HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Millions of dollars in building projects are underway in Hillsborough County Schools this summer.

They're being funded using money generated by a half-cent sales tax referendum approved by voters in 2018.

An independent Citizen Oversight Committee was formed to review all spending related to the sales tax. Fourteen major projects are being done this summer.

Schools with the largest need that are being worked on right now include Chamberlain High School, Davidsen Middle School, Robinson High School, Farnell Middle School, Freedom High School, and Liberty Middle School.

Crews are doing air conditioning replacements​, working on network infrastructure, elevator modernization, gym floors, telephone and intercom systems, fire alarms, and repaving a track.

"We planned months in advance, working every day. In fact, 7 days a week, some weeks, and working into the night with lights on many of the times. So it's about 10 weeks of work but we're cramming about 20 weeks of work into that," said Christopher Farkas, Chief Operating Officer of Hillsborough County Schools.

Superintendent Addison Davis said none of the work would be possible without the tax money.

"One of the things we want the community to know is that they can trust Hillsborough County Public Schools with every cent they invest in this referendum," he said. "It's very important for us to be transparent and to let people know everything we're doing with this money."

As of June 2021:

• The district has invested $246 million 
• 80% has been awarded to local businesses
• 330 projects have been completed
• 70 projects in progress
• Planning to complete 1,785 projects over the ten-year referendum

"The community's willingness to give back to us really allows us to not only bandaid our facilities but to be able to have the most thriving, robust facilities to be able to prepare our children even for jobs that don't exist today," said Davis.

Building officials said they were concerned the pandemic would cause a dip in tax revenue for that affected the number of jobs they are doing this summer.

They said it's also been a challenge to get supplies.

"Ordering equipment early has always been a necessity for us but this year even more so. And it's not always the big equipment, it's the fastener for the roof, it's some of the stuff you wouldn't think that are not normally a problem but are a huge problem for us now," Farkas said.

However, he said by planning in advance, they're making it work and tax revenues are also rebounding.

He said they're eager to get the projects finished and school officials say this will give students something to look forward to as more return to brick and mortar classes in August.

For more information on how the tax referendum money is being spent and the projects the district is doing, click here.