HART presents FY2025 budget proposal with $71M capital plan and $103M in COVID-relief spending noted

HART’s CEO Scott Drainville and Melanie Williams, director of budgets and grants, presented the agency’s FY2025 proposed operating and capital budget to the board on Aug. 5. Williams said the agency recorded total proposed operating revenues of $117,305,565 and personnel costs of about $83.9 million, representing roughly 71.5% of operating expenses. She told the board the agency received $103,378,662 in COVID-relief funds and that staff recorded 100% of that money as operational spending, including wages and fringes, parts and supplies, fuel and utilities.

Williams reviewed the FY25 capital budget and a five-year capital plan. The five-year plan totals $301,531,125; the FY25 capital budget is $71,046,221, with major FY25 projects including CNG buses ($13.1M), paratransit vans ($3.6M), a radio system ($6M), and a heavy maintenance building (about $19.8M). Staff said the first public hearing on the tentative budget will be Sept. 9 and the final hearing Sept. 23.

Board members asked whether prior audit findings had been addressed; staff said accounting hires and training were completed in July. Directors also questioned the Flamingo fare system and enhancements; Dan Rodriguez from HART’s PMO said planned upgrades include student discounts, improved transfer features and fraud prevention. On the Tampa Historic Streetcar, staff said internal costs amount to about $1.4M and that a prior FDOT subsidy ($700,000) had ended; staff said they are negotiating with the city and Community Redevelopment Areas to cover any shortfall.

Melanie Williams summarized the overall reserves position: projected operating reserves of about $37.5M on Oct. 1, 2024, and total reserves near $47M. The board did not adopt the budget at the meeting; staff will return with the final budget for a public hearing in September.