Joe Henderson
Here’s a question for opponents of the Hillsborough County’s All For Transportation initiative. If their push to overturn the sales tax is successful, what is their plan to alleviate the county’s choking traffic?
I haven’t heard of one, and I don’t think opponents have thought that far ahead. They want transportation tax overturned.
Period.
Last November, voters overwhelmingly approved a 1 percent sales tax increase, and all seemed ducky. They saw a breakdown of proposed projects and what each one cost.
But then County Commissioner Stacy White filed a lawsuit that attacked a key portion of the referendum. An oversight committee was supposed to ensure politicians didn’t divert the money for other uses.
Florida voters have learned never to trust politicians around a large pot of money. Lawmakers frequently find ways to subvert the marching orders they received from the electorate. That’s why the oversight committee was part of the referendum.
White argued that only elected bodies could decide how to spend the money. A judge agreed but said the tax was legal. White then appealed to the state Supreme Court to have the whole thing thrown out.
It was always about the oversight committee, right Commissioner?
Other conservatives have joined his cause, and a lawyer for the Republican-dominated Florida House filed a brief that declared the amendment’s language in the multi-page charter amendment was “deceptive.”
Given the conservative bent of the high court, no one will be surprised if the justices overturn the tax. White and his supporters will celebrate, but will anybody have won anything?
Opponents have excelled at yapping about any transportation tax, but that’s where they stop. Numerous studies show Hillsborough’s traffic is a major roadblock, so to speak, to long-term economic growth. That fact seems to escape White and those who support him.
But who needs a study? Just drive along Interstate 4 to and from downtown Tampa nearly any morning. Watch what happens along State Road 60 if there is a mild fender-bender. Watch how traffic comes to a standstill near the West Shore area.
So, we wait for the Court to decide. A decision to uphold the tax but leave spending priorities up to elected leaders who are accountable to voters wouldn’t be the worst result.
Either way, though, it won’t be long before snowbirds start heading south for the winter. That means more traffic congestion, longer commutes, and frayed nerves.
Opponents don’t see that though. They only see that extra penny on the dollar they have to pay. That’s been their plan all along.
8 comments
Charlotte Greenbarg
September 8, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Your bias and snark are showing. Tyler Hudson admitted it was fraudulent. I have the text. Let’s have a deep,Independent audit of the past ten years’ spending in Hillsborough and you’ll find the answer to what’s next.
Carlos colton
September 9, 2019 at 6:39 am
Adding a 24/7 buses n adding a mass transit elevate train stations n suburban Transit n intercounties 24/7
Apollo
September 11, 2019 at 4:23 pm
Wow how lazy can you be to say “n” to save you from typing 2 extra letters. You must live off the government.
Opposed To Transit Sales Tax
September 9, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Florida Statutes give HART Board authority to vote to increase ad valorem from current .5 mils up to 3.0 mils–a six-fold increase. If BOCC and Tampa council agree it goes to voters and can give HART roughly what they would have received from the sales tax. Transit already had a funding source that isn’t tapped out. Roads on the other hand do not and are always the first line item BOCC cuts to fund other priorities such as a ballpark.
Jerry Lane
September 9, 2019 at 7:25 pm
All for Transportation created the big legal mess and Henderson is reduced to whining and blaming others. All for Transportation is already preparing for a do-over. Bring it on!
Jim Davison DO
September 9, 2019 at 10:58 pm
Joe their are multiple options that were and still are on the table. The county currently has an $812 million dollar 10 yr. transportation program that sunshines in 2026. Without any increase in taxes and continuing the last year revenue stream for 20 more years until 2046 the county would have $2 billion more dollars for a total of $2.812 billion. With the Sales tax the unincorporated county gets about $3.5 billion but sales tax remains at 8.5%. CIT tax is to be renewed providing another $4.5 billion over the same 20 years and the sales tax still stays at 7.5% (school district). Since the stadium is not needed and the school district has its own tax, HART could get 30% of it. You could TIF the BRT’S and CSX line for the operating costs. We haven’t even raised the gas tax yet with this. You just need to make a commitment to give the people of Hillsborough county “ALL” the facts and options then let them compare the plans. Something AFT was not willing to do. Neither was the media. This should not be a political football as you are trying to make it. I have $100 dollar says you won’t debate the issue.
Kevin O'Neill
September 10, 2019 at 1:19 am
Can our representatives please grow a spine, and use the powers you have to develop a plan, sell it, and stake your political future on it, instead of these fraudulent ballots with misleading language? With the reps future on the line, they either develop consensus by selling the plan to the citizens, or they fail and get replaced by a new plan or a new representative.
Stop hiding behind these ballots, and do your job of developing our county via the existing political process.
Apollo
September 11, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Guess i gotta go back to cutting people off and not letting people merge, complain to your officials, not my problem. County tried to be nice and maintain the ratios the funds would go to. Guess they are gonna have to raise the gas tax from 5 cents to 50 cents per gallon maybe more and have it all go towards transit not just 40%.
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