Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.
Hillsborough County commissioners voted Tuesday to advance roughly $353 million in public funding for the proposed Tampa Bay Rays ballpark, including $263 million in tourist-tax bonds and a $90 million sales-tax appropriation, even as Amendment 3 raises questions about the county's long-term finances.
Local Government
Local Government
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Local Government
Local Government
Hillsborough County's water utility earned a AAA credit rating upgrade from S&P, joining Moody's and Fitch at the top mark, as the county prepares its largest-ever bond sale of up to $700 million for the One Water Campus serving Apollo Beach, Ruskin and surrounding communities.
Local Government
The Hillsborough TPO is accepting public comments until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 on a 22-project amendment to its five-year transportation plan, which the board will vote on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Local Government
The Southwest Florida Water Management District's 12-month rainfall deficit has grown to 15 inches, and water experts say summer thunderstorms cannot recharge the aquifer fast enough to lift the Modified Phase III restrictions keeping Apollo Beach and Ruskin residents on once-a-week watering through Oct. 1.
Local Government
The U.S. Commerce Department ruled that Mexican winter strawberries are being sold below fair value, imposing preliminary cash deposits of up to 5.28% that could ease competitive pressure on Hillsborough County growers during the November-through-March harvest season.
Local Government
Census data shows more than 15,000 residents left Hillsborough County in the year after hurricanes Helene and Milton, while Apollo Beach faces softening home prices, expanding evacuation zones and projected insurance premium increases of 213% over 30 years.
Local Government
A 50,325-square-foot Publix opened Thursday at Wolf Creek Commons in the Waterset community, bringing the first full-service grocery store inside the 3,500-home master-planned development in Apollo Beach.
Local Government
Port Tampa Bay's board took up a land conveyance to FDOT at the US-41/Diana Toledo Almeida Road intersection and an Apollo Beach residential dock variance at its Aug. 18 meeting, with three FY2027 budget hearings open to the public in the weeks ahead.
Local Government
Four candidates in the 14th Congressional District Republican primary demand a full investigation after voter guides distributed by the Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee at early voting sites were marked to favor Mike Beltran, with HCREC president Carmen Edmonds calling the conduct "completely unacceptable."
Local Government
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell won the Senate District 16 universal primary with about 65% of the vote and will head directly to Tallahassee with no November opponent, while Aileen Rodriguez clinched the County Commission District 7 Democratic nomination and will face Republican incumbent Joshua Wostal in the general election.
Local Government
Tampa Bay Water's $505.7 million South Hillsborough Pipeline, now under construction, will deliver up to 65 million gallons of drinking water per day to communities including Apollo Beach and Ruskin, where the population is projected to double by 2050.
Local Government
Flock Safety is requiring all law enforcement clients, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, to activate an audit tool that flags officers who abuse the license plate reader system used at Apollo Beach neighborhood entrances. The mandate follows a Haines City officer's arrest for tracking his estranged wife 717 times.
Local Government
Ronele Drive in Ruskin closes to all through traffic Saturday, Aug. 15, as South Hillsborough Pipeline construction begins on the road, with detours routed through South Kings Avenue, Bloomingdale Avenue and John Moore Road.
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