BRANDON, Florida -- The opulent Brandon Regent, which got millions of dollars of your tax dollars by stretching the truth, is butting heads again with those who want to make it the community center it was supposed to be.
10 News first broke this story last August explaining that the Regent, which was supposed to be a special needs shelter and act as the Brandon Community Center, received $7.5 million in state, federal, and local funds.
It has turned into a black eye for the Brandon community and those who run it because it has been used for fancy parties instead of its stated purpose.
Hillsborough Community College, which contributed hundred of thousands to the building, offered to take over management of the center, but the board of the Regent sent a letter to HCC saying while it appreciates the college's offer the board would prefer the operational structure remains the same. It says it plans to expand membership on the board to include more community stakeholders.
The letter is signed by board chair Terry Curry, who has done a masterful job of refusing to return calls or comment.
The rejection of the HCC offer to run the board is not going over well with the county. Sources downtown tell 10 News the county will exert any pressure it can, including the possibility of asking for a repayment of the money it gave to the project, in order to get a board that is more responsive to the community and one that runs the center as it was sold to taxpayers.