📰 Press Release (For Immediate Post-Deadline Release)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 16, 2026
Contact: Keith Varian/(656) 777-2115

Keith@VoteVarian2026.com

 

VARIAN REJECTS INSIDER MILLIONS IN NEW FEC FILINGS, FOCUSES ON THE SQUEEZE FACING FL-14 WORKING FAMILIES

TAMPA, FL — Following the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) July 15 second-quarter campaign finance disclosure deadline, qualified independent write-in candidate Keith Varian released a sharp rebuke of the millions of dollars pouring into Florida’s 14th Congressional District from special interests and personal fortunes.

Freshly published FEC documents confirm that while everyday families across Tampa and Riverview face punishing economic pressures, major-party campaigns are operating on an entirely different financial planet. Multi-millionaire candidates like Kevin Steele continue to use massive personal checking accounts to self-fund their operations, while incumbent Rep. Kathy Castor leans heavily on out-of-district corporate PAC money [💰].

"The finance reports dropped last night, and they show exactly what is wrong with our political system," Varian stated. "While my opponents are bragging about the size of their campaign war chests, the voters of FL-14 are watching their household budgets get crushed. Gas prices are sits at a brutal $3.81 a gallon [⛽], auto and property insurance premiums are soaring out of control, and local utility bills are higher than ever. These wealthy insiders are completely insulated from the real-world consequences of the energy and housing crisis."

Varian's campaign finance filing stands out as a pure grassroots, people-powered effort. Rather than focusing on television ad buys, Varian’s platform connects foundational energy logistics directly to the district's top survival concerns.

"High energy costs aren't an isolated problem—they drive up the cost of everything," Varian explained. "A 60% spike in commercial diesel makes concrete, steel, and timber delivery more expensive, which drives up rent and halts affordable housing construction. It drains local road-paving budgets in South Hillsborough County. And with national fuel buffers at a decade low, a severe storm could send reconstruction costs soaring, driving our property insurance premiums even higher. You cannot drill your way out of this overnight, and you certainly can't regulate it away with empty political promises."

Varian concludes that the path forward for FL-14 relies on immediate, common-sense structural intervention—such as emergency shipping waivers to flood Port Tampa Bay with domestic fuel and strict caps on emergency utility surcharges.

"My campaign reported zero corporate PAC dollars because my only obligation is to the people sitting at their kitchen tables trying to make ends meet," said Varian. "On August 15, when these fuel supply bottlenecks hit their seasonal peak, you don't need a millionaire’s lecture. You need a representative who lives in the real economy. That is why you write in Keith Varian."

 

 

 

 

CAMPAIGN POLICY MEMORANDUM

TO: Tampa Bay Residents, Taxpayers, and Local Leadership
FROM: The Campaign of KEITH VARIAN, Candidate for U.S. House (FL-14)
DATE: July 12, 2026
SUBJECT: The Federal Lifeline: A Blueprint to Offset Tampa Stadium Costs and Protect Local Taxpayers

Executive Summary

The proposed $2.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays stadium at the HCC Dale Mabry campus represents a major opportunity for regional growth. However, committing nearly $1 billion in public funds—including up to $180 million in local Community Investment Tax (CIT) revenue—places an unnecessary burden on local taxpayers. With the Tampa City Council delaying its critical vote until August 20, 2026, our community has a brief window to change the funding strategy.

As your next Representative for Florida's 14th Congressional District, I am introducing a federal framework to aggressively pursue U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), EPA, and FEMA grants. This blueprint shifts the financial burden away from local sales and property taxes, securing federal dollars to fund the infrastructure surrounding the venue.

 

 

The Four-Point Federal Grant Strategy

If elected to Congress, I will directly sponsor, champion, and shepherd applications for the following competitive federal programs to subsidize stadium development:

DOT RAISE Grants (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity)

Application: Subsidizing multi-modal transit connections, bus rapid transit lanes, pedestrian safety bridges, and sidewalk connectivity linking the Westshore District, Raymond James Stadium, and the new ballpark campus.

DOT INFRA Grants (Infrastructure For Rebuilding America)

Application: Funding massive surface transportation overhauls, signalization updates, and public parking infrastructure required to absorb high-volume event traffic along Dale Mabry Highway and the Courtney Campbell corridors.

FEMA BRIC Grants (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities)

Application: Upgrading local stormwater systems, retention basins, and flood-mitigation barriers to protect the public venue and surrounding neighborhoods from severe weather and seasonal flooding.

EPA Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grants

Application: Providing direct federal funding for environmental site assessments and any necessary soil or chemical remediation required on or around the campus parcels before major construction begins.

A Commitment to Congressional Partnership

Securing federal competitive grants requires active, aggressive advocacy in Washington. Local municipalities cannot do it alone. As your Member of Congress, I will treat these grant applications as top legislative priorities, writing formal letters of support to federal agency heads, securing agency debriefs, and ensuring Tampa’s projects stand out. We can deliver a world-class venue without emptying the pockets of local families.

 

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2026

CONTACT:Keith Varian
Keith@votevarian2026.com 
656-777-2115
VoteVarian2026.com

FL-14 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE Keith Varian UNVEILS FEDERAL BLUEPRINT TO RESCUE TAMPA TAXPAYERS FROM STADIUM COSTS

TAMPA, FL — Today, Keith Varian, candidate for Florida’s 14th Congressional District, released a comprehensive public policy memorandum outlining a federal grant strategy designed to offset the public infrastructure costs of the proposed $2.3 billion Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

The announcement comes during a critical pause in local negotiations, following the Tampa City Council’s June decision to delay its high-stakes vote on the stadium package until August 20, 2026.

To ensure local leaders have access to this alternative funding roadmap, VARIAN has sent formal letters and copies of the policy blueprint to key local stakeholders, including Tampa City Council members, Hillsborough County Commissioners, and former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

"Our local leaders are facing immense pressure to fund a stadium using hard-earned local tax dollars that should be going to neighborhood roads, parks, and public safety," said VARIAN. "We do not have to choose between keeping our sports teams and protecting our taxpayers. Washington funds billions of dollars in regional infrastructure every year. As Tampa’s next representative in Congress, I am ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our local officials to bring those federal dollars home."

The published policy blueprint identifies four major federal funding pipelines that the current city administration has not yet moved to secure:

DOT RAISE & INFRA Grants for transit hubs, pedestrian walkways, and event traffic management.

FEMA BRIC Grants for critical stormwater infrastructure and flood mitigation.

EPA Brownfields Grants for site assessments and environmental remediation.

By publishing the plan openly, VARIAN aims to inject a viable, taxpayer-friendly solution into the public debate before final municipal votes are cast in August.

"I am not just offering advice; I am offering a long-term congressional partnership," VARIAN  added. "When I am elected to the U.S. House, I will personally champion these grant applications in Washington. Let’s build the federal funding framework together right now, so we hit the ground running on day one."

The full policy memorandum, titled "The Federal Lifeline: A Blueprint to Offset Tampa Stadium Costs and Protect Local Taxpayers," is available to the public at votevarian2026.com

 

 

How Does Oil Become Gasoline? ⛽

Ever wonder how the fuel gets to your local station? It’s a fast 3-step process:

1️⃣ Drilling: Giant drills pump raw crude oil from deep underground.
2️⃣ Shipping: Massive cargo boats and pipelines move the oil across the globe.
3️⃣ Refining: Overworked factories cook the raw oil into the gasoline you use every day.

So, What’s the Problem?

Right now, a single break in this chain could trigger a massive fuel crisis. Click the link in our bio to read our complete Emergency Energy Security Plan and see how we intend to protect our community's pockets. ➡️ https://votevarian2026.com/silo.html

 

 

 

 

I Already have the answers for Social Security… 

(click on pic)

 

Medicaid is NEXT

 

 

These are Items I’m Working on Right Now.

 

Request for Revenue-Neutral Analysis

Letter to the Hillsborough County Commission-Study to determine reduction in millage rate without impacting essential services. (Projection: $100+  per $100,000 of home value in savings.)

Letter to Governor DeSantis

Requesting Gas Tax Holiday!  (Soon we'll need it)

Fort Mead Data Center

Congressional Press Release and letter to Sun City Commissioners warning of Rate hikes, Sinkhole risks and 6.2 mile Thermo Heat Dome.

Proposed Legislative Amendment to Florida Statute 206.41

Universal small business fuel credit. Expand legislation to include”on road” businesses with 50 or fewer employees to receive refunds of (SCETS) tax and local option fuel tax.

PETITION to Florida Publlic Service Commission

Demanding (FPSC)FORCE TECO TO SHARE THE COST OF GLOBAL NATURAL GAS SPIKES.Currently TECO passes 100% of uncollected fuel procurement costs onto local consumers.

Letters to U.S. Department of Energy, National Security Council

Submission of Policy Framework for SPR Stabilization and Refill Pacing.(So we have gas in the future and Don’t pay Billions more in  premiums when we do refill!

PETITION BEFORE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

To initiate Rulemaking to Amend or create rules governing fuel-adjustment charges for small commercial accounts.

 

Letters to Vern Buchanan(FL16)  and Kathy Castor(FL14)  

Reforming Social Security, Lowering Healthcare Costs, and Driving Job Creation

Letters to Gus Bilirakis and Darren Soto

Capping Healthcare Costs at the Social Security COLA Rate

 

Request for Florida to Participate in the 2027 USDA SUN Bucks Program

Subject: Request for Florida to Participate in the 2027 USDA SUN Bucks Program

 

NEW PROPOSED MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS; Letter to Congress

Medicaid undercuts tax breaks for billionaires, not working families; gutting care infrastructure with paperwork penalties is fiscal hypocrisy.

 

 

These are letters sent to appropriate entity

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 21, 2026 

CONTACT: Office of the Candidate USHouse FL-14/ Principal Energy Security Analyst

Keith@VoteVarian2026.com/(656)777-2115 

 

INDEPENDENT ENERGY ANALYST TRANSMITS COMPREHENSIVE REBUILD FRAMEWORK TO CONGRESS AS SPR HIT MULTI-DECADE LOWS AMID HORMUZ BLOCKADE WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Keith Varian/Candidate USHouse FL-14 /Independent Energy Security Analyst  formally transmitted a comprehensive policy and legislative framework to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The blueprint outlines an immediate strategy to stabilize and restock the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which has plummeted to a critical multi-decade low of 340.25 million barrels—operating at just 47.6% capacity. With the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed to commercial shipping as of today, the newly submitted plan provides lawmakers with a market-insulated, anti-inflationary roadmap to restore 200 million barrels of crude over a managed 66-month trajectory. The framework introduces a dual-track funding approach: a requested $13.25 Billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for counter-cyclical domestic crude purchases, paired with strict enforcement of a contractual 1.2-to-1 return premium on recent commercial emergency loans. To shield American consumers from energy inflation at the pump, the text mandates an automated open-market purchase suspension if West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude spikes past $85.00 per barrel. It further establishes a rigid statutory operational safety floor at 243 million barrels to prevent physical salt cavern degradation. "Restoring our primary energy buffer must be handled methodically to protect the American consumer," said Varian. "By capping monthly procurement at 3.0 million barrels and extracting over 34 million premium barrels at zero cost to taxpayers, Congress can successfully insulate the domestic grid while signaling resilience." The full transmittal package, including draft statutory text for amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), has been delivered to committee leadership ahead of the upcoming legislative recess. ###

 

Regulations.gov

Medicaid Program

Title: Reject the Paperwork Penalty: Protect Our Care Infrastructure

Proposed federal changes to Medicaid introduce mandatory work reporting and aggressive paperwork verification schedules. This restructuring does not encourage employment; it functions as a punitive clerical trap that actively strips healthcare funding from working families.

1. The Paperwork Penalty Destroys the Care Economy
The vast majority of Medicaid enrollees are already employed, seeking work, or managing rigorous caregiving roles for aging parents and loved ones with disabilities. Adding complex, frequent reporting requirements creates artificial barriers. Eligible, working citizens will lose coverage due to clerical errors or system glitches—not a lack of employment. For millions, Medicaid is the vital economic infrastructure that makes working possible.

2. Bloated Costs & Local Care System Collapse
Tracking the daily hours of millions of citizens requires expensive IT contracts and extensive caseworker overhead, wasting taxpayer dollars on administrative bureaucracy. Furthermore, cutting this funding will cause safety-net hospital operating margins to plummet and eliminate critical support for family caregivers, forcing rural facilities and local home care networks to close entirely.

3. Fiscal Hypocrisy
The claim that the government lacks resources for Medicaid is a deliberate policy choice, not a financial necessity. The federal apparatus actively protects massive tax breaks for billionaires and mega-corporations while manufacturing a funding crisis for working-class healthcare.

Recommendation
Decision-makers must oppose these counterproductive reporting barriers to protect local caregiving infrastructure and stop an expensive expansion of big government bureaucracy.

 

 

 

 

 

Keith Varian/Candidate FL-14/Principal Energy Security Analyst

Keith@votevarian2026.com/(656)777-2115

DATE: June 21, 2026

TO: The Honorable Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy The Executive Secretary, National Security Council

FROM: Keith Varian/Principal Energy Security Analyst

SUBJECT: Submission of Policy Framework for SPR Stabilization and Refill Pacing

Dear Mr. Secretary and Members of the National Security Council, Enclosed please find the comprehensive policy brief and operational framework detailing the proposed multi-year stabilization strategy for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Given that domestic stockpiles sit at a critical multi-decade low of 340.25 million barrels (47.6% capacity) and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed as of today, immediate, coordinated structural action is required to preserve national energy resilience. This packet contains the finalized policy memorandum, infrastructure breakdown, and fiscal appropriations roadmap required to execute this national security directive without triggering consumer price inflation.

 

 POLICY MEMORANDUM

1. Purpose

This brief outlines the immediate national security necessity to transition the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) from active drawdown status into a high-priority, aggressive replenishment phase. The compound effects of past geopolitical interventions and the heavy emergency loan distributions mandated during the first half of 2026 have structurally compromised the nation's primary defense against unforeseen global supply interruptions.

2. Current Inventory Baseline & Operational Status

The operational integrity of the SPR sits at its weakest juncture in over four decades:

Authorized Physical Capacity: 714.0 million barrels.

Current Volume (June 2026 Data): 340.25 million barrels.

Capacity Utilization: 47.6%.

Historical Baseline: This matches inventory lows last observed in August 1983, erasing all reserve buffers rebuilt over the past two years.

3. Core Drivers of Structural Depletion

The current supply crisis is driven by two heavily intersecting factors:

The 2026 Hormuz Crisis Intervention: Following acute regional hostilities and subsequent blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, the White House coordinated with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to release 400 million barrels globally. The U.S. directly committed 172 million barrels from the SPR via emergency exchange mechanisms to stave off catastrophic jumps in domestic gasoline prices ($4.50+/gallon).

Compounded Drawdowns: This emergency injection comes on top of the lingering structural damage from the 180-million-barrel release implemented during the 2022 Ukraine crisis, combined with ongoing, non-discretionary congressional budget sales.

4. Supply Risk & Depletion Projections

The current baseline leaves the U.S. economy highly exposed to severe operational bottlenecks:

The Vulnerability Window: Because the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial traffic today due to regional hostilities, persistent mine threats, and prohibitive maritime insurance, nearly a quarter of global oil transits are at a near-standstill. Normalizing supply chains will take months once resolved, leaving the U.S. critically exposed during the high-demand summer fuel peak and Atlantic hurricane season.

The 2031 Structural Floor: Projections from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) highlight that if remaining legislated mandatory budget sales are left un-repealed, statutory withdrawals will anchor long-term baseline storage at a mere 335 million barrels through 2031, rendering the reserve functionally toothless for future black-swan crises.

5. Fiscal Appropriations Framework

Direct market buy-backs are severely constrained by current market conditions. With West Texas Intermediate (WTI) trading around $77–$80 per barrel under the pressure of the shipping freeze, the Department of Energy (DOE) must execute a dual-track financial strategy to secure replacement volumes without triggering a domestic price spike.

Track 1: Budgetary Funding Requirements

Target Purchase Volume: 200 million barrels (to restore baseline readiness).

Estimated Price Deck: $80.00/barrel (assuming counter-cyclical purchases).

Gross Capital Required: $16.0 billion in total discretionary appropriations.

Track 2: Non-Taxpayer Exchange Premium Extraction

The 1.2-to-1 Return Premium: The 172-million-barrel emergency distribution was structured as an exchange loan rather than a permanent sale.

Premium Inflow: Borrowing commercial entities are contractually obligated to return the base volume plus an 18% to 22% physical premium.

Fiscal Offset: This mechanism will organically return 34.4 million premium barrels directly into the caverns between late 2026 and 2028 at zero cost to taxpayers, reducing the new Congressional Emergency Appropriation requirement to 165.6 million barrels ($13.25B).

6. Structural Constraints: Cavern Flow Rates & Refill Pacing

Replenishing the SPR is limited by strict physical infrastructure realities and domestic market safeguards. Decades of heavy emergency drawdowns have caused structural damage to the deep salt caverns, requiring over $100 million in ongoing integrity repairs under Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Physical Inflow Caps: Because the salt caverns rely on displaced brine and complex water-injection piping, the maximum structural refill rate across all sites is mechanically capped at approximately 1.0 million barrels per day (mb/d).

Commercial Refill Pacing (3 Million Barrels/Month): In practice, buying 30 million barrels on the open market in a single month would restrict commercial supply and drive up consumer gas prices. To prevent this, the DOE must cap its total monthly procurement at 3.0 million barrels per month.

Extended Recovery Timeline:

Restoring the 200-million-barrel deficit at a market-safe flow of 3.0 million barrels per month requires approximately 66 months (5.5 years), pushing full restoration out to late 2031. To manage this pace, monthly procurement is allocated across regional infrastructure nodes:

Louisiana Distribution Complex (1.9M bbl/mo total): West Hackberry (1.4M bbl/mo) | Bayou Choctaw (0.5M bbl/mo)

Texas Distribution Complex (1.1M bbl/mo total): Bryan Mound (0.6M bbl/mo) | Big Hill (0.5M bbl/mo)

7. Policy Recommendations for Immediate Action

Petition for Immediate Emergency Appropriations: Coordinate with congressional leadership to pass a $13.25 billion emergency supplemental bill earmarked exclusively for counter-cyclical SPR crude acquisition.

Enforce Mandatory Exchange Schedules: Formally notify commercial counterparties that all emergency loan barrels distributed during the first half of 2026 must adhere strictly to scheduled payback windows to maximize the intake of the 34.4 million premium barrels.

Coordinate Congressional Repeals: Petition Congress to freeze, pause, or permanently repeal all remaining non-emergency, deficit-offset SPR sales slated through fiscal year 2028.

Impose an Outflow Cap to Preserve Operational Flexibility: Establish a temporary policy floor at 243 million barrels. Any further drawdown beyond this limit risks systemic cavern collapse and would completely compromise national defense capabilities during an extended global maritime conflict.

 

Dear Tampa Bay Rays Ownership, Hillsborough County Commissioners, and City of Tampa Officials,

We are writing to propose a critical enhancement to the pending stadium framework at the Dale Mabry campus. By shifting from traditional municipal bonding to an IRS tax-exempt "Empty Bond Status" framework, we can maximize structural savings, elevate resident security, and aggressively leverage federal HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) alongside advanced federal infrastructure grants.

This optimization minimizes taxpayer exposure while completely fulfilling ownership’s vision for a world-class sports and entertainment district.

1. Structural Cost Savings via IRS "Empty Bond Status"

Eliminate Debt Service: Utilizing an IRS-compliant, tax-exempt "empty bond" or conduit financing structure allows the public to provide tax-exempt status to the project's infrastructure without issuing traditional, high-interest municipal debt.

Zero General Fund Risk: The county and city maintain a non-bonding, pay-as-you-go posture. Private capital funds the upfront costs, while benefiting from the tax-exempt status allowed under federal maritime and economic development zones.

Compounded Interest Savings: Bypassing standard underwriting and multi-decade bond amortization schedules saves taxpayers and developers an estimated \(\$150\) million to \(\$250\) million in lifetime interest fees.

2. Safeguarding Resident Security and Local Housing

HUD CDBG Integration: By intentionally carving out affordable housing and mixed-use commercial space within the 113-acre footprint, the project qualifies for HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

Anti-Displacement Funds: CDBG allocations will be legally firewalled to fund neighborhood stabilization, local job-training corridors, and physical security infrastructure (enhanced lighting, modern policing substations, and smart-city grid monitoring) for the surrounding communities.

Tax Stabilization Caps: A portion of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) revenues will fund a property tax stabilization program, ensuring legacy residents are not priced out by the stadium's economic lift.

3. Aggressive Infrastructure Grant Stacking

Raising the Infrastructure Ceiling: We urge the joint task force to aggressively pursue federal Mega Grants and Promote Infrastructure Resilience (PROTECT) grants via the Department of Transportation.

Intermodal Transit Hub: Upgrading the Dale Mabry corridor requires heavy transit infrastructure. Federal grants can shoulder up to \(80\%\) of the burden for stormwater management, grid resilience, and dedicated rapid-transit lanes connecting downtown Tampa to the stadium.

Private-Public Matching: By matching the Rays' ($1.27) billion private investment against federal infrastructure programs, the region can secure priority ranking for highly competitive federal dollars, sparing local gas and sales tax pools.

Conclusion and Next Steps

This refined financial model delivers a true win-win. The Tampa Bay Rays secure a world-class, asset-backed entertainment district with optimized tax advantages, while Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa eliminate long-term debt liabilities, enhance resident security, and rebuild critical infrastructure using federal funds.

We request a formal agenda item at the next joint commission workshop to present the legal and financial architecture required to execute this strategy.

Sincerely,

Keith Varian/Community Infrastructure & Economic Development Taskforce
(813)380-5761 / KVarian1@yahoo.com
Riverview, FL Resident / Community Advocate

 

Financial Addendum: IRS Conduit "Empty Bond" Mechanics

To: Hillsborough County Bond Counsel, City of Tampa Chief Financial Officer, and Rays Ownership Financial Team

From: Community Infrastructure & Economic Development Taskforce
Subject: Implementation Architecture for Tax-Exempt Conduit Financing (IRS "Empty Bond" Status)

 

1. Statutory Authority and Structure

The proposed stadium and entertainment district will utilize a Conduit Financing Mechanism under IRS Code Section 103 (Tax-Exempt State and Local Bonds) and Section 142 (Exempt Facility Bonds for Mass Commuting and Qualified Redevelopment).

The "Empty Bond" Definition: Hillsborough County or a designated Joint Development Authority will act as the pass-through issuer. The municipality issues tax-exempt conduit revenue bonds, but holds zero debt service obligation.

Liability Isolation: 100% of the principal and interest repayment rests solely on the private developer (Rays Ownership) and the project's generated revenues (ticket surcharges, district sales taxes, lease payments). The public's credit rating and general fund are completely insulated.

Private Capital / Rays Dev Co ---> Funds Upfront Construction  (Tax-Exempt Interest Payments) v Public Conduit Issuer Authority ---> Issues "Empty" Bonds (No Public Debt Liability)  (Enables Tax-Exempt Status for Infrastructure)  IRS Qualified Project Area --------> Dale Mabry Entertainment & Sports District

 

2. Mechanics of Tax-Exempt Savings

By utilizing a public conduit issuer, the private development entity gains access to tax-exempt borrowing rates for all qualified public-use infrastructure within the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus.

Capital Expenditure Relief: Materials, engineering, and construction costs for stormwater vaults, grid integration, parking garages, and pedestrian plazas qualify for tax-exempt status.

Interest Rate Compression: Private debt interest rates are compressed by roughly 1.5% to 2.2% compared to traditional commercial paper. On a $1 billion private infrastructure pull, this saves the project an estimated $15 million to $22 million annually in debt service.

Refinancing Safeguards: The empty bond structure allows the team to refinance private debt portions under municipal tax-exempt umbrellas if macroeconomic interest rates drop, without requiring new public votes or referendum updates.

Federal Grant Application Outlines

HUD CDBG National Objective: Elimination of Slum and Blight (Area Basis) or Low/Mod Income (LMI) Benefit

Project Component: Dale Mabry Mixed-Use Housing & Neighborhood Security Corridor.

Requested Funding: $45,000,000 (Multi-year entitlement allocation and Section 108 Loan Guarantee).

Executive Summary & Project Description

This application requests HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assistance to fund the public security, anti-displacement, and pedestrian-transit components of the Dale Mabry redevelopment. While the  stadium bowl itself is privately funded, the surrounding 113-acre master plan directly impacts surrounding low-and-moderate-income (LMI) Census tracts. CDBG funds will explicitly target neighborhood stabilization and physical security infrastructure.

Key Narrative Metrics

LMI Benefit: Over 51% of the residents in the directly adjacent Census tracts fall within HUD’s low-to-moderate-income thresholds. This project creates a permanent job-training corridor tied directly to the construction and ongoing operations of the district.

Security & Infrastructure Build: Funds will deploy a modern, smart-grid public safety network, including fiber-optic street lighting, emergency blue-light towers, and a dedicated Hillsborough County Sheriff/Tampa Police joint community substation built within the retail footprint.

Anti-Displacement Housing Trust: A $15,000,000 carve-out will seed a regional Property Tax Stabilization Fund, giving direct grants to long-term legacy homeowners within a 2-mile radius to cover rising property tax valuations driven by the stadium’s economic lift.

DOT PROTECT (Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation) Grant

Project Component: Dale Mabry Intermodal Transit & Stormwater Resilience Vault.

Requested Funding: $85,000,000 (Federal cost-share at 80%).

Executive Summary & Project Description

This application seeks federal DOT PROTECT funds to rebuild the critical evacuation and transit spine of North Dale Mabry Highway. The introduction of a major sports and entertainment district requires upgrading existing transportation assets to survive extreme weather events, manage catastrophic stormwater surges, and move large masses of citizens efficiently via non-vehicular transport.

Key Narrative Metrics

Stormwater Resilience: Installation of subsurface retention vaults capable of capturing 5 million gallons of runoff per storm event, protecting both the Dale Mabry corridor and the surrounding residential street grid from chronic flooding.

Intermodal Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Hub: Construction of a dedicated, median-separated BRT lane running from Downtown Tampa directly to a new stadium transit plaza, reducing gridlock and carbon emissions during high-occupancy events.

Private-Sector Match: The application leverages the Rays' private investment as a massive non-federal local match, vaulting this project into the top tier of competitive federal rankings.

 

 

Public Officials & Residents (Focus: Taxpayer Security)

"This plan ensures that not one cent of property tax is risked. The county and city are not taking on debt. We are acting as a legal pass-through to give the project tax-exempt status, while the team takes 100% of the financial risk."

"By using federal HUD and DOT grants, we are forcing Washington D.O.T. and HUD dollars to pay for our local roads, lighting, and flood basins. We are fixing Tampa's infrastructure using federal money, sparked by a private project."

"The CDBG housing trust guarantees that local families are protected from gentrification. We are capping property tax impacts for legacy residents before construction even begins."

 

Pitching to Rays Ownership & Developers (Focus: Profitability & Speed)

"The IRS Empty Bond framework slashes your infrastructure borrowing costs by up to 2.2%. This injects tens of millions of dollars back into your cash-flow margins every single year of the build."

"Using federal grants for the roads, transit lanes, and massive stormwater vaults means you do not have to pay for them. The public matches your investment against federal pools, clearing your balance sheet of heavy civic infrastructure costs."

"The 99-year lease and master developer status over the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus gives you absolute control over the highly profitable ancillary real estate, while federal dollars clean up the site and stabilize the surrounding workforce."

 

 

 

 

Dear Representative Danny Alvarez,

As a Florida resident and taxpayer, I am writing to formally request that the State of Florida submit a Notice of Intent to participate in the USDA’s 2027 Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) program.

For consecutive years, Florida has chosen to leave over $250 million annually in 100% federally funded grocery benefits on the table. This decision directly impacts approximately 2.2 million eligible children across our state who face food insecurity when school lunches are unavailable.

While I understand concerns regarding administrative overhead, economic data shows that the required 50% state administrative match would cost Florida roughly $7.5 million—a microscopic fraction (0.007%) of our state’s $115+ billion budget. Furthermore, because every dollar in food benefits generates $1.54 in local economic activity, this small investment would yield a 34-to-1 return on investment, funneling over $250 million directly into Florida's agricultural supply chains, small businesses, and grocery retailers.

Our neighboring states have recognized this immense economic and humanitarian win. I urge you to prioritize Florida’s children and local economies by appropriating the matching administrative funds for the 2027 budget cycle.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Keith Varian FL-14 House Candidate
Riverview, FL

 

Subject: Request for Florida to Participate in the 2027 USDA SUN Bucks Program

Dear Senator Brian Nathan,

As a Florida resident and taxpayer, I am writing to formally request that the State of Florida submit a Notice of Intent to participate in the USDA’s 2027 Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) program.

For consecutive years, Florida has chosen to leave over $250 million annually in 100% federally funded grocery benefits on the table. This decision directly impacts approximately 2.2 million eligible children across our state who face food insecurity when school lunches are unavailable.

While I understand concerns regarding administrative overhead, economic data shows that the required 50% state administrative match would cost Florida roughly $7.5 million—a microscopic fraction (0.007%) of our state’s $115+ billion budget. Furthermore, because every dollar in food benefits generates $1.54 in local economic activity, this small investment would yield a 34-to-1 return on investment, funneling over $250 million directly into Florida's agricultural supply chains, small businesses, and grocery retailers.

Our neighboring states have recognized this immense economic and humanitarian win. I urge you to prioritize Florida’s children and local economies by appropriating the matching administrative funds for the 2027 budget cycle.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Keith Varian/Candidate FL-14 US House
Riverview, FL]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]

The Honorable [Representative/Senator First and Last Name]
[Office Address]
[United States House of Representatives / United States Senate]
[Washington, DC 20515 / 20510]

Subject: Protecting Our Budgets: Cap Healthcare Costs at the Social Security COLA Rate

Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],

I am writing to you as your constituent because I am deeply concerned about how rapidly rising healthcare costs are eating away at household budgets. When my family and neighbors look at our finances, one thing is perfectly clear: our income simply does not keep pace with the sky-rocketing costs of staying healthy. I urge you to champion a common-sense solution: index healthcare cost increases directly to the annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) cap.

It is fundamentally unfair that while seniors and working families see modest income adjustments based on general inflation, our medical bills spike by double-digit percentages. To fix this, we need a law mandating that annual increases for Medicare premiums, state Medicaid cost-sharing, and private insurance premiums never exceed the official Social Security COLA percentage for that year.

Crucially, this protection must cover total out-of-pocket cost growth. If we only cap premiums, insurance companies will just raise deductibles, copays, and co-insurance to maximize their profits. Forcing all out-of-pocket costs to stay under the COLA cap closes these loopholes and provides real, predictable financial relief.

Every year, families face agonizing choices between paying for life-saving prescriptions or buying groceries because medical inflation outpaces their income. By tying healthcare growth to the COLA rate, we can ensure that a cost-of-living adjustment actually covers the cost of living.

Thank you for listening to the families in your district. I look forward to your response and your leadership on this vital issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Printed Name]

 

The Core Proposal: Pass legislation that legally caps all annual healthcare cost increases at the official Social Security COLA rate.

Who It Protects: Seniors on fixed incomes and working-class families whose wages are consistently outpaced by medical inflation.

The Mechanism: If the annual COLA is 2.5%, then Medicare premiums, Medicaid cost-sharing, and private insurance premiums cannot rise by more than 2.5% that year.

Closing the Loophole: The cap must explicitly apply to total out-of-pocket cost growth. This prevents insurance companies from secretly raising deductibles and copays to bypass the premium cap.

The Direct Ask: Will the Representative/Senator commit to looking into this framework, or introduce a bill that ties healthcare inflation directly to consumer purchasing power?

 

*Because capping out-of-pocket costs is a highly popular populist issue among everyday consumers, representatives in competitive districts look for "kitchen table" economic bills to back.

 

 

 

 

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]

The Honorable [Representative/Senator First and Last Name]
[Office Address]
[United States House of Representatives / United States Senate]
[Washington, DC 20515 / 20510]

Subject: Protecting Our Budgets: Cap Healthcare Costs at the Social Security COLA Rate

Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],

I am writing to you as your constituent because I am deeply concerned about how rapidly rising healthcare costs are eating away at household budgets. When my family and neighbors look at our finances, one thing is perfectly clear: our income simply does not keep pace with the sky-rocketing costs of staying healthy. I urge you to champion a common-sense solution: index healthcare cost increases directly to the annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) cap.

It is fundamentally unfair that while seniors and working families see modest income adjustments based on general inflation, our medical bills spike by double-digit percentages. To fix this, we need a law mandating that annual increases for Medicare premiums, state Medicaid cost-sharing, and private insurance premiums never exceed the official Social Security COLA percentage for that year.

Crucially, this protection must cover total out-of-pocket cost growth. If we only cap premiums, insurance companies will just raise deductibles, copays, and co-insurance to maximize their profits. Forcing all out-of-pocket costs to stay under the COLA cap closes these loopholes and provides real, predictable financial relief.

Every year, families face agonizing choices between paying for life-saving prescriptions or buying groceries because medical inflation outpaces their income. By tying healthcare growth to the COLA rate, we can ensure that a cost-of-living adjustment actually covers the cost of living.

Thank you for listening to the families in your district. I look forward to your response and your leadership on this vital issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Printed Name]

2. Staff Call & Meeting Talking Points Memo

Use these crisp, direct bullet points if you call their local office or score a meeting with a legislative aide. Staffers appreciate brevity and clear data.

The Core Proposal: Pass legislation that legally caps all annual healthcare cost increases at the official Social Security COLA rate.

Who It Protects: Seniors on fixed incomes and working-class families whose wages are consistently outpaced by medical inflation.

The Mechanism: If the annual COLA is 2.5%, then Medicare premiums, Medicaid cost-sharing, and private insurance premiums cannot rise by more than 2.5% that year.

Closing the Loophole: The cap must explicitly apply to total out-of-pocket cost growth. This prevents insurance companies from secretly raising deductibles and copays to bypass the premium cap.

The Direct Ask: Will the Representative/Senator commit to looking into this framework, or introduce a bill that ties healthcare inflation directly to consumer purchasing power?

Would you like the official phone numbers for your specific district's offices, or do you need help anticipating the counter-arguments an aide might throw at you during a call?

 

The Honorable Kathy Castor
2188 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0914

Subject: Reforming Social Security, Lowering Healthcare Costs, and Driving Job Creation

Dear Representative Castor,

As a constituent living in Florida's 14th congressional district, I am writing to urge your support for a comprehensive legislative approach to securing our economic future, stabilizing Social Security, and lowering healthcare costs. Given your influential position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, your leadership is vital to protecting everyday working families and seniors in the Tampa Bay area.

To ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security, we must modernize how the system collects revenue and calculates benefits. Specifically, I support:

Payroll Tax Reform: Raising the Social Security payroll tax by 0.02% and increasing the retirement age specifically for individuals making over $250,000 per year.

COLA Adjustment: Transitioning the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) formula to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) so that annual benefit increases accurately reflect the rising medical and living costs of seniors.

Furthermore, to alleviate the heavy financial burden of healthcare on Floridians and stimulate the broader economy, I am calling on Congress to focus on targeted, progressive reforms and robust economic investment:

Healthcare Affordability: Capping medical premiums so they cannot grow faster than the annual COLA percentage, ensuring healthcare remains affordable.

The Wall Street Tax Act: Passing legislation like the Wall Street Tax Act to levy a small tax on financial trades. This would reduce risky speculation while raising necessary revenue to reinvest in community programs and economic safety nets.

Strategic Job Creation: Prioritizing sustained JOB CREATION by investing in local infrastructure, clean energy, and small business incentives to grow our workforce and boost wages in our district.

Thank you for your long-standing dedication to healthcare access and economic security for our community. I urge you to champion these forward-looking policies in Congress, and I look forward to hearing your stance on these critical issues.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Name]

📬 Submission Information

You can mail a physical copy of this letter, drop it off locally in Tampa, or send it online through her digital portal:

Washington, D.C. Phone: (202) 225-3376

Tampa District Office: 2130 W Main St, Suite 107, Tampa, FL 33607

Online Message Portal: Castor's Official Form for Writing Your Representative

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

3 sites

Kathy Castor - Ballotpedia

Nov 5, 2024 — Kathy Castor (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Florida's 14th Congressional District. She assumed off...

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Office Locations | U.S. Representative Kathy Castor - House.gov

Washington Office. 2188 Rayburn House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-3376. Fax: (202) 225-5652. Office Ho...

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (.gov)

Write Your Rep | U.S. Representative Kathy Castor

Required fields are followed by * . ... Prefix is required! First Name * First Name is too long! Last Name * Last Name is too long...

U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (.gov)

 

 

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, ZIP Code]
[Your Email]
[Date]

The Honorable Vern Buchanan
2409 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0916 [1]

Subject: Reforming Social Security, Lowering Healthcare Costs, and Driving Job Creation [1, 2, 3]

Dear Representative Buchanan,

As a constituent, I am writing to urge your support for a comprehensive approach to securing our economic future, stabilizing Social Security, and lowering healthcare costs. Given your leadership as Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, your voice is essential in ensuring that the system is strengthened for working Americans and seniors. [1, 2]

To ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security, we must modernize how the system collects revenue and calculates benefits. Specifically, I support:

Payroll Tax Reform: Raising the Social Security payroll tax by 0.02% and increasing the retirement age specifically for individuals making over $250,000 per year.

COLA Adjustment: Transitioning the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) formula to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) so that annual benefit increases accurately reflect the rising medical and living costs of seniors.

Furthermore, to alleviate the financial burden of healthcare on everyday Americans and stimulate the broader economy, I am calling on Congress to focus on targeted, progressive reforms and robust economic investment: [1, 2, 3]

Healthcare Affordability: Capping medical premiums so they cannot grow faster than the annual COLA percentage, ensuring healthcare remains accessible. [1]

The Wall Street Tax Act: Passing legislation like the Wall Street Tax Act to levy a small tax on financial trades. This would reduce risky speculation while raising necessary revenue to reinvest in the American people.

Strategic Job Creation: Prioritizing sustained JOB CREATION by investing in infrastructure, clean energy, and small business incentives to grow our workforce and boost wages. [1]

I urge you to champion these forward-looking policies during your remaining time in the House. Thank you for your decades of dedicated public service to Florida and our country. I look forward to hearing your stance on these critical issues. [1]

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]

[Your Name]

📬 Submission Information

You can mail the physical letter to his Washington office listed above, drop it off locally, or use his online portal: [1]

Washington, D.C. Phone: (202) 225-5015

Bradenton District Office: 8433 Enterprise Circle, Suite 210, Bradenton, FL 34202

Online Message Portal: Buchanan's Official House Website Contact Form [1, 2, 3]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

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Senior Citizens | Congressman Vern Buchanan

We look forward to meeting with you and developing lasting relationships that can have a major impact on our district and beyond. ...

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Contact | US Congressman Vern Buchanan - House.gov

Longboat Key Office. 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Brandon Office. 510 Vonderburg Drive.

Congressman Vern Buchanan (.gov)

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Jan 30, 2026 — Vern Buchanan is co-chair of the bipartisan 30-member Florida congressional delegation and Vice Chair of the powerful House Ways a...

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Vernon Gale Buchanan (/bjuːˈkænən/ bew-KAN-ən; born May 8, 1951) is an American businessman, politician, and Air Force National Gu...

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🚨 URBAN CRISIS 2026: STADIUM DEAL VS. LOCAL BUSINESS

Tampa and Hillsborough County approved a $976 Million Public Funding framework for the new $2.3B Rays Stadium at Drew Park/Dale Mabry [Hillsborough County Commission voted 5-2, Tampa City Council voted 4-3]. Officials bypassed a ballot vote, locking up sales tax revenue during a global economic contraction [Absence of a Public Referendum].

🌐 THE GLOBAL & MACROECONOMIC PRESSURE TANK

Local cost increases are driven by a severe convergence of international forces:

The Dry SPR Energy Crisis: The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at an historic low floor of 243 Million Barrels [The Summer 2026 Bottom]. Zero safety buffer will drive July fuel prices to $5.50 – $6.00/gallon [July Projected Gas Prices].

6.0% Inflation Squeeze: High freight rates keep core inflation at 6.0% [6% inflation]. Food inputs are up 8% to 10% [food price increases]. Millions have lost SNAP safety net benefits, crushing local holiday retail budgets [2.4 million people being taken off snap benefits monthly].

The 5.0% Interest Anchor: The 10-Year Treasury yield sits at 5.0%, pushing commercial bank loans past 8.5% [5% ten yr treasury]. Banks face a 12% to 15%+ office default crisis and are freezing small business credit lines [cre defaults in 2026].

Insurance Insolvency Wave: Reinsurance markets have contracted, driving local commercial property premiums up 20% to 35% [The Local Fallout].

 

📍 THE STADIUM RISK RADIUS: CHOKING LOCAL REVENUE

🔴 THE 2-MILE BLAST ZONE (Overhead Shock)

The NNN Rent Trap: Most local leases are Triple-Net (NNN). Landlords face a doubling of property values, soaring real estate taxes, and crushing commercial property insurance spikes (+35%). They will legally pass 100% of these expenses directly onto your monthly rent invoice.

The Refinancing Wall: Property owners holding older 3% loans must refinance at 8.5%. Landlords who cannot afford this debt service will face foreclosure, triggering a wave of commercial real estate defaults and evictions [Phase 1: The Construction Squeeze (Years 1–3)].

Physical Blight: Multi-year road overhauls and utility disruptions will kill drop-in foot traffic. Mega-developers will poach local workers by bidding up entry-level wages.

🟡 THE 5-MILE CONGESTION ZONE (Market Cannibalization)

The "Stadium Bubble": The development features 7.6 million square feet of internal, corporate dining and retail. Game-day crowds will stay inside this closed corporate ecosystem, entirely cannibalizing independent businesses outside the fence line.

Logistical Paralysis: Intense event-night traffic will cause gridlock on local transit corridors. Regular, high-value neighborhood clients will actively avoid traveling into this zone during game windows.

🔵 THE 7-MILE FISCAL ZONE (The Broken Promise)

The Tax Loophole: Hillsborough County will legally own the stadium, making the massive footprint 100% exempt from property taxes [The 35-Year Ownership and Maintenance Loophole]. No property tax revenue from the site will fund local public schools or infrastructure.

Diverted Infrastructure Funds: By locking up $976 Million in Community Investment Tax (CIT) and CRA funds, the county is legally starving the budget for neighborhood road repaving, traffic flow upgrades, and flood drainage.

🛠️ MANDATORY BUSINESS DEFENSE PLAYBOOK

Demand a "CAM Cap": Do not sign or renew a lease without a Cumulative Expense Cap, legally limiting annual NNN and maintenance cost growth to a maximum of 5% to 7%.

Audit Your Pro-Rata Share: Force your landlord to provide an annual accounting audit to ensure you are not paying for vacant spaces or infrastructure upgrades meant for corporate stadium tenants.

Enforce Co-Tenancy Clauses: Insert legal language allowing you to break your lease or pay reduced base rent if construction gridlock drives anchor tenants away from your commercial center.

Get Involved. Protect Our Neighborhood Economy.
The current agreement is a non-binding memorandum. Binding contract votes will take place later this summer. Contact your Hillsborough County Commissioner and Tampa City Council Representative immediately. Attend the next public hearing. Learn more and join the coalition at voteVarian2026.com.

 

Proposed Legislative Amendment to Florida statute 206.41

 

Letter to State Representative Brian Nathan, FL. District 14

Subject: Legislative Proposal: Emergency Fuel Tax Relief for Service-Based Small Business Fleets

Date:5/14/2026

To: The Honorable Brian Nathan
701 West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 2, Tampa, FL 33603

From:  Keith Varian ;Candidate FL-14 US House
12308 Adventure Dr, Riverview, Fl 33579

Dear Mr. Nathan

As a resident in your district, I am writing to propose a targeted legislative amendment to Florida Statute 206.41 aimed at protecting Florida’s service-based small businesses from catastrophic fuel price spikes.

The Proposal: The "Small Business Fuel Safety Valve"
I am formally requesting that you sponsor legislation to expand eligibility for refunds of the State Comprehensive Enhanced Transportation System (SCETS) tax and Local Option fuel taxes to include service-based small businesses with "on-road" fleets. Crucially, I propose this refund be triggered only when the average price of gasoline or diesel reaches or exceeds $6.00 per gallon.

Why This Is Necessary
Currently, "off-road" industries like agriculture and commercial fishing enjoy fuel tax refunds regardless of the economy. Meanwhile, service-based businesses—such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and local delivery—are excluded because our fleets operate on-road.

In the current 2026 economic climate, fuel is no longer just a "cost of doing business"; it has become an existential threat. When prices hit $6.00 per gallon, the tax burden on a service fleet forces us to either raise prices for Florida families or operate at a loss.

Key Features of the Amendment:

Emergency Trigger: Relief is not a permanent handout; it is a temporary "safety valve" activated only when fuel costs hit the $6.00/gallon threshold.

Targeted Relief: Eligibility would be restricted to Florida-based small businesses (defined by employee count or revenue) with fleets used for essential home and commercial services.

Fiscal Responsibility: By using a price trigger, the State Transportation Trust Fund remains fully funded during normal price cycles, ensuring our roads and bridges are still maintained.

The Impact on your District
By supporting this trigger-based refund, you are providing a critical lifeline to the local entrepreneurs who keep Florida’s infrastructure running. This policy prevents inflationary price hikes for consumers and ensures that small businesses aren't the only ones left without relief when global energy markets become volatile.

Fairness: Currently, golf course mowers receive tax relief while local delivery vans do not. We are asking for parity.

Inflation: Fuel taxes are a major driver of hidden inflation; a refund allows us to stabilize prices for our neighbors.

Impact: For a small fleet, these specific taxes represent thousands of dollars in monthly overhead better used for payrol

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this "Safety Valve" model with you or your staff. Thank you for your commitment to Florida’s working small businesses.

Sincerely,

Keith Varian
Candidate FL-14 US House

 

 

Letter to Governor Desantis

 

May 14, 2026

The Honorable Ron DeSantis
Governor of Florida
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Dear Governor DeSantis,

I am writing as a constituent and a candidate for Florida's 14th Congressional District to formally propose a structured, data-driven consumer energy relief framework designed to protect Floridians during periods of extreme market volatility. Specifically, I urge your administration to champion legislation establishing an automated, conditional fuel tax holiday mechanism.

Our state’s families and businesses are experiencing severe pressure at the pump. According to current AAA fuel data, the Florida state average for regular unleaded gasoline has climbed to $4.39 per gallon, marking a four-year high. Regional factors, including shifting export market dynamics along the Gulf Coast, continue to pull local costs closer to volatile international levels, with prices in the Tampa Bay area mirroring these statewide surges.

Rather than relying on retroactive or manual legislative interventions, Florida would benefit from a predictable, emergency safety net that activates automatically upon reaching predefined market thresholds. I propose a framework structured as follows:

• Activation Trigger: An immediate suspension of the state fuel tax for a minimum duration of 60 days, enacted automatically the moment the state average for regular unleaded gasoline reaches $6.00 per gallon.

• Deactivation Clause: The suspension would remain in effect until the state average for regular unleaded gasoline drops below $5.50 per gallon and maintains that level for 30 consecutive days.

While current prices hover near $4.40, a surge to $6.00 per gallon represents an acute economic crisis that would severely impact working families, independent contractors, and statewide logistics networks. By establishing explicit, rule-based triggers, this policy provides market predictability, safeguards transportation infrastructure funding during normal price cycles, and delivers targeted fiscal relief precisely when extreme inflation threatens state commerce.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and consideration of this structural solution to safeguard Florida taxpayers against unprecedented energy inflation.

Respectfully yours,

Keith Varian
Candidate, U.S. House of Representatives (FL-14)
12308 Adventure Drive
Riverview, FL 33579

 

 

Petition to Florida Public Service Commission&Teco

 

MEDIA PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: May 25, 2026
LOCATION: Tampa, FL
MEDIA CONTACT:Keith Varian/Candidate for Congress US House FL-14 

(813)380.5761/Keith@voteVarian026.com

HILLSBOROUGH RESIDENTS LAUNCH MASS PETITION DEMANDING PSC FORCE TECO TO SHARE THE COST OF GLOBAL NATURAL GAS SPIKES

TAMPA, FL — Today, Hillsborough County community members launched a formal petition campaign targeting the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) and Tampa Electric Company (TECO). The coalition demands a major structural rule overhaul to end the utility policy of passing 100% of uncollected fuel procurement costs onto local consumers.

Following warnings from the U.S. Department of Energy regarding nationwide grid vulnerability and localized over-reliance on natural gas, Hillsborough ratepayers are pushing for a mandatory 80/20 Risk-Sharing Mechanism. Under this proposal, if TECO miscalculates its fuel procurement or suffers from international commodity market price shocks, its corporate shareholders must absorb at least 20% of the financial deficit out of corporate profits rather than passing the entire burden to consumers.

"Right now, TECO operates with zero financial risk for its volatile fossil fuel choices," said [Your Name/Spokesperson Title]. "Because our local grid is over 80% dependent on natural gas, our monthly electric bills have skyrocketed by an unsustainable 82% over the last five years. TECO passes every penny of their volatile fuel spikes down to families and small businesses, while their corporate parent pocketed millions in profits. It is time to end the 100% pass-through and force TECO to share the cost of these market failures."

The community petition will be filed directly as an official Public Consumer Exhibit in the upcoming FPSC Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery Clause docket. The coalition plans to gather thousands of signatures from verified utility customers across Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City to force a formal regulatory hearing on utility risk management.

 

To view the petition or join the campaign, visit: [Insert Link to Digital Petition Platform]

 

 

Fort Mead Data Center

Congressional Campaign Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FL-14 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE SOUNDS ALARM ON $2.6B FORT MEADE DATA CENTER; WARNS OF RATE HIKES, SINKHOLE RISKS, AND 6.2-MILE THERMAL DOME

SUN CITY CENTER, FL — May 25, 2026 — Today, Keith Varian, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 14th Congressional District, launched a coordinated regional campaign demanding that state and regional regulators halt infrastructure permits for the proposed 4.4 million-square-foot Fort Meade data center, warning of severe environmental and economic consequences stretching across a 50-mile radius.

"This project is a bad deal for our communities," said Varian. "While local corporate developers take a massive $140 million county tax exemption, working families and fixed-income seniors in places like Sun City Center are left holding the bag. Our residents are already paying an extra $30.81 a month on their TECO bills for storm cleanup. We refuse to let our utility bills spike even further to build regional power infrastructure for an automated, out-of-state tech campus that generates fewer than 50 permanent jobs."

The campaign highlighted independent scientific data focusing on the environmental and geological footprint of the 1,300-acre site, specifically pointing to the Data Heat Island Effect and regional water strain:

The 6.2-Mile Thermal Dome: Paving over this agricultural corridor will spike local temperatures by an average of 3.6°F to 16.4°F, creating an artificial heat dome that radiates outward across a 6.2-mile radius, threatening surrounding citrus farms and driving up residential cooling costs.

The Pumping Double Standard: While Sun City Center seniors are legally restricted to watering their lawns just one day per week under strict SWFWMD Phase III mandates, this facility expects a blank check to pump up to 450,000 gallons of groundwater per day from the shared Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA).

Plant City Sinkhole Vulnerability: Less than 30 miles northwest of the facility sits the volatile Plant City/Lakeland karst geology corridor. The campaign warns that such massive, concentrated industrial groundwater extraction threatens to destabilize regional aquifer pressures, drastically increasing the geological risk of structural sinkholes.

"When I am in Washington, I will fight to protect our borders, our seniors, and our natural infrastructure," Varian stated. "But this fight is happening right now in our backyard. We are calling on the Southwest Florida Water Management District and our Hillsborough County Commissioners to reject these permits until the developer agrees to a 100% dry-cooled design and a total legal firewall for our utility rates."

Media Contact:

Keith Varian for Congress Campaign Committee
Keith@votevarian2026.com

 813.380.5761

VoteVarian2026.com

 

 

Federal Policy Platform: The Public Treasury Protection & Infrastructure Modernization Act

Executive Directive: This federal policy framework establishes strict underwriting guidelines, tax-exempt bond compliance firewalls, and multi-tier federal grant restrictions for any professional sports facility or adjacent entertainment district utilizing federal resources.

The policy is engineered to achieve three national objectives: reduce municipal debt-service inflation to zero ($0), eliminate public general fund liability, and fast-track localized trade employment.

1. Modernization of IRS Section 141 (Private Activity Bond Reform)

To prevent local governments from incurring catastrophic interest bills, federal tax code provisions must enforce innovative conduit financing mechanics.

The "Empty Bond" Mandate: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) shall establish a specialized tax-exempt status for municipal "Empty Bonds." Public issuers may authorize a Master Indenture framework at a $0 initial active balance.

Pay-As-You-Go Draw-Downs: Federal tax exemptions shall only apply if construction cash flow is managed via private revolving bank lines of credit. These private balances convert to active tax-exempt tranches only as specific horizontal infrastructure phases are verified by civil engineers.

The Interest Firewall: By banning upfront lump-sum municipal bond marketing for sports districts, this federal framework eliminates the standard 40% interest rate premium, saving local taxpayers hundreds of millions in compounding debt-service inflation [Tampa Sports Authority Finance Committee].

2. Strict Public-Private Use Firewalls & Asset Retention

To preserve federal tax-exempt eligibility, strict geographic and structural firewalls must separate public infrastructure from private corporate real estate.

Qualified Horizontal Expenditures: 100% of federal conduit bond proceeds and grant capital must be legally restricted to public-use horizontal infrastructure. Eligible line items are limited to public roadways, transit links, regional utility grids, and stormwater drainage networks.

Private Funding Prohibition: No federal tax exemptions or subsidies may be applied to team-exclusive vertical structures, luxury suites, or private athletic facilities.

Public Asset Ownership: All horizontal improvements funded through this federal capital stack must permanently retain 100% public municipal ownership with unrestricted public access.

3. Federal Grant Stacking & Multi-Tier Capital Sourcing

Federal executive agencies shall coordinate to provide non-repayable capital incentives, reducing the necessity for localized public debt.

RAISE Grant Prioritization: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) shall award priority points to regional RAISE grant applications that feature multi-modal, zero-emission transit links connecting sports-anchored commercial zones to major metropolitan corridors.

HUD CDBG Blight Mitigation: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall authorize the blending of Community Development Block Grants into the outer perimeters of designated sports districts, provided the funds are explicitly used for neighborhood stabilization, ADA compliance, and local workforce housing.

Debt Substitution: Every dollar distributed via RAISE or HUD CDBG tracks shall function as a direct capital injection, substituting out municipal borrowing and keeping local public debt ledgers clear.

4. Mandatory Developer Backstops & Non-Recourse Covenants

To protect municipal treasuries from macroeconomic shifts, federal infrastructure financing is strictly contingent upon absolute private accountability.

The Contractual Shortfall Guarantee: No federal conduit financing or grant allocation shall be cleared unless the private developer signs an ironclad shortfall agreement. If localized property tax increments (TIF uplift) lag, the developer is legally required to pay Shortfall Rent out of pocket to cover the credit facility's carrying costs [Riviera Beach CRA, City of Tampa].

Statutory Non-Recourse Clause: All credit agreements must contain explicit federal non-recourse language. Lenders and financial institutions are statutorily blocked from pursuing claims against a municipality's general fund, local sales tax distributions, or emergency cash reserves.

5. Federal Sourcing & Risk Matrix

Capital TierFederal AgencyLegal MechanismTreasury Protection

Tier 1: Infrastructure CashU.S. DOT / HUDRAISE & CDBG Grants$0 Risk (Non-Repayable Federal Cash)

Tier 2: Conduit FinancingInternal Revenue ServiceIRS Section 141 Empty Bonds$0 Risk (Non-Recourse Conduit Shell)

Tier 3: Risk ShiftLocal Municipal CRATIF Uplift [Riviera Beach CRA, City of Tampa]$0 Risk (Backed by Developer Shortfall Rent)

 

PETITION BEFORE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

In re: Petition of Keith Varian/Candidate for US House FL-14 to initiate rulemaking to establish a Volatility Buffer for Small Commercial accounts.

PETITION TO INITIATE RULEMAKING 

Pursuant to Section 120.54(7), Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-106.301, F.A.C., [Petitioner Name] (Petitioner) hereby petitions the Florida Public Service Commission (Commission) to initiate rulemaking to amend or create rules governing fuel-adjustment charges for small commercial accounts. [1]

1. Identification of Petitioner

Name: Keith varian

Address: 12308 Adventure Dr, Riverview

(813)380-5761/KVarian1@yahoo.com

2. Affected Agency
The agency affected is the Florida Public Service Commission, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

3. Statement of Substantial Interest
Petitioner is a small commercial ratepayer in Florida. Petitioner's substantial interests are affected by current uncapped fuel-adjustment charges, which cause unpredictable monthly bill spikes, making financial planning impossible and threatening business viability.

4. Proposed Rule Language (The "Volatility Rule")
The Petitioner proposes that the Commission adopt the following stabilization measures for Small Commercial (GS-1/GSD-1) rate classes:

Rate Cap: Monthly total bill increases resulting from fuel-cost recovery shall be capped at 5% per quarter.

Mandatory Amortization: Any fuel under-recovery exceeding 10% of the projected cost must be recovered over a minimum period of 18 months rather than immediately.

Risk Sharing: Utilities shall be responsible for 10% of fuel costs that exceed the PSC-approved projection by more than 15%.

5. Facts Supporting the Need for Rulemaking

Small businesses lack the hedging resources of industrial users to manage sudden 20–40% utility bill hikes.

Current automatic pass-through mechanisms prioritize utility liquidity over consumer affordability, contrary to the "fair and reasonable" mandate. 

6. Request for Relief
Petitioner requests that the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to formally adopt these protections for small commercial accounts. 

Respectfully submitted,
Keith Varian
5/16/2026

 

 

1x2 inch blank space on the upper right-hand corner of the first page for the Clerk's timestamp.

Deliver Copies:  Copy of the petition to the Office of Public Counsel (OPC) and your local state representative to ensure they are aware of the formal filing. 

Copy of this letter to the Florida Office of Public Counsel (OPC) at their contact page, as they represent consumers in rate cases.

 

SAMPLE PETITION

The Honorable [Representative's Name]
The Florida House of Representatives
[District Office Address]

 

RE: Support for Small Business Utility Stability – Proposed Volatility Rule

Dear Representative [Representative’s Last Name],

As your constituent and a local small business owner in [Your City], I am writing to ask for your support regarding a formal Petition to Initiate Rulemaking I have filed with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). My proposal establishes a "Volatility Buffer" to protect small commercial accounts from the devastating impact of uncapped fuel-adjustment charges.

Currently, Florida utilities can pass 100% of fuel price spikes directly to small businesses through "Mid-Course Corrections". Over the last few years, these automatic hikes have contributed to some of the highest utility bills in the country, with some Florida businesses seeing increases as high as 86% since 2020.

My proposed rule aligns with the goals of SB 126, currently moving through the legislature, by:

Capping monthly bill increases from fuel-cost recovery at 5% per quarter.

Mandating amortization of large fuel under-recoveries to prevent overnight bill spikes.

Implementing risk-sharing where utilities absorb a portion of fuel costs that vastly exceed projections.

Small businesses are the backbone of Florida’s economy, yet we lack the financial hedges available to large industrial users to manage these volatile swings. I request that you contact the PSC to signal your support for this rulemaking and consider introducing similar protections into the current session's energy reform legislation.

 

I have attached a copy of my formal petition for your review. I look forward to hearing your position on this critical issue for our district's small business community.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
[Your Business Name]

Action Tips

Find Your Representative: Use the Florida House Representative Finder to get the correct name and office address for your district.

Mention SB 126: Referencing this specific bill shows you are informed about the current legislative cycle and makes your request more "actionable" for the Representative’s staff.

Personalize the Stats: If your own business's electric bill has doubled or significantly impacted your ability to hire, add a single sentence with that specific dollar impact to paragraph three.

 

Commerce Committee Leadership 

James Buchanan (Chair, R): james.buchanan@flhouse.gov

Juan Carlos Porras (Vice Chair, R): juancarlos.porras@flhouse.gov

Christine Hunschofsky (Democratic Ranking Member, D): christine.hunschofsky@flhouse.gov

Chase Tramont (Republican Committee Whip, R): chase.tramont@flhouse.gov

A list of other committee members can be found on the official Florida House site. Generally, member emails follow the firstname.lastname@flhouse.gov format. 

Florida House of Representatives (.gov)·https://www.flhouse.gov

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Keith Varian Launches Independent Campaign for U.S. House in Florida’s 14th Congressional District

TAMPA, Fla. — Community advocate Keith Varian has officially announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to represent Florida’s 14th Congressional District. Running with No Party Affiliation (NPA), Varian’s platform breaks away from party-line politics to focus strictly on local, common-sense solutions for the Tampa Bay area.

Varian enters the 2026 congressional race to give voters an independent alternative to the traditional party systems. His campaign prioritizes practical economic growth, lowering the cost of living for working families, and protecting the region's infrastructure against ongoing economic and federal challenges.

"Washington is paralyzed by hyper-partisan gridlock, and everyday Floridians are paying the price," said Varian. "I am running as an independent because the people of Tampa and Hillsborough County deserve a representative who answers directly to them, not to national party leaders or special interest donors. My focus is entirely on bringing inflation relief, secure jobs, and honest leadership to District 14."

By skipping the primary battles, Varian's campaign will head straight to the general election ballot on November 3, 2026. The campaign plans to launch a series of community listening tours and town halls across the district over the coming weeks to hear directly from voters.

About Keith Varian

Keith Varian is an independent candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 14th District. Championing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and pragmatic leadership, his campaign offers a fresh, unaligned choice dedicated to serving the Tampa Bay community.

Media Contact:

Name: Keith Varian

US House of Representatives FL-14

Keith@VoteVarian2026.com

(656) 777-2115

VoteVarian2026.com

 

Rays Stadium

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Community Infrastructure and Economic Development Taskforce/ Keith Varian
KVarian1@yahoo.com | (656) 777-2115

TAMPA PROPOSES INVENTIVE HYBRID FINANCING FRAMEWORK FOR STADIUM INFRASTRUCTURE, ELIMINATING TAXPAYER DEBT SERVICE RISK AND BOOSTING LOCAL JOBS

TAMPA, FL — A newly proposed infrastructure financing framework for the 113-acre Tampa Bay Rays stadium development zone aims to completely insulate the public treasury while cutting out hundreds of millions of dollars in potential municipal interest fees and fast-tracking local job creation.

The strategy combines a localized $49.5 million bank line of credit with a tax-exempt conduit "empty bond" status, shifting the entire financial risk of horizontal infrastructure development onto the project's private developers.

By utilizing an "empty bond" shell that carries an initial $0 active balance on the public ledger, the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County can bypass the traditional municipal bond market. This approach effectively eliminates the estimated 40% lifetime interest inflation typically tied to long-term stadium borrowing [Tampa Sports Authority Finance Committee].

"Traditional municipal bonding would burden our local taxpayers with an unbudgeted interest bill," said Keith Varian/Director CIED Taskforce.  "This hybrid structure delivers necessary horizontal infrastructure—like utility lines, public transit connections, and drainage—without adding a single dollar of general debt to the city's balance sheet."

The framework establishes an ironclad legal firewall around the municipal general fund, adhering strictly to the anti-pledging requirements of the Florida Constitution. Repayment is sourced entirely from the incremental property tax uplift generated by new commercial real estate within the 113-acre zone [Riviera Beach CRA, City of Tampa].

"From a growth management perspective, this plan unlocks massive potential for the region," stated the City Planning Director. "By deploying the $49.5 million credit facility immediately, we can accelerate the construction of essential civil infrastructure. This creates a predictable pipeline for a project projected to support 11,900 local construction and long-term jobs [Remaining work on Rays ballpark deal won’t include further financial concessions], while transforming underutilized land into a high-density, tax-generating commercial hub without straining public utilities."

To protect the public against unexpected economic downturns, the deal features a mandatory Contractual Shortfall Guarantee. If localized property tax revenues lag, the Tampa Bay Rays developers are legally required to pay "Shortfall Rent" out of pocket to cover the credit line's operating costs, ensuring local police, fire, and neighborhood maintenance budgets remain untouched.

Approval of the framework ahead of the June 11th Tampa City Council session allows local officials to protect a $130 million state subsidy for the surrounding college campus infrastructure. It also initiates the process to secure a portion of the state's remaining $705.2 million Economic Development Volume Cap before seasonal allocation deadlines expire [Florida Division of Bond Finance].

For more information, project timelines, or to review the full Public Fact Sheet, please contact Keith Varian (656) 777-2115 /VoteVarian2026.com

 

 

Federal Policy Journal Press Release

 

 Federal Policy Journal Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Keith Varian/Candidate for U.S. House FL-14
Keith@VoteVarian2026.com/(656) 777-2115

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE PROPOSES GROUNDBREAKING FEDERAL POLICY TO REFORM SPORTS DISTRICT FINANCING AND ISOLATE MUNICIPAL TREASURIES

TAMPA, FL — Today, Keith Varian, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, unveiled a comprehensive federal legislative proposal aimed at disrupting the traditional municipal bond market and protecting local public treasuries from multi-million-dollar stadium debt burdens.

The proposed legislation, titled the Public Treasury Protection and Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2026, introduces sweeping structural reforms to IRS Section 141 Private Activity Bond (PAB) covenants. The bill is specifically engineered to eliminate the systemic 40% interest rate premium associated with upfront, lump-sum municipal financing, which currently saddles local governments with an estimated $968 million in lifetime debt inflation on standard billion-dollar development packages [Tampa Sports Authority Finance Committee].

"For decades, public finance models have misallocated risk, forcing municipal general funds to serve as unbacked shields for private corporate developments," said Varian. "This legislation creates an ironclad federal firewall. By establishing a formalized 'Empty Bond' Status within the Internal Revenue Code, we allow public entities to maintain an active debt ledger balance of exactly zero ($0), shifting the entire financing velocity onto private credit facilities."

Under the proposed statutory framework, tax-exempt interest exclusions under Section 103 are strictly contingent upon a "Pay-on-Draw" mechanism. Private revolving bank lines of credit must fund immediate horizontal construction. These balances are legally restricted from converting into active tax-exempt municipal tranches until independent civil engineers verify completed phases of public-use assets, such as roads, utility grids, and stormwater networks.

Furthermore, the bill mandates an absolute Contractual Shortfall Guarantee for all projects leveraging federal conduit frameworks. If localized property tax increments (TIF uplift) underperform due to macroeconomic shifts, private developers are legally required to fund Shortfall Rent out of pocket to cover the credit facility's carrying costs, leaving municipal safety nets completely insulated [Riviera Beach CRA, City of Tampa].

The policy framework simultaneously directs executive agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to prioritize competitive RAISE and HUD CDBG grant applications for multi-modal municipal transit hubs. This multi-tier capital stack approach facilitates essential civil infrastructure upgrades while supporting an estimated 11,900 local trade and long-term jobs (Remaining work on Rays ballpark deal won’t include further financial concessions).

 

 

Tampa Bay Rays Ownership, Hillsborough County Commissioners, and City of Tampa Officials,

 

Critical enhancement to the pending stadium framework

May 23 at 2:51 PM

keith varian 

To: tampacitycouncil@tampagov.net,jane.castor@tampa.gov

Dear Tampa Bay Rays Ownership, Hillsborough County Commissioners, and City of Tampa Officials,

We are writing to propose a critical enhancement to the pending stadium framework at the Dale Mabry campus. By shifting from traditional municipal bonding to an IRS tax-exempt "Empty Bond Status" framework, we can maximize structural savings, elevate resident security, and aggressively leverage federal HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) alongside advanced federal infrastructure grants.

This optimization minimizes taxpayer exposure while completely fulfilling ownership’s vision for a world-class sports and entertainment district.

1. Structural Cost Savings via IRS "Empty Bond Status"

Eliminate Debt Service: Utilizing an IRS-compliant, tax-exempt "empty bond" or conduit financing structure allows the public to provide tax-exempt status to the project's infrastructure without issuing traditional, high-interest municipal debt.

Zero General Fund Risk: The county and city maintain a non-bonding, pay-as-you-go posture. Private capital funds the upfront costs, while benefiting from the tax-exempt status allowed under federal maritime and economic development zones.

Compounded Interest Savings: Bypassing standard underwriting and multi-decade bond amortization schedules saves taxpayers and developers an estimated \(\$150\) million to \(\$250\) million in lifetime interest fees.

2. Safeguarding Resident Security and Local Housing

HUD CDBG Integration: By intentionally carving out affordable housing and mixed-use commercial space within the 113-acre footprint, the project qualifies for HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

Anti-Displacement Funds: CDBG allocations will be legally firewalled to fund neighborhood stabilization, local job-training corridors, and physical security infrastructure (enhanced lighting, modern policing substations, and smart-city grid monitoring) for the surrounding communities.

Tax Stabilization Caps: A portion of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) revenues will fund a property tax stabilization program, ensuring legacy residents are not priced out by the stadium's economic lift.

3. Aggressive Infrastructure Grant Stacking

Raising the Infrastructure Ceiling: We urge the joint task force to aggressively pursue federal Mega Grants and Promote Infrastructure Resilience (PROTECT) grants via the Department of Transportation.

Intermodal Transit Hub: Upgrading the Dale Mabry corridor requires heavy transit infrastructure. Federal grants can shoulder up to (80%) of the burden for stormwater management, grid resilience, and dedicated rapid-transit lanes connecting downtown Tampa to the stadium.

 

Private-Public Matching: By matching the Rays' ($1.27) billion private investment against federal infrastructure programs, the region can secure priority ranking for highly competitive federal dollars, sparing local gas and sales tax pools.

 

Conclusion and Next Steps

This refined financial model delivers a true win-win. The Tampa Bay Rays secure a world-class, asset-backed entertainment district with optimized tax advantages, while Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa eliminate long-term debt liabilities, enhance resident security, and rebuild critical infrastructure using federal funds.

We request a formal agenda item at the next joint commission workshop to present the legal and financial architecture required to execute this strategy.

 

Sincerely,

Keith Varian/Community Infrastructure & Economic Development Taskforce

(813)380-5761 / KVarian1@yahoo.com

Riverview, FL Resident / Community Advocate

 

 

 

Financial Addendum: IRS Conduit "Empty Bond" Mechanics

 

To: Hillsborough County Bond Counsel, City of Tampa Chief Financial Officer, and Rays Ownership Financial Team

 

From: Keith Varian/Community Infrastructure & Economic Development Taskforce

Subject: Implementation Architecture for Tax-Exempt Conduit Financing (IRS "Empty Bond" Status)

1. Statutory Authority and Structure

The proposed stadium and entertainment district will utilize a Conduit Financing Mechanism under IRS Code Section 103 (Tax-Exempt State and Local Bonds) and Section 142 (Exempt Facility Bonds for Mass Commuting and Qualified Redevelopment).

The "Empty Bond" Definition: Hillsborough County or a designated Joint Development Authority will act as the pass-through issuer. The municipality issues tax-exempt conduit revenue bonds, but holds zero debt service obligation.

Liability Isolation: 100% of the principal and interest repayment rests solely on the private developer (Rays Ownership) and the project's generated revenues (ticket surcharges, district sales taxes, lease payments). The public's credit rating and general fund are completely insulated.

Private Capital / Rays Dev Co ---> Funds Upfront Construction  (Tax-Exempt Interest Payments) v Public Conduit Issuer Authority ---> Issues "Empty" Bonds (No Public Debt Liability)  (Enables Tax-Exempt Status for Infrastructure)  IRS Qualified Project Area --------> Dale Mabry Entertainment & Sports District

2. Mechanics of Tax-Exempt Savings

By utilizing a public conduit issuer, the private development entity gains access to tax-exempt borrowing rates for all qualified public-use infrastructure within the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus.

Capital Expenditure Relief: Materials, engineering, and construction costs for stormwater vaults, grid integration, parking garages, and pedestrian plazas qualify for tax-exempt status.

Interest Rate Compression: Private debt interest rates are compressed by roughly 1.5% to 2.2% compared to traditional commercial paper. On a $1 billion private infrastructure pull, this saves the project an estimated $15 million to $22 million annually in debt service.

 

Refinancing Safeguards: The empty bond structure allows the team to refinance private debt portions under municipal tax-exempt umbrellas if macroeconomic interest rates drop, without requiring new public votes or referendum updates.

 

Federal Grant Application Outlines

HUD CDBG National Objective: Elimination of Slum and Blight (Area Basis) or Low/Mod Income (LMI) Benefit

Project Component: Dale Mabry Mixed-Use Housing & Neighborhood Security Corridor.

Requested Funding: $45,000,000 (Multi-year entitlement allocation and Section 108 Loan Guarantee).

Executive Summary & Project Description

This application requests HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assistance to fund the public security, anti-displacement, and pedestrian-transit components of the Dale Mabry redevelopment. While the  stadium bowl itself is privately funded, the surrounding 113-acre master plan directly impacts surrounding low-and-moderate-income (LMI) Census tracts. CDBG funds will explicitly target neighborhood stabilization and physical security infrastructure.

Key Narrative Metrics

LMI Benefit: Over 51% of the residents in the directly adjacent Census tracts fall within HUD’s low-to-moderate-income thresholds. This project creates a permanent job-training corridor tied directly to the construction and ongoing operations of the district.

Security & Infrastructure Build: Funds will deploy a modern, smart-grid public safety network, including fiber-optic street lighting, emergency blue-light towers, and a dedicated Hillsborough County Sheriff/Tampa Police joint community substation built within the retail footprint.

 

Anti-Displacement Housing Trust: A $15,000,000 carve-out will seed a regional Property Tax Stabilization Fund, giving direct grants to long-term legacy homeowners within a 2-mile radius to cover rising property tax valuations driven by the stadium’s economic lift.

DOT PROTECT (Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation) Grant

Project Component: Dale Mabry Intermodal Transit & Stormwater Resilience Vault.

Requested Funding: $85,000,000 (Federal cost-share at 80%).

 

Executive Summary & Project Description

This application seeks federal DOT PROTECT funds to rebuild the critical evacuation and transit spine of North Dale Mabry Highway. The introduction of a major sports and entertainment district requires upgrading existing transportation assets to survive extreme weather events, manage catastrophic stormwater surges, and move large masses of citizens efficiently via non-vehicular transport.

Key Narrative Metrics

Stormwater Resilience: Installation of subsurface retention vaults capable of capturing 5 million gallons of runoff per storm event, protecting both the Dale Mabry corridor and the surrounding residential street grid from chronic flooding.

Intermodal Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Hub: Construction of a dedicated, median-separated BRT lane running from Downtown Tampa directly to a new stadium transit plaza, reducing gridlock and carbon emissions during high-occupancy events.

Private-Sector Match: The application leverages the Rays' private investment as a massive non-federal local match, vaulting this project into the top tier of competitive federal rankings.

"This plan ensures that not one cent of property tax is risked. The county and city are not taking on debt. We are acting as a legal pass-through to give the project tax-exempt status, while the team takes 100% of the financial risk."

"By using federal HUD and DOT grants, we are forcing Washington D.O.T. and HUD dollars to pay for our local roads, lighting, and flood basins. We are fixing Tampa's infrastructure using federal money, sparked by a private project."

"The CDBG housing trust guarantees that local families are protected from gentrification. We are capping property tax impacts for legacy residents before construction even begins."

"This plan ensures that not one cent of property tax is risked. The county and city are not taking on debt. We are acting as a legal pass-through to give the project tax-exempt status, while the team takes 100% of the financial risk."

"By using federal HUD and DOT grants, we are forcing Washington D.O.T. and HUD dollars to pay for our local roads, lighting, and flood basins. We are fixing Tampa's infrastructure using federal money, sparked by a private project."

"The CDBG housing trust guarantees that local families are protected from gentrification. We are capping property tax impacts for legacy residents before construction even begins."

 

Keith Varian/Community Infrastructure & Economic Development Taskforce

(813)380-5761 / KVarian1@yahoo.com

Riverview, FL Resident / Community Advocate

 

 

The legislative package has been formatted for formal submission to the House Committee on Ways and Means. For a full copy of the legislative text, executive briefs, or economic impact data, please visit VoteVarian2026.com

 

 

Letter to Governor Desantis

 

May 14, 2026

The Honorable Ron DeSantis
Governor of Florida
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Dear Governor DeSantis,

I am writing as a constituent and a candidate for Florida's 14th Congressional District to formally propose a structured, data-driven consumer energy relief framework designed to protect Floridians during periods of extreme market volatility. Specifically, I urge your administration to champion legislation establishing an automated, conditional fuel tax holiday mechanism.

Our state’s families and businesses are experiencing severe pressure at the pump. According to current AAA fuel data, the Florida state average for regular unleaded gasoline has climbed to $4.39 per gallon, marking a four-year high. Regional factors, including shifting export market dynamics along the Gulf Coast, continue to pull local costs closer to volatile international levels, with prices in the Tampa Bay area mirroring these statewide surges.

Rather than relying on retroactive or manual legislative interventions, Florida would benefit from a predictable, emergency safety net that activates automatically upon reaching predefined market thresholds. I propose a framework structured as follows:

• Activation Trigger: An immediate suspension of the state fuel tax for a minimum duration of 60 days, enacted automatically the moment the state average for regular unleaded gasoline reaches $6.00 per gallon.

• Deactivation Clause: The suspension would remain in effect until the state average for regular unleaded gasoline drops below $5.50 per gallon and maintains that level for 30 consecutive days.

While current prices hover near $4.40, a surge to $6.00 per gallon represents an acute economic crisis that would severely impact working families, independent contractors, and statewide logistics networks. By establishing explicit, rule-based triggers, this policy provides market predictability, safeguards transportation infrastructure funding during normal price cycles, and delivers targeted fiscal relief precisely when extreme inflation threatens state commerce.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and consideration of this structural solution to safeguard Florida taxpayers against unprecedented energy inflation.

Respectfully yours,

Keith Varian
Candidate, U.S. House of Representatives (FL-14)
12308 Adventure Drive
Riverview, FL 33579

 

 

Letter to State Representative Brian Nathan, FL. District 14

Proposed Legislative Amendment to Florida statute 206.41

 

Subject: Legislative Proposal: Emergency Fuel Tax Relief for Service-Based Small Business Fleets

Date:5/14/2026

To: The Honorable Brian Nathan
701 West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 2, Tampa, FL 33603

From:  Keith Varian ;Candidate FL-14 US House
12308 Adventure Dr, Riverview, Fl 33579

Dear Mr. Nathan

As a resident in your district, I am writing to propose a targeted legislative amendment to Florida Statute 206.41 aimed at protecting Florida’s service-based small businesses from catastrophic fuel price spikes.

The Proposal: The "Small Business Fuel Safety Valve"
I am formally requesting that you sponsor legislation to expand eligibility for refunds of the State Comprehensive Enhanced Transportation System (SCETS) tax and Local Option fuel taxes to include service-based small businesses with "on-road" fleets. Crucially, I propose this refund be triggered only when the average price of gasoline or diesel reaches or exceeds $6.00 per gallon.

Why This Is Necessary
Currently, "off-road" industries like agriculture and commercial fishing enjoy fuel tax refunds regardless of the economy. Meanwhile, service-based businesses—such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and local delivery—are excluded because our fleets operate on-road.

In the current 2026 economic climate, fuel is no longer just a "cost of doing business"; it has become an existential threat. When prices hit $6.00 per gallon, the tax burden on a service fleet forces us to either raise prices for Florida families or operate at a loss.

Key Features of the Amendment:

Emergency Trigger: Relief is not a permanent handout; it is a temporary "safety valve" activated only when fuel costs hit the $6.00/gallon threshold.

Targeted Relief: Eligibility would be restricted to Florida-based small businesses (defined by employee count or revenue) with fleets used for essential home and commercial services.

Fiscal Responsibility: By using a price trigger, the State Transportation Trust Fund remains fully funded during normal price cycles, ensuring our roads and bridges are still maintained.

The Impact on your District
By supporting this trigger-based refund, you are providing a critical lifeline to the local entrepreneurs who keep Florida’s infrastructure running. This policy prevents inflationary price hikes for consumers and ensures that small businesses aren't the only ones left without relief when global energy markets become volatile.

Fairness:Currently, golf course mowers receive tax relief while local delivery vans do not. We are asking for parity.

Inflation:Fuel taxes are a major driver of hidden inflation; a refund allows us to stabilize prices for our neighbors.

Impact:For a small fleet, these specific taxes represent thousands of dollars in monthly overhead better used for payrol

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this "Safety Valve" model with you or your staff. Thank you for your commitment to Florida’s working small businesses.

Sincerely,

Keith Varian
Candidate FL-14 US House

 

 

 

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