Hidden Creek CDD website: https://www.hiddencreekcdd.org/

Southshore CDD website: https://www.southshorebaycdd.org/

Both CDDs email: [email protected]

Both CDDs phone: (813) 565-4663

Unofficially, a CDD is a way for a developer to lower initial sale prices of their new construction by having the purchasers pay for a portion of the development yearly (with interest) instead of paying it all up-front. (It also helps line their pockets if they buy the bonds their CDD is selling.)

Officially, a CDD is like a mini-city. It sells bonds which are then used to pave roads, install water & sewer, etc. The residents then have to pay off the bonds (and interest) with our property taxes. We’re basically our own little village in Hillsborough County. Our leaders (the board) are designated by the developer until it’s matured, then it is slowly handed over to the residents. In 2024, we can elect two of the five seats on the CDD. Eventually, we will control all five. The CDD will always be responsible for maintaining anything they’ve developed. CDD fees never go away, they just change from year to year.

The following article explains CDDs much better than I can. It’s an external website I have no control over. Florida CDD Fees: What You Need To Know (floridaforboomers.com)

Breeze manages both the HOA and the CDD. According to the call center, sending an email to [email protected] goes to both our HOA director and CDD directors. You can also ask questions and leave messages via the call center at (813) 565-4663.

We have two CDDs. Hidden Creek, and Southshore Bay. If you live North of Hidden Creek Boulevard, you live in the Hidden Creek CDD, otherwise you live in the Southshore Bay CDD. Both CDDs have public meetings that you can attend in person or via phone. Normally they are held back-to-back.

This November, we will be electing seats 3 and 4 of the Hidden Creek CDD. That means the developer is still going to control 3 of the 5 seats. Our representatives will basically be there for reconnaissance. We won’t have any power, but we’ll be able to peek behind the curtain, so to speak.

Due to campaign finance regulations, I can’t say much about voting. But if you look at the footer on this website, and compare it to the candidate list at https://www.votehillsborough.gov/CANDIDATES/Local-Candidates you’ll see we only need someone to run for seat 4. (If you’re wondering why I didn’t mention seat 3, it’s because you didn’t compare the bottom of this page to the candidate’s list.)

Running for the CDD is a little more complicated than it used to be. Download the qualifying packet from https://www.votehillsborough.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=9HzVRPZaqLw%3d&portalid=80 and open it up. You can fill it out right on your computer.

• DS-DE 84: For candidate of office, put in “Hidden Creek Community Development District, Seat 4”
• DS-DE 302NP: Put “Hidden Creek Community Development District” for office and “4” for group or seat number.
• For the forms that require notarization, the election office can take care of that when you drop them off.

If you haven’t heard about “Form 1” yet, you will this fall. Now all public offices have to report the same information as the ones in Tallahassee. Go to Login – Electronic Financial Disclosure Management System (floridaethics.gov) and set up an account by clicking on “I am a candidate” and following the instructions. It should only take 5 or 10 minutes. Again, read the instructions carefully, from what I remember, your home address is on the first screen and remains private. Three or four screens later, they want to know what real property (land and houses) you own. Do NOT include your home address on this screen. If you want to make sure what you should list, go to Hillsborough County Property Appraiser > Property Search (hcpafl.org) and search for your name. Anything you own on that screen except the house you live in has to be on that form. If you own a house in some other county or state, make sure to include it as well.

Once you’ve got everything ready, go to Qualifying Locations – Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections (votehillsborough.gov) and make an appointment to drop everything off (don’t forget the $25) at their office in Ruskin. Or if you feel like driving to Tampa, they take walk-ins at their main office.

Qualification runs from May 27th through June 14.