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County Commission

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Hillsborough Says 'No' to Domestic Partnership Registry

Hillsborough County Commissioners opted against pursuing a registry for same-sex partners during Thursday's meeting.

A measure that would have given same-sex partners more freedom to make medical and financial decisions for each other failed to get the support it needed from Hillsborough County Commissioners on Thursday. The board voted 4-3 against creating a Domestic Partnership Registry for Hillsborough County. Commissioners Al Higginbothom, Sandra Murman and Victor Crist voted against the motion. Commissioners Mark Sharpe, Kevin Beckner and Les Miller voted in favor. Commissioner Mark Sharpe introduced the measure. "As a citizen who lives in this county and as tax payer aren't they owed the respect and right to have these six basic rights and services that government itself provides," Sharpe said. The City of Tampa approved a domestic partnership …

Russ

7:47 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013

Just one more example why Hillsborough who thinks of it's self as "Big Time", is just equal to it's neighbors, Polk and Osceola Counties   more ›

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Key Commissioners Appear Ready To Back County’s After-School Program

County Commissioner Mark Sharpe likely to join Sandra Murman and Kevin Beckner, who also appear ready to support a plan to keep after-school care at Hillsborough recreation centers.

Commissioners are likely to vote tomorrow, Aug. 24, to maintain the county’s after-school program at 25-30 recreation centers. The program’s future was in doubt after a 4-3 vote last month to eliminate after-school care and cut staff at the vast majority of the county’s recreation centers. Voting to eliminate the program were commissioners Mark Sharpe, Sandra Murman, Al Higginbotham and Kevin Beckner. All four cited the county’s severe budget woes as the reason for their vote but said there are viable alternatives for after-school care. Commissioners Ken Hagan, Les Miller and Victor Crist voted against the measure. Supporters of the county’s after-school program took heart from the narrow margin of that 4-3 vote, knowing they need sway …

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Former Commissioner Jan Platt: Families Need After-School Care Guarantees

Jan Platt, who served on the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners for 24 years, said after-school programming should remain intact unless there are assurances “in writing” that families have viable alternatives.

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Jan Platt, who served on the board for 24 years, said after-school programming at country recreation centers should be retained if there are no viable options for families. The fate of the county’s after-school program — which serves more than 1,800 children countywide — will be decided by the Hillsborough County Commissioners this month. Commissioners voted 4-3 last month to eliminate the county’s after-school program and to stop staffing — and essentially close — 31 of 43 recreation centers countywide. County commissioners will revisit the vote at a budget workshop Aug. 24. Even if the county’s after-school program is cut there are enough alternatives to pick up the slack, according to Mark …

Edward Lynch

4:09 am on Monday, August 22, 2011

The school system should be providing after school care. The responsibility of after school care belongs to the parents. The school is not a babysitter as most parents think that it is.The parents need to arrange after school care since the school system is no longer going to provide it. Which is what they should of done in the first place.   more ›

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Commissioners Edging Toward Compromise Vote on After-School Care

Hillsborough County Commissioners Sandra Murman and Kevin Beckner are reviewing the numbers — and possibly their votes — that concerned closing recreation centers and cutting after-school care. County commissioners will revisit the issue at a budget works

Hillsborough County Commissioners appear headed to restore some form of after-school progamming at recreation centers after a preliminary budget vote last month that would cut the offering altogether. Commissioners voted 4-3 last month to eliminate the county’s after-school program and to stop staffing — and essentially close — 31 of 43 recreation centers countywide. County commissioners will revisit the vote at a budget workshop Aug. 24. Commissioners Ken Hagan, Les Miller and Victor Crist voted against the measure; voting for it were commissioners Mark Sharpe, Sandra Murman, Al Higginbotham and Kevin Beckner. A final vote on the county budget is set for September. An intense lobbying effort featuring emails, phone calls, petitions and a …

Friday, August 12, 2011

Protest Against Recreation Cutbacks Draws Hundreds To Brandon Rally

Rally organizers told attendees they needed to call and email Hillsborough County Commissioners and tell them “this is what the people want.” The rally was in protest of after-school programming cuts and recreation center closings.

Opponents of a plan to eliminate after-school programs at Brandon recreation centers and close most of those centers say they are confident they have enough votes on the Hillsborough County Commission to defeat the plan. “Don’t let them tell you it’s over. We can do it,” Terry O’Grady told a standing-room crowd at the Brandon Recreation Center on Thursday night, Aug. 11. Parents, children, seniors and parks workers packed the center for the boisterous rally, which drew more than 300 people. Undaunted by a 4-3 commission vote in July to cut after-school programs and mothball services at 31 of the county’s 42 recreation centers, rally organizers said they thought they could save the after-school programs and the majority of recreation …

John O'Grady

5:43 pm on Sunday, August 21, 2011

(corrected) Jan Walker I suggest you take a course in remedial reading. qqqqq good suggestion but once you learn all the facts you will see that is not necessary. The parents are asking for the county to keep a program open that they pay for ALL the labor costs and then some. The county wants to get rid of the position because Mark Thornton who makes over $125,000 a year stated he "does not want …   more ›

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Still Hope To Keep After-School Programs, More Recreation Centers

Hillsborough County commissioners will review Aug. 24 a proposal by Ken Hagan to keep more recreation centers open and to keep after-school programs at those centers, including the Brandon Recreation Center. A Brandon rally is set for Aug. 11.

Closing after-school programs at county recreation centers — including the Brandon Recreation Center — is not yet a done deal, according to County Commissioner Ken Hagan, whose proposal to keep more recreation centers open and to provide after-school programming at those centers will be discussed by the board at its Aug. 24 meeting. A rally to save after-school programs is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Brandon Recreation Center at 502 East Sadie Street. Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 4 to 3 last month to eliminate the county's after-school program and close 31 of the county’s 42 recreation centers. Cutting the program and closing all but 11 recreation centers would save $7.5 million, according to park officials. Hagan and …

Michelle

9:01 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011

Higginbotham will not get my vote when he comes up for re-election. There is more to the after school program than babysitting. It is a crime prevention measure. The more eyes on county buildings the less vandalism. When buildings are empty they get broke into. Look at all the forclosed homes that have squaters in them. Not to mention this has be being talked about for months and there still is …   more ›

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