In a party-line vote, the Hillsborough County Commission’s Republican majority picked asphalt over housing affordability in the upcoming county budget. On a 4-3 vote Thursday night, the commission cut the $10 million appropriation to its affordable housing trust fund by 80% and reallocated the $8 million to road paving and sidewalk repairs. The debate comes amid an affordable housing crisis in .
Expanding the Hillsborough County Commission could come with a price. The cost of expediting a voter referendum could run as high as $2.5 million for a special election. Adding two seats to the seven-member commission also would be accompanied by $1 million annually in additional salary and benefits, plus a one-time expense of $200,000 to add office space. The price estimates are contained in .