TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners have a plan to spend nearly $570 million collected from the 2018 transportation surtax shut down by the Florida Supreme Court.
In a 4-to-2 vote Wednesday, Hillsborough County commissioners approved spending most of the money to repair roads, sidewalks and bridges and reduce congestion.
What You Need To Know
- Hillsborough County commission votes on what to do with defunct transportation tax funds
- $570 million collected has been frozen for two years
- Gov. Ron DeSantis recently suggested Hillsborough County refund the money to taxpayers
But since Gov. Ron DeSantis wants taxpayers to get refunded a portion of the money, commissioners don’t know exactly how much will go toward this wish list.
"I think the question is whether or not the refunds will take up all of the money that’s left or just some of it,” said Harry Cohen, Commissioner, District 1. “And if some of the money is left what the board just did was give was sort of a public statement of what some of our priorities would be.”
The directive from the governor was included in his proposed budget.
It also said any money left after the refunds cannot go toward mass transit but can be used on roads and bridges.
The proposal now goes to the state legislature for final approval.