Hillsborough commissioners approve 7.5M millage swap, keep $2M for HOPE housing and OK several community projects

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted to convert a portion of a $10 million HOPE allocation into unincorporated revenue and approved several proposed community projects on July 30.

In a 5–2 vote, commissioners approved a plan to leave $2,000,000 in the countywide HOPE affordable-housing allocation and swap $7,500,000 into unincorporated funds to be used for targeted priorities, including public safety, transportation and community projects. Commissioner Bowles moved the swap and Commissioner Cohen seconded it; Commissioners Miller and Wolstel voted no.

Why it matters: The swap changes which parcels are ultimately taxed to produce the revenue. Budget staff said the proposed swap would reduce countywide revenue by about $7.5 million and increase unincorporated revenue by about $4.47 million, producing an estimated 0.0418 millage reduction countywide for most municipal parcels while leaving unincorporated totals roughly net neutral.

The board then approved project-by-project allocations drawn from the swap proceeds. Motions and recorded outcomes included a unanimous 7–0 vote to fund a $290,000 turn-lane project on Gunn Highway, a unanimous 7–0 vote to set aside $360,000 for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue’s STEP job-training program, and a 7–0 vote for funding to support High 5 youth and aquatic safety programs. The board also approved $536,601 for a children’s food pantry, a motion that passed 5–2.

Public voice: Two residents who spoke during the public-comment period urged the board to prioritize affordable housing. “I am a concerned resident. I am concerned about the persistent shortage of affordable housing in our county,” said Cynthia Goding. Sheila Simmons Tribble told commissioners she was “here to give voice to seniors on fixed income, veterans, people with disabilities, and many working families” and urged at least $2 million remain dedicated to affordable housing.

Budget context: Budget Director Kevin Brickey summarized the administrator’s recommended FY26 budget as about $12.088 billion in total, with about $4.1 billion in operating expenditures and roughly 24% allocated to public safety. He said much of the year-over-year increase stems from capital projects and reserves tied to a large water project.

HOPE fund status: After the line-item votes, a later effort to remove the remaining HOPE balance outright was attempted, reconsidered and ultimately failed; the board left the HOPE allocation intact pending final budget work. Commissioners debated whether to use reserves or countywide funds instead of relying on property-tax shifts and asked staff to provide exact math and any required city matches for particular projects.

Next steps: The board set the TRIM (Truth in Millage) notice millage rates and scheduled the first budget public hearing for Sept. 4, 2025, then adjourned. Staff will finalize the arithmetic and reflect the board’s decisions in the upcoming tentative and final budget hearings in September.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to accept flag list — Passed 7–0. • Motion to implement 2.5/7.5 countywide/unincorporated swap (leave $2M HOPE) — Passed 5–2 (Miller, Wolstel no). • Gunn Highway turn-lane ($290,000) — Passed 7–0. • STEP job-training program ($360,000) — Passed 7–0. • High 5 youth/safety support — Passed 7–0. • Children’s food pantry ($536,601) — Passed 5–2 (Miller, Wolstel no). • Skill Center match (contingent on city match) — Passed 4–3. • Motion to remove remaining HOPE balance — final attempt failed 3–4 after reconsideration.

The board’s actions will be incorporated into the county’s tentative millages and the budget hearings scheduled for Sept. 4 and Sept. 18.