TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners heard from dozens of people at Thursday night’s budget public hearing.

Nearly 60 people spoke passionately both for and against the board allocating $10 million for the affordable housing trust fund.

In the end, they voted to decrease that amount to $2 million.

The meeting was probably one of the few times where you’ll hear $10 million referred to as “a drop in the bucket.”

But those in favor of funding for what’s known as “The HOPE Fund” said that amounts to a fraction of Hillsborough County’s $10 billion budget and they wondered why this item was targeted by commissioners for possible cuts.

Many of the speakers are with the nonprofit “HOPE:” the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality. The group works to create affordable housing in the county.

Members told commissioners Hillsborough County is in dire need of affordable housing, and that it will save taxpayers money in the long run by keeping at-risk people off the streets, out of emergency rooms and out of jail.

One person who spoke in favor of the funding was former commissioner Kimberly Overman.

She was part of the board that created the HOPE Fund in 2019, and said while some funding is better than none, there will be consequences of the cut.

“When you start cutting funding in an area that’s been building the economy to become well-rounded, it takes a lag to show up,” Overman said. “So, we will be significantly non-competitive with other similar metropolitan communities because of the lack of affordable housing within our community within the next two to three years.”

But those against the funding say it should be up to the nonprofit’s donors and area churches to help those in need.

Some said they’re not against affordable housing, they just don’t think taxpayer dollars should be used in this case.

“I’m a taxpayer,” said Hillsborough resident Carmen Edmonds. “I’m tired of spending money on tires that get blown, windshields I have to get replaced, and the time it takes out of my day because the roads are a mess, our sidewalks are a mess.

“We have money that needs to be spent for infrastructure and wastewater management and things that benefit all citizens, not just those that can’t afford housing.”

Commissioner Joshua Wostal was one of those against the $10 million allocation.

He said the board that created the HOPE Fund tried to illegally bind future commissioners to this particular spending, which he said amounts to a tax.

Commissioner Gwen Myers made the sub-motion in favor of the $2 million funding.

She said the HOPE Fund has helped Hillsborough County make progress in affordable housing, including by building more than 800 new units.

The $2 million spending was passed by a vote of 4-to-3.

Commissioners also approved the overall $10 billion budget, which includes funding for a new fire station, public safety operations center improvements and nearly $50 million for road and sidewalk projects.