Pasco commissioners approve $21 million local commitment to support Moffitt/Spiros radiopharma campus

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 17 to approve a draft resolution supporting Moffitt Cancer Center’s Spiros radiopharmaceutical campus and directed county staff to memorialize a $21,000,000 county contribution as part of Moffitt’s application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Planning and economic development director David Engel told the board the Spiros campus is a proposed $228 million capital project located near the Suncoast and Ridge Road extension and that the county’s requested $21 million would serve as a local match to an EDA grant. Josh Carpenter, president of Spiros, said the project would include radiopharmaceutical research and development, manufacturing, a treatment facility and a privately operated incubator tied to workforce partnerships with the University of South Florida and Pasco‑Hernando State College.

Why it matters: Moffitt and Spiros said radiopharmaceuticals are a fast‑growing segment of cancer therapy and that a local campus would create high‑paying jobs and supply‑chain capacity for both health care and national needs. Commissioners stressed protecting county taxpayers and asked that any agreement clarify how property taxes will be assessed and how private commercial uses will be treated.

Details of funding and tax treatment: Engel and Spiros representatives outlined the capital stack the board was asked to support: $42,000,000 from Moffitt, a proposed $21,000,000 county match, and $49,800,000 sought from the EDA as part of a multi‑project grant. Spiros said about 70% of the campus would be developed by private sector operators; Chip Fletcher, general counsel for Moffitt Cancer Center, told the board that taxability is typically determined by property use and that commercially operated portions leased to for‑profit operators are assessed by the county property appraiser and subject to taxation.

Board action and next steps: Commissioner Oakley moved approval; Commissioner Starkey seconded. The clerk recorded a roll‑call vote with all five districts voting aye (District 1 Oakley; District 2 Waitemann; District 3 Starkey; District 4 Yeager; District 5 Chairman Mariano participating remotely and voting aye). The board directed the county administrator and county attorney to draft and review EDA agreement language that defines the county contribution, project scope and deliverables. County staff and Spiros representatives said they will continue discussions with state and federal partners, including EDA.

Quotes: "We're gonna be doing research and treatment that is of global importance," Carpenter said, urging the board to help position Pasco to capture the industry's economic impact. Chip Fletcher noted, "When we lease to a commercial operator…they'll have to pay tax" on the commercially used portion, describing prior experience with mixed nonprofit/commercial arrangements.

The board’s approval was limited to a draft resolution of support and direction to memorialize terms in an agreement; no final long‑term financing or lease documents were executed at the meeting. County staff will return with formal agreements and additional details for the board’s review.