Hillsborough Commissioners consider bringing back once-banned program

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County Commissioners are considering bringing back a controversial program they once banned in 2020.

The Florida PACE Program sounds like a great deal for homeowners.

It allows them to get new roofs, new windows, new air conditioning units and even solar power systems for their homes.

For some, that good deal soon turns sour when they find huge increases in their property tax bills.

Geraldine Eppley is a retired nurse in Pasco County. She received an offer from a salesman for a new solar system for her home.

“They first came around and said the solar panels would be a good thing for me to have because of the electric bill going down and that they would pay for themselves,” said Eppley.

The solar power system has not paid for itself, according to Eppley.

The sales offer said the system would cost $14,000, but Eppley says funding for the system came from Florida PACE Provider “ygrene” and it’s now attached to her property tax bill.

“It will take me 30 years to pay it off,” said Eppley.

She said her tax bill went from under $500 a year to more than $2,000 a year and the system will now cost her $41,000 before she can pay it off.

In Hillsborough County, the County Commission banned the Florida Pace Program after similar complaints.

Now, a new commission is considering bringing PACE back.

Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan said she’s concerned there will be more problems.

“Once this PACE assessment is on their property tax notice, that bottom line increases significantly, and then they can’t pay, which forces them to be delinquent and then they are at risk of losing their home,” said Millan.

Hillsborough Commissioners will address the issue at their meeting on Wednesday.

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