Funding & Timeline

At the FY 2027 Second Budget Public Hearing, Commissioner Hagan directly addressed community concerns about funding for a new facility. He confirmed that $13 million is currently in the county's Capital Improvement Program for the project, and that another $30 million is identified on a Community Investment Tax project list as eligible for the facility.

Hagan noted that public hearings are required before the county can take the step of moving the $30 million to directly fund the shelter.

He also said county staff are evaluating facility and funding options, and that the county administrator is expected to report back to the board sometime this fall with a project schedule and other details.

Commissioner Christine Miller requested that County staff provide quarterly updates to the Board on the Pet Resource Facility Improvement Project. The updates are to include current planning and evaluation, identified or programmed funding, anticipated scope, major milestones and timelines, decisions needed from the Board, and significant changes affecting the project's funding, schedule, scope or approach.

Miller also requested that staff evaluate whether any unallocated funds remaining in the County's HOPE Affordable Housing account could legally and feasibly be reallocated to the Pet Resource Facility Improvement Project.

During the County's first FY27 budget hearing, Commission Chair Ken Hagan addressed concerns that plans for the Pet Resource Center could change or be delayed. Hagan said those concerns were unfounded and stated that the County was continuing to move forward with the project.

Deputy County Administrator Greg Horwede also addressed the project's funding in a memo to commissioners. He stated that County administration had not proposed eliminating or reducing funding for upgrading the shelter.

Horwede said potential funding approaches could include funding the shelter as part of a larger bond issue, through a pay-as-you-go allocation over two to five years, or through another mechanism.

In a written response to Tampa Bay 28, Hillsborough County said staff continues to evaluate both updates to the existing Pet Resource Center and the possibility of a new shelter.

The County said staff expects to have a recommendation for the County Administrator and Board toward the end of 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027.

Hillsborough County commissioners approved the County's portion of the new Tampa Bay Rays stadium agreement. The County's contribution is approximately $796 million, including $360 million in Community Investment Tax funding.

The size of the Community Investment Tax commitment raised concerns among animal advocates about how the Pet Resource Center project would ultimately be funded.

Hillsborough County has said staff began evaluating the need for updates to the existing Pet Resource Center and/or construction of a new shelter in 2024.

The renewed Community Investment Tax identified a shelter facility as an eligible project. County staff's initial estimate was approximately $30 million.

The County later said that the estimated cost has likely increased because of inflation affecting construction-related expenses.