioners referenced a recurring allocation and a $100,000 rollover from fiscal year 2025 that staff proposed carrying into FY26. After debate, Commissioner Bowles moved to adopt option 4 — described in the staff packet as a one-time, nonrecurring allocation — and Commissioner Miller seconded. The motion carried 7–0.
Brandon Wagner, who presented the staff report, told the board the commission would return with semiannual updates and that the board could consider additional funding later if warranted by the commission’s performance and needs.
The board’s action preserves support for prevention campaigns and immediate survivor needs called out by speakers, including hotel vouchers and emergency placement when shelter beds are unavailable. Speakers noted Florida currently has a limited number of safe house beds statewide and described hotel vouchers as a short-term bridge to stabilize survivors while longer-term placements are found.
The board recorded the vote as carried 7–0. The commission will submit semiannual reports and the county will revisit funding if subsequent data and needs justify further allocations.
