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Hillsborough commissioners approve interim financing and major contract increases to advance 1 Water campus
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Summary
The county approved a subordinate revenue note resolution with a revolving line of credit up to $400 million and endorsed roughly $2 billion in Water Resources investments — including contract increases for design‑build and engineering partners — to advance the 1 Water campus serving fast‑growing areas.
Hillsborough County commissioners on Dec. 17 authorized interim financing and approved large contract modifications to advance the 1 Water campus, a multi‑billion‑dollar initiative that county officials say is needed to meet rapid population growth.
Demorris, a communications staffer with Hillsborough County, said the board adopted a resolution authorizing a subordinate utility revenue note, Series 2025, that establishes a revolving line of credit of up to $400 million outstanding and aggregate advances up to $1.5 billion to support capital improvements for the county utility system, including the 1 Water campus. The county’s Water Resources division plans nearly $2,000,000,000 in capital projects overall, including roughly $1,500,000,000 directed to the 1 Water program.
The board also approved phased increases to water and wastewater impact fees in the Northwest and South Central Service Areas: a two‑year phase‑in for water impact fees and a four‑year phase‑in for wastewater impact fees. Demorris noted the South Central Service Area has added more than 57,000 residents since 2020, a driver cited repeatedly in staff presentations for the fee adjustments and capital plan.
Commissioners approved contract modifications tied to the program. The progressive design‑build agreement with Garnet Companies was increased by $224,600,000 to a new total of $352,900,000 to continue project delivery work; the board also approved a sixth modification to an agreement with Corolla Engineers Inc., adding $3,000,000 for technical and project management services and bringing that agreement to $12,300,000. According to the board recap, the increases cover work on phase 1C, early phase 2 of the wastewater project and phase A of the drinking water facility.
Supporters of the measures said the interim financing and contract actions will allow the county to proceed with construction and contracting to meet demand. The board’s actions are intended to fund both near‑term interim cash needs and longer‑term capital work on the 1 Water campus. No vote tallies or dissenting commissioner statements were recorded in the meeting recap provided.
The board directed staff to incorporate stakeholder and community feedback into final documents as previously requested; staff reported that feedback had been included in the final RFP and contract documents. The county will return to the board for subsequent approvals and implementing actions as required.
