BROOKSVILLE — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay won a break on its lease at Coach Lorenzo Hamilton Sr. Park on July 14, when the Hernando County Commission agreed to waive the organization’s rental fees in exchange for the group covering the community center’s utilities and upkeep.
Commissioners approved the modified agreement on a 4-0 vote. It leaves the club free to keep running its programs — at affordable rates for families — while taking on responsibility for maintaining the building.
Patrick Ryan, the clubs’ chief partnerships and growth officer, said he didn’t get everything he wanted but was glad the commission was willing to deal. Standing outside the chambers with Chris Linsbeck, the county’s community services director, he called it a fair arrangement.
“We agreed to continue running the Boys & Girls Club programming, with affordable fees to the families, and the rental fees will be waived, but we will be responsible for maintaining the buildings,” Ryan said. “We’ll pay for all utilities, which will probably be $300 to $400 a month. Maintenance, you never know, depends on repairs and things like that, but probably conservatively about $8,000 per year.”
The organization had sought a waiver of facility rent and fees through the rest of 2026, with the possibility of extending it through the coming school year.
“Waiving the facility fees during this initial growth period would allow us to direct more resources toward the children we serve, including staffing, educational programming, meals and snacks, supplies, and enrichment opportunities,” Ryan wrote in a letter to the commission. “Every dollar invested in programming directly enhances the experience and outcomes for the youth and families of Hernando County.”
Budget pressures
Looming over the debate was the prospect of a November referendum on property taxes.
Officials across the Tampa Bay region and beyond worry that higher homestead exemptions will cut into property tax collections, and Hernando commissioners raise the issue at nearly every meeting as they weigh how to pay for services. Commissioner Steve Champion has repeatedly pointed to surveys showing more than 60% of voters favor the changes proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which he warns could strain municipal budgets and force service cuts.
Law enforcement and fire rescue would likely be spared, while parks and recreation, libraries and other services could face reductions.
Those worries shaped the debate over the Hamilton Park fees, with commissioners reluctant to lock in a five-year waiver. Several also raised concerns about the age of the building, particularly its air-conditioning system, which can be costly to replace.
The club does not use the building’s kitchen, Ryan told commissioners; instead, meals are brought in for the children.
Under the agreement, the organization would not be liable for major damage — such as a hurricane tearing off the roof — and could cancel the deal with notice.