In a memorandum sent to commissioners on July 8, Hillsborough’s Chief Financial Administrator Tom Fesler called the report “substantively lacking.”
“It contains inaccuracies, disregards or misinterprets significant information provided by county staff, cites savings that do not exist or would not be realized, recommends processes already in place, and relies on unsupported assumptions,” Fesler wrote. “While the Committee may disagree with certain Board policy decisions and related investments, that disagreement does not amount to wasteful spending.”
The conversation comes as a proposed property tax amendment could notably diminish municipalities’ revenue. Hillsborough estimates it could lose as much as $367 million in annual revenue — roughly 88% of which funds public safety. The amendment is on the ballot in November, and should it pass, local municipalities will need to tighten their belts to absorb the lost revenue.
According to the county, part of that balancing strategy could include raising taxes and fees, incentivizing early retirement, implementing a hiring freeze and layoffs.