TAMPA, Fla. — City and county leaders across Tampa Bay are deciding what to do with billions of your tax dollars.
Dozens packed the first of two Hillsborough County Commission budget hearings where debate over affordable housing became the focus. However, the majority who attended the hearing left disappointed.
"My heart is very... It's very heavy because we have vulnerable residents that are struggling," said Dr. Sheila Simmons Tribble, co-president of HOPE, which stands for Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality.
The organization is made up of faith congregations across the county. In 2019, members successfully fought to have a fund allocating $10 million every year toward affordable housing efforts.
However, county commissioners recommended in a 4-3 vote to scrap the HOPE fund and reallocate it to other existing projects. Commissioners Harry Cohen, Gwen Myers, and Pat Kemp voted no.
Commissioner Joshua Wostal said the HOPE fund, which is a property tax, remains a burden for taxpayers.
"There's an endless amount of needs that are in this county, and really, this commission just has to figure out what our priorities are," Wostal said.
Residents like Bud Smith agree that property taxes should go to other county services.
"I'm not against affordable housing at all," Smith said. "Let's just get the funding from another source."
Some who attended remotely and echoed reallocating the HOPE fund cited the already high cost of living.
However, members of HOPE argue that's all the more why the funds are necessary for the most vulnerable. In addition, providing shelter would allow people to stay employed and keep them in the area.
"They, too, are paying taxes," Simmons Tribble said. "If we can't at the local level begin to provide for our residents, particularly our seniors, our children, our vets, the disabled, then who are we?"
Simmons Tribble said contrary to what critics pointed out, most builders come from non-profits rather than corporate builders.
The county commission is scheduled to have its next public hearing on the budget on Sept. 19 and is expected to adopt the budget worth billions of dollars.