Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting - June 17, 2026

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the County Center, 2nd Floor, in Tampa, Florida. The meeting included a consent agenda, public comments, and several discussion items, including reports on workload impacts, stormwater rates, mobility fees, and potential property tax reform. The board voted on numerous items, including approving a $45,000 grant for summer violence prevention, authorizing negotiations for the Indoor Fieldhouse project, and directing staff to review several policies.

Consent Calendar

• Approved a consent agenda consisting of 60 routine items, including modifications to funding agreements, service contracts, budget amendments, and procurement awards. All items were approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Denise Herndon spoke about cybersecurity concerns and alleged interference with her property access, referencing TECO and the property appraiser's office.
• Jason Kimball (virtual) urged the board to consider fentanyl contamination studies when evaluating kratom regulation (Item F-5).
• Joe Bugle expressed support for Item F-4, which would provide bonus points for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses in county contracts, citing similar programs in other jurisdictions.
• Ron Weaver opposed the proposed property tax reform (Item G-3), arguing it is unconstitutional, would reduce essential services, and disproportionately harm low-income residents.
• Tom Cobert warned about health emergencies, urging the county to preserve its healthcare fund surplus and not use it for other purposes.
• Deanna Morris demanded clear enforcement of Florida Statute 102.031 to prevent voter intimidation at polling locations, referencing federal law.
• Dwayne Zolnowski requested the county assist Temple Terrace with connecting to the county water system as a cheaper alternative to addressing PFAS contamination.
• Bruce Harker opposed funding for the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA), advocating for local spending on affordable housing, libraries, and social services.
• Alexander Stein spoke in support of Pride Month and advocated for more LGBTQ+ inclusive programming.
• Omar Sobo, Ahmad Al County, Evan Fretwell, and Lorenzo Almanzar all opposed FIBA funding, arguing county tax dollars should not support foreign entities, especially those linked to drone manufacturing and alleged human rights abuses in Gaza.
• Todd Randolph honored the late Dave Coleman and criticized TECO for rate hikes, citing an 82% increase since 2020.
• Joey Catalano introduced himself as a presidential candidate, calling for accountability and transparency.
• Dr. James Davison claimed the county provided two different financial impact statements for the CIT tax referendum, allegedly shortchanging the public by $1 billion.

Discussion Items

• B-3: Indoor Fieldhouse Project – Authorized the Tampa Sports Authority to negotiate a construction manager-at-risk contract with Suffolk Construction for a $70 million, 178,000 sq. ft. fieldhouse and 46,000 sq. ft. of renovations to the MOSI West building. The board emphasized the project's economic benefits and revenue-generating potential. (Motion carried 7-0)
• F-3: Safe & Sound Hillsborough Summertime Violence Prevention – Approved $45,000 for the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa to support the Safe Summer Series 2026, which includes structured assemblies, social media campaigns, responsibility classes for arrested youth, and support for local nonprofits. (Motion carried 7-0)
• G-2: Workload Impacts of Countywide Growth – Received a report on public works maintenance challenges due to a 19% population increase over the last decade. Staff presented options: expanding contracted services or re-establishing a fourth maintenance unit (estimated $40 million capital cost). The board accepted the report and directed staff to evaluate service area realignments. (Motion carried 7-0)
• B-2: Stormwater Impact Fees and Rate Options – Received an updated rate study. Staff recommended against stormwater impact fees and presented options: a maintenance-only increase of $6/year (from $86.49 to $92.58) or a larger increase to replace the $20 million general fund subsidy. The board voted to advertise the maintenance-only increase, with the public hearing set for September 2, 2026. (Motion carried 6-1, Commissioner Cameron Cepeda dissenting)
• B-1: Mobility Fee Program Audit – Accepted the County Internal Auditor's Report #2026-07, finding the program compliant. Commissioner Wostal raised concerns about fee collection and spending within zones. (Motion carried 7-0)
• B-4: Disaster Debris Management Services – Approved modifications to extend contracts with Ashbritt and Phillips Heavy for one year, authorized staff to develop a scope for four debris management firms and four zones, and rejected the current RFP that only allowed for three. (Motion carried 6-0)
• F-1: Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District – Directed the County Administrator to coordinate with the district to present a report by July 15, 2026, evaluating funding, performance, and value to taxpayers. (Motion carried 7-0)
• F-2: Local Firearm Waiting Period Requirements – Directed the County Attorney to monitor state legislative and judicial actions and advise on any necessary ordinance changes to remain consistent with Florida law. (Motion carried 7-0)
• F-4: Small Business Encouragement for Service-Disabled Veterans – Directed the County's Small Business Enterprises Division to draft an amendment providing 6 bonus points for registered small businesses and 7 for those also owned by service-disabled veterans in county procurements. (Motion carried 7-0)
• F-5: Synthetic Drug Ordinance – Kratom Prohibition – Directed the County Attorney to review and draft revisions to the synthetic drug ordinance to prohibit the sale of 7-OH extract of kratom (a concentrated form). The board emphasized targeting the extract, not kratom tea or kava bars. (Motion carried 7-0)
• F-6: Dedicated Funding for Fire Rescue – Directed the County Administrator and County Attorney to evaluate options for a dedicated funding mechanism (e.g., MSTU, MSBU, fire assessment) for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue in the unincorporated area, with the goal of revenue neutrality. (Motion carried 7-0)
• G-1: Tampa Sports Authority Board Member Removal – Received a legal report stating that the board lacks authority to remove TSA members mid-term; only the governor can do so for cause. Commissioner Miller made a two-part motion to (a) gather documents and send a letter to the governor and state attorney for review, and (b) draft a letter to TSA requesting policy improvements. The board also discussed term limits. (Motion carried 7-0)
• G-3: Property Tax Reform Report – Received a presentation on the proposed constitutional amendment (on the November 2026 ballot) that would increase homestead exemptions to $250,000, reduce non-homestead assessment caps to 5%, and limit ad valorem revenue use. The board discussed severe impacts on public safety funding and approved a motion to hold a workshop in January/February 2027 if the amendment passes. (Motion carried 6-0)

Key Outcomes

• Approved all consent agenda items (7-0).
• Authorized TSA to negotiate the Indoor Fieldhouse CMAR contract (7-0).
• Approved $45,000 for Safe Summer Series violence prevention (7-0).
• Accepted the workload impacts report and directed staff to realign service areas (7-0).
• Voted to advertise a $6/year stormwater rate increase (maintenance only) with a public hearing on September 2, 2026 (6-1).
• Accepted the mobility fee audit report (7-0).
• Approved disaster debris contract extensions and new scope (6-0).
• Directed reports on Soil and Water Conservation District (7-0), firearm waiting period consistency (7-0), small business/veteran procurement (7-0), kratom prohibition (7-0), and fire rescue funding (7-0).
• Directed County Attorney to investigate TSA ethics concerns and draft letters (7-0).
• Accepted the property tax reform report and scheduled a future workshop (6-0).