Latest news with #HillsboroughBoardofCountyCommissioners
Axios
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Once-fringe ideas now sail through GOP-controlled Hillsborough commission
Tensions among Republicans that have roiled the state Legislature and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners have, for now, subsided, and the effects of that unity are starting to show at the local level. Why it matters: Proposals from the commission's conservative hardliner, Commissioner Joshua Wostal (R), until recently were often met by resistance, including from fellow Republicans. But the GOP supermajority, once out of step, now moves as a bloc — and those ideas have resurfaced and passed with little resistance. Flashback: Wostal tried to stop adding fluoride to Hillsborough County's drinking water in February, an idea that sailed through other cities and counties under GOP control. But even with one of the board's two Democrats absent, Wostal couldn't find the votes; he took to X afterward to question whether those who voted against him were even Republicans. Then, in March, GOP Commissioners Ken Hagan and Christine Miller broke ranks to defeat another one of Wostal's resolutions — this one inviting a state DOGE audit. Driving the news: Miller later brought forward her own resolution, which committed the county to work with the state DOGE and created a local review panel to examine its spending. Her motion passed. Then, last week, commissioners scrapped the HOPE trust fund, a Democratic-era affordable housing program that Republicans had long opposed but hadn't managed to kill until now. What's next: Commissioner Chris Boles (R) is set to follow through with another one of Wostal's priorities: slashing funds for nonprofits.
Axios
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Hillsborough moves to ax housing fund used after Milton as hurricane season looms
Hillsborough County wants to scrap an affordable housing fund it relied on to help those Hurricane Milton displaced. Why it matters: The HOPE trust fund remains one of the county's few lifelines for residents left homeless by natural disasters, and Republican commissioners want to ax it ahead of hurricane season this year. Catch up quick: The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners created the HOPE trust fund and pledged to set aside $10 million every year while under a Democratic majority in 2019. The trust fund provides housing for the county's poorest residents and allows commissioners to divert some of its funds toward "another urgent community need." The commissioners withdrew $5.6 million from the trust fund in October for disaster relief, with up to 10% set aside for hotel stays and security deposits for those affected. Zoom in: Commissioner Chris Boles (R) introduced a motion to divert all new funds away from the HOPE trust fund and toward "public safety purposes," specifically naming fire rescue and the sheriff's office. Commissioner Joshua Wostal (R) pushed for the trust fund to be fully rescinded, arguing it is "anti-democratic on its face" because it binds money to a sole purpose outside the discretion of current or future commissioners. Boles replaced his motion with one from Wostal, and the board voted 5-2 to rescind the trust fund, with the issue set to return for a public hearing at a later date. Boles did not respond to a request for comment from Axios. Asked whether he had concerns about ending the trust fund ahead of hurricane season, Wostal told Axios: "Nope, I'm celebrating reducing the property taxes for 440,000 residents." The other side: Commissioner Harry Cohen (D) voted against the motion, noting the board has the authority to decide how these funds are allocated, like it did last year, after Milton.
Axios
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Defenders of affordable housing fund plan big push at Hillsborough meeting
More than a hundred people are expected to attend Wednesday's Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners meeting, even though a commissioner described the agenda as "very dull." Why it matters: Sheila Simmons Tribble, co-president of Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality (HOPE), knows no major action is planned — that's the point. Residents will use the 45 minutes set aside for public comment to urge commissioners to advocate for affordable housing. Catch up quick: The organization successfully lobbied the commission in 2019 — then under a Democratic majority — to create an affordable housing trust and commit $10 million to it each year. Republicans slashed the HOPE trust fund's annual allocation from $10 million to $2 million after gaining control of the commission in 2023. The commission did so again last year. Three commissioners tried to eliminate the trust fund last year, but Commissioner Ken Hagan (R) sided with Democrats to save it. With fewer Democrats now, the trust fund may not survive another vote. The big picture: One-third of Hillsborough County's residents pay over 30% of their monthly income on housing, making them among the most financially squeezed in the state, the Florida Housing Coalition reports. The HOPE fund has helped build over a thousand new affordable housing units, Simmons Tribble tells Axios. The commission also tapped it to help those Hurricane Milton displaced last year, a move that Commissioner Joshua Wostal (R) supported, even though he often swings the axe at the fund. What they're saying:"There is no vote tomorrow," says Simmons Tribble. "But our presence, our numbers will be our voice, advocating for a community-centered priority: affordable housing for all." "This isn't something that we're just going to walk away from," she adds. "We will be there in our purple shirts, in the name of progress and equality because that's what we want for our county." What's next: Simmons Tribble believes the commission might attempt to scrap the trust this year.
Axios
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Conservative pitches falter in Hillsborough despite GOP majority
Republicans dominated last year's elections — for the White House, the Florida Legislature and even the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners. But despite fewer seats, local Democrats have still had a say in shaping the agenda — thanks to rifts within the GOP. Why it matters: Twice now, GOP commissioners have broken ranks to help sink hot-button proposals: one to make Hillsborough a test kitchen for the state's DOGE task force, another to remove fluoride from its water. Commissioner Joshua Wostal has tried to rally his colleagues around red-meat conservative issues; each time, they've left him hanging. Catch up quick: In February, Wostal made a resolution to stop adding fluoride to Hillsborough's water. Even with Commissioner Gwen Myers (D) absent, Commissioner Harry Cohen — the lone Democrat — got backup from Republican Commissioners Ken Hagan and Chris Boles to sink the motion. A month later, Hagan and Commissioner Christine Miller (R) joined Democrats to defeat another Wostal resolution — this one inviting a state DOGE audit. Driving the news: Wostal took to X after the fluoride vote and openly questioned whether Hagan and Boles were even Republicans. He didn't go as far with Miller, who torpedoed his state DOGE audit but has teamed up with him on other occasions. She has filed her own resolution, which commits the county to cooperating with DOGE but stops short of explicitly requesting an audit. Yes, but: Asked about Miller's proposal, Wostal tells Axios, "As long as we get DOGE'd, I'm happy." What's next: Commissioners will consider Miller's resolution at today's meeting, which starts at 9am. You can watch live on the county's YouTube channel.
