All 7 County Commissioners Invited to Public Rally in Brandon Tonight (Aug. 11)

Parents, teachers and children have been invited to rally in Brandon tonight, Aug. 11, to save after-school programs at Hillsborough County recreation centers.

“It’s not over yet,” declares a poster announcing the rally at the Brandon Recreation Center at 502 East Sadie St., set to begin at 7 p.m.

Organizers have invited all seven county commissioners to the outdoor rally. The meeting will move indoors in the case of inclement weather.

Undaunted by by the Hillsborough County Commission to eliminate after-school programming at county recreation centers, supporters nevertheless hold out hope for a program they say helps families, builds community and saves the county untold dollars in juvenile crime and policing.

“The rally is to let the commission to know what the community wants and needs,” said rally organizer Terry O’Grady.

O’Grady presented his own budget to commissioners at a , a budget that retains the after-school program and recreation centers.

O’Grady’s proposed plan takes into account the county’s budget parameters and doesn’t call for any extra spending or taxes.

“I am a county taxpayer and I want to see cost-effective spending and my proposal falls within the county’s own budget numbers,” O’Grady said.

While he doesn’t expect the county to adopt his budget, the Valrico businessman feels confident the message is getting through to commissioners.

“We now have county commissioners questioning the validity of the budget numbers they received from staff,” O’Grady said. “Commissioners were told after-school programs and recreation centers would cost an astronomical amount but my numbers show this is not the case. I believe we will get the support we need from the commission to save the after-school program and recreation centers.”

Commissioners who voted to eliminate the after-school program said there are alternatives to the county’s after-school program including the YMCA, Boys & Girls clubs and the Hillsborough County School District’s Hillsborough Out of School Time (HOST) program.

Parents counter the HOST program does not have enough staff, the continuity of staff or individual attention their children enjoy at the recreation center after-school programs. Brandon’s Campo Family YMCA also says they

Faced with a budget shortfall due to declining property values, the county plans to eliminate services at 32 of its 42 recreation centers. The remaining 11 facilities would become “regional centers.”

Under the plan, the county would expand the Westchase, Town 'n Country, Thonotosassa, Brandon, Gardenville and Ruskin centers. New centers are also planned in Keystone, Progress Village and at the FishHawk Ranch Sports Complex. Just when they would be built is not clear.  Northdale, All People's and University Center recreation centers would remain open as they are.

County Commissioner Ken Hagan welcomed O’Grady’s budget proposal and is fighting to keep the after-school program and save more recreation centers.

His proposals, which the , would keep 19 recreation centers staffed in addition to the 11 regional centers. He also wants to reduce fees for the after-school program in the hopes of drawing more children into the program by making it more affordable.

Pointing to the close 4-3 vote to eliminate the after-school program, Hagan need only swing one or two votes his way.

“I think there’s a reasonably good chance of that happening,” Hagan said.

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