HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Fee on Wednesday unanimously accepted a sweeping plan to allocate greater than $709 million in federal catastrophe restoration funds, regardless of earlier sharp criticism from one commissioner concerning the federal authorities’s position and the sheer quantity of the unrequested assist.
The “Group Growth Block Grant–Catastrophe Restoration (CDBG-DR) Motion Plan” handed with a 7-0 vote, setting the framework for the way Hillsborough County will spend funds allotted by the Division of Housing and City Growth, or HUD, to handle damages from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The plan, which now heads to HUD for ultimate approval, designates not less than 70 % of the funds for low-to moderate-income households.
In March, Commissioner Joshua Wostal voiced robust objections to the surprising federal allocation, taking to social media to specific his concern over what he termed the federal authorities’s overreach.
“I wish to give the American Folks an instance of why you might be struggling to get by and the way the Fed is actively fleecing, at this level, our grandchildren,” Wostal beforehand stated on social media.
He famous, “Hillsborough County alone was simply awarded $700 Million with out discover or request from HUD for the storms.”
Wostal additional highlighted the dimensions of the grant in relation to native funds.
In a follow-up tweet, he reiterated that the $700 million was “we didn’t even ask for however can be spent maximally and a few.”
Regardless of Wostal’s public stance, he joined his fellow commissioners in approving the motion plan. The county acquired formal notification of the over $709 million allocation on Jan. 21, 2025.
Throughout Wednesday’s assembly, Tom Fessler, the county’s chief monetary administrator, introduced the plan, explaining that the funds are earmarked for “catastrophe reduction, long run restoration, restoration of infrastructure and housing, financial revitalization, and mitigation” associated to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Fessler clarified that whereas the plan is broad, it permits the county flexibility.
“[We’re]deliberately leaving the plan a little bit bit broad at this level to offer us with the flexibleness in order that after we get into the implementation, we are able to drill down into particulars,” Fessler stated.
He added that the county plans to problem a request for proposals to rent consultants for the implementation part and intends to work with cities throughout the county to make sure additionally they obtain funding.
The draft plan outlines vital allocations, together with roughly $415 million for repairing and changing properties, $140 million for infrastructure tasks like stormwater enhancements and street repairs, and almost $100 million to help small companies and staff.
Commissioners acknowledged the intensive work concerned in creating the plan, which included 9 public conferences and hearings to collect resident suggestions.
Commissioner Wostal praised the employees’s efforts.
“I do know that the work product that we ended up with goes to be exemplary. I believe that we’re going to keep away from a number of different counties’ missteps that could be occurring,” Wostal stated.
Commissioners indicated their subsequent step includes retaining consultants to implement the plan.
