During the May 6, 2026, Board of County Commissioners meeting:
The Board presented the 2026 Ellsworth G. Simmons Good Government award to Hillsborough County Sheriff, Chad Chronister for his 34 years of public service. During his time at HCSO, Sheriff Chronister has guided the agency with a vision rooted in accountability, operational excellence, and lasting community partnerships.
During his tenure, crime in Hillsborough County has seen a sustained decline, driven by his emphasis on proactive policing, interagency collaboration, and data-driven enforcement strategies.
The Board declared May 6 as the 20th annual Delta Day in honor of the Tampa Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The not-for-profit organization is dedicated to cultural, educational, and service-oriented activities that uphold high cultural, intellectual, and moral standards.
Commissioners approved the appropriation of $95 million with the Rebuilding for Tomorrow program, also known as the Community Development Block Grant- Disaster Recovery, or CDBG-DR, Project Fund for seven new infrastructure projects which include:
Drainage improvements, ditch and drain restoration, culvert replacements, power outage emergency beacons, stormwater pump stations, the low-pressure sewer system, and flood mitigation/environmental land restoration.
The Rebuilding for Tomorrow CDBG-DR funds are administered by the County and funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help communities recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The Board appropriated $208.4 million in Rebuilding for Tomorrow funds for the Single-Family Housing Program.
Staff reported the program is expected to assist approximately 1,000 single-family homeowners who owned their property at the time it was impacted by these storms.
To apply for assistance or learn more about the Rebuilding for Tomorrow program, visit Rebuildingfortomorrow.HCFL.gov.
The Board approved a public hearing to be scheduled for June 3, 2026, to adopt the annual Solid Waste System's assessments, fees, rates, and charges. The fees will fund the cost of providing solid waste collection and disposal within the County's service area.
Staff recommends an annual increase not exceeding $22 per dwelling unit.
The increase is required to maintain continued solid waste services at the current levels, accommodate increases in operating costs, and fund capital projects necessary for safety.
Commissioners approved an additional $51,000 in the FY26 budget to expand the County’s Swim Safe Initiative.
The program serves Head Start students, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, and participants from the Parks & Recreation Summer Camp program.
To date, the program has helped 16,000 kids learn to swim. The County remains committed to promoting water safety education.
The next BOCC regular meeting is at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2026. You can watch the meeting live on YouTube on the Hillsborough County Meetings channel.
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