Janelle Irwin Taylor
Could Tampa have another go at enticing Amazon to build its HQ2 in the region?
Maybe. Maybe not.
That was the question posed to four of Tampa’s seven mayoral candidates Monday night during a campaign forum hosted by the Tampa Young Republicans.
“It depends on the detail of the deal,” said incumbent City Council member Harry Cohen. “All I do know is that if they want to talk to Tampa Bay I’m sure that the leadership here would be willing to talk to them.”
Amazon chose New York City, specifically Queens, for its coveted HQ2 that sent cities across the nation into a tizzy trying to attract the internet retail giant with promises of tax incentives galore.
New York won after committing to a sweetheart deal consisting of $3 billion in tax breaks and incentives. But Amazon backed out of the deal after pushback from New York officials and leaders who created a cacophony of objections to the massive subsidy promised.
Tampa’s pitch fell flat, most assume, because the region is woefully lacking in transit options.
Mike Suarez, who is also a sitting City Council member, said companies don’t flock to New York because it’s a low-tax city. it’s not.
“People still flock to New York because they invest in infrastructure,” he said.
While the Tampa Bay area was found wanting in transit during its first pitch, Hillsborough County can now show some hope for improvement thanks to the 1 percent sales tax voters approved last November to fund transit and transportation enhancements.
The question then becomes, would locals here be willing to offer enough to woo a company that just backed out of a deal that came with massive subsidies.
The four Tampa mayoral candidates all expressed concern about that level of investment.
“Let’s do the math on these deals,” said former Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik noting city leaders should strongly consider the return on investment before offering any incentives.
Suarez reminded voters the state already has an incentive program Tampa uses regularly for corporate attraction. The state’s Qualified Target Industry program offers tax rebates for companies who create a certain number of jobs in specific high-demand fields like technology and engineering.
Small business owner and consultant Topher Morrison took it further, repeated his mantra that the city should focus more on growing its own local businesses rather than attracting outside companies that have already grown. He further lamented that sweetheart tax deals fall on the backs of everyday taxpayers.
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to pay any more taxes,” Morrison said.
The four candidates also weighed in on Tampa’s existing tax structure. Mayor Bob Buckhorn proposed the first property tax increase in decades just two years ago. Tampa City Council approved it, but at a lower rate than Buckhorn had recommended.
Last year, voters collectively decided to raise sales tax 1.5 percent in the county including the transportation tax and a one half percent sales tax to fund education improvements.
Cohen said he thought voters made the right decision.
“But I really do think that our families are taxed enough and we need to try and make do with what we have,” he said.
All of the candidates agreed the city, armed with additional transportation dollars and an already increased millage rate, should live within its means.
The group also answered questions from conservatives about sanctuary cities. All deferred reminding the issue of undocumented immigrant detention falls on the back of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department not the Tampa Police Department.
Only Morrison took the unpopular step given his audience to call for broader immigration reform.
“If someone is willing to walk 2,500 miles … for a better life here, you know what that person is going to be? That person is never going to call in sick. They’re never going to be late. I want to hire that person,” Morrison said arguing federal officials should work to create an effective and efficient path to citizenship.
Three candidates were absent for the forum – former Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, philanthropist David Straz and retired judge Dick Greco Jr. Greco had been scheduled to attend, but cancelled after falling ill with bronchitis, according to forum organizers.
Early voting is already underway in the race. Turnout so far has surpassed 6 percent.
Early voting runs through March 3. Election Day is March 5.
