Hillsborough wants to DOGE dozens of nonprofits
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios; Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Longtime county support for nearly 100 nonprofits in Hillsborough could soon vanish.
Why it matters: On Wednesday, the Board of County Commissioners will decide whether to ax recurring financial support for nonprofits from the general fund, many of which have relied on it for decades.
Zoom in: The new guidelines, if approved, would make it harder for nonprofits to obtain funding from Hillsborough County. And year after year, each one will have to prove it still deserves a spot in the budget.
- Nonprofits must now demonstrate how their services fulfill a "public purpose," whether through health, economic, or social impact, and include "clear performance measures and expected outcomes."
- Organizations that have received recurring funds before Feb. 7, 2024, will see that support taper until it hits zero in fiscal year 2029. From that point forward, all awards will be one-time.
Between the lines: This is the latest in a string of measures Hillsborough Commissioners have taken to rein in government spending, from forming a review panel to axing the county's affordable housing fund.
- The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has served as the unifying force for Hillsborough's GOP majority and the motivation to push through sweeping changes.
- "Under the new fad and mentality of DOGEing everything ... I believe the board should be bold enough to make these meaningful improvements," Commissioner Chris Boles (R) told Axios. "Rather than waiting for some outside agency from Tallahassee or internal ad hoc committee."
Threat level: Boles' motion targets "legacy" nonprofits that have received funding from the board for nearly 30 years, while also aiming to reduce the number of nonprofits that Hillsborough ultimately supports.
- There's an exemption for nonprofits that operate out of county-owned facilities or provide services that support county functions; however, it's unclear how many nonprofits fall under those.
- The nonprofits explicitly listed as exempt are the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, among others.
What they're saying: "The loss of this funding would absolutely have an impact on our ability to serve the community," Anna Corman of the Hillsborough Education Foundation told the Tampa Bay Times.
The other side: "I fully support nonprofit organizations in Hillsborough County," Boles told Axios. "We need them, many provide vital, often core, services traditionally delivered by government."
- "I also believe we still need to be judicious with our use and allocation of tax dollars and level the playing field for all nonprofit organizations."