County Seeks Residents To Review Transportation Tax Projects

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL -- Hillsborough County commissioners are seeking residents to serve on the Independent Oversight Committee for the recently approved referendum to collect a 1-cent sales tax for transportation projects.

This committee was created to ensure that the distribution and expenditures of the of the 1-cent sales tax for transportation is successfully implemented and to provide independent oversight of the distribution of the tax revenue.

The duties for this committee are:

* Review the results of the annual audit described in County Charter Amendment, Section 11.04 and determine whether the clerk and each agency has complied with the terms of the charter amendment.

* Approve project plans and certify whether the projects comply with the charter amendment.

* Prepare an annual report for the clerk and each agency with the results of the annual audit and any findings made, then publish the audit in a newspaper and hold a public hearing.

* Review any projects proposed by citizens for inclusion in an agency’s Project Plan, and forward them to the appropriate agency for consideration.

Four positions will be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Terms are for three years. Two should have expertise in either transportation, planning, sustainability, engineering or construction. Appointees will be required to file an annual financial disclosure.

No one currently serving as an elected official or appointed city, county, special district, state or federal public office holder is eligible to be a member of the Independent Oversight Committee. Additionally, members can't be employed by any contractor or business that will benefit from transportation projects funded by the surtax.

Residents interested must live in Hillsborough County and be a registered voter. The positions are voluntary and there is no compensation.

All applicants must submit a completed Questionnaire for County Appointments and a Standards of Conduct form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Individual commissioners may interview candidates prior to conducting the formal appointment process.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 7. Appointments will be scheduled for a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners in March.

The forms are available in the commissioners’ reception area on the second floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa; by calling the boards and councils coordinator at 813-272-5826; or on the county’s website. Click on the “Government” link on the top of the page, then the “Boards and Committees” link. The forms can be filled out and printed, then scanned and emailed, faxed, hand-delivered or mailed. All forms must be signed and dated and all questions must be answered in entirety to be eligible.

Image via Plan Hillsborough

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