Hillsborough County commissioners approve measure slashing $200,000 from budget
TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough County commissioners passed a measure 4-3 Wednesday to cut supervisor of elections Craig Latimer’s already approved 2024 budget by $200,000.
Commissioner Josh Wostal, who suggested the proposal in March, made the proposal due to “a historic and unexpected 11.5% drop in active registered voters” for 2024.
“My Democrat opponents asked for business-as-usual practices while people suffer under inflation,” Wostal said to Florida’s Voice. “I promised I would bring change. I implore all local officials around the nation to utilize every law applicable to bring more fiscally responsible processes.”
During his initial explanation, Wostal referred to using U.S. Postal Service rates to measure drops in voter registration, which could result in $200,000 in savings from “saved postage, printing and packaging costs” for mailed election material.
He also suggested at the time to cutting Latimer’s budget, which already sat at $18 million.
“This proposal is based on nothing but misinformation,” Latimer said to the board. “There is not three elections in fiscal year ’24. The next election is in August, after that the next election is in November, which will be fiscal year ’25.”
Latimer, in his explanation, questioned the amount over three elections being $40,000 each for a total of $120,000 instead of $200,000. He also stated knowing the county would lose lose approximately 100,000 voters of the rolls.
“We did not budget and have never budgeted to send any mail to inactive voters,” Latimer said.
However, calling it “not misinformation” and an offset, Latimer mentioned adding 21,000 new registered voters since Oct. 1.
“I think this is a terrible idea that sets a terrible precedent,” Commissioner Harry Cohen said.
The measure also received push-back during public comment.
“One of the absolute fundamental rights of being an American citizen is the right to vote,” said Kim Dude, vice president of the Hillsborough County LGBTQ Democratic Caucus. “Sadly, we are finding ourselves still in this year of 2024 fighting for this right. There is no possible reasonable explanation as to why anyone would want to reduce the supervisor of elections budget by $200 thousand.”
Referring to this year’s election as “crucial and democracy being at stake,” Dude mentioned gerrymandering and voter suppression as part of her explanation to opposing the measure.
“We just have to show up in greater numbers now and be much louder,” Dude said. “To those of you who vote to take money away from our SOE, we will remember you next time your name is on the ballot.”
