Corruption In Hillsborough County

The federal government says Hillsborough County misused almost a million dollars in grants during its "Fight the Blight" campaign and it wants the money back. The inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development released a scathing audit of the county's use of federal Community Development Block Grant money for these blighted areas. The audit shows serious problems in the department resulted in 

developers being helped by almost 
$1 million

 instead of low-income areas. 

The audit says code enforcement cleanups like 
the "Fight the Blight" programs in 2012 and 2013 

were actually misusing the federal money in surrounding areas not qualifying as low-income neighborhoods. The county used the money on areas that were "industrial and commercial properties," 

"farm and vacant land" that were "planned for development" and 

"new construction in residential properties. 

because commissioners wanted to ensure 

developers didn't have to pay 
impact fees.

here