Hillsborough: Officials seek more control of toll authority

Hillsborough

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Officials seek more control of toll authority

The Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to lobby legislators for more local control of the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, as state and federal officials investigate potential improprieties by the toll road board.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published October 19, 2006

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to lobby legislators for more local control of the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority, as state and federal officials investigate potential improprieties by the toll road board.

Commissioner Thomas Scott, who sits on the authority's board, asked the commission to support his push to change the way the agency operates.

"This agency has snubbed this board, the city and those who stand for integrity in government," Scott said.

The County Attorney's Office outlined five options to revamp the agency, ranging from changing how board members are selected to replacing it with a regional authority.

Four of seven Expressway Authority board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. The rest include a representative from the Florida Transportation Department, the County Commission and Tampa.

Scott has said that the authority doesn't make decisions based on the best interest of citizens. He doesn't want to abolish the agency, and having a larger local voice on the board could make it more responsive.

Fred Karl, a lawyer and former county administrator who has been retained by the expressway authority's interim law firm, said it would be premature to change the makeup of the authority before the state Auditor General's Office, U.S. Transportation Department and FBI finish their inquiries.

But commission Chairman Jim Norma said that waiting until the state audit is complete wasn't an option. He said that the Legislature will likely abolish the Expressway Authority, and coming up with options could save the agency.

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 19, 2006, 00:12:04]

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