Loss of $2M grant stirs outrage

Hillsborough didn't spend the money for affordable housing in time.

By BILL VARIAN, Times Staff Writer
Published February 7, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough commissioners dressed down their affordable housing chief Wednesday for losing $2-million in federal grant money because his department failed to spend it quickly enough.

Commissioners said the failure by affordable housing officer Howie Carroll was particularly alarming given an already tight budget climate.

"I'm sorry we lost this $2-million-something at a time when every single dollar counts," said Commissioner Rose Ferlita. "It was sloppy leadership as far as I'm concerned."

Ferlita directed part of her rebuke at County Administrator Pat Bean for not alerting commissioners to the blunder, which was brought to light by a community activist.

But Carroll faced the most withering critique.

At one point Wednesday, Commissioner Kevin White asked Carroll, who has been on the job for a little more than a year, whether he was up to the task.

"Do you feel like you're competent to handle this job?" White asked.

Carroll assured him that he was.

"It was a very unfortunate mistake," Carroll told him. "I learn from my mistakes."

Bean similarly accepted fault for failing to understand the seriousness of the oversight quickly and alert commissioners.

Carroll took the job as affordable housing officer in late 2006 after working as an assistant housing director in Clearwater. He inherited a county program beset with problems for years, accused of favoring some home builders and counselors while treating others poorly.

The office has been reconfigured several times, undergone leadership changes and witnessed the departure of several top-level employees.

In June 2007, Carroll said he requested an external checkup from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department to see if his department was properly handling federal programs. That's when he learned of potential problems.

The county receives about $2.5-million annually in federal HOME grant money and must commit the money to affordable housing projects with 24 months. The review found that Hillsborough had several commitments that hadn't jelled yet.

By October, the county was notified it was losing its grant money, after the department was unable to redirect the money quickly enough.

At least one commissioner noted the turmoil in the office in recent years and said the entire blame should not fall on Carroll.

"I think you walked into a mess," said Commissioner Mark Sharpe. "It's obvious."

Bean said HUD officials have told her the office has improved considerably during his time there.

In other action, the commission unanimously approved a resolution in support of renaming Legends Field, the county-owned spring training facility, after its longtime New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

The Tampa City Council is expected to consider a similar resolution today, though the Yankees have control of the naming rights.

Bill Varian can be reached at varian@sptimes.com or 813 226-3387.

[Last modified February 7, 2008, 00:53:49]