The Transit Tax Turmoil in Hillsborough County

By Developers, for developers 

St. Petersburg, Fl 
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD 
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog. 

There are bad tax proposals and then there are really bad tax proposals like the one being offered to Hillsborough County residents on the November Ballot. This Ballot initiative has enough holes in it to embarrass a block of Swiss cheese.

If you are considering voting YES on this Referendum, you will need to do some serious research. Below are a bunch of links to articles and Blog Posts about the referendum and the use of the funds it will generate.

Here is the link to the Hillsborough County General Election Sample Ballot
The Transit Tax initiative is on Page 5.

From Eye on Tampa Bay by Sharon Clavert
August 11, 2018  Ferry Dust Saturday
August 12, 2018  It's a Dud! Press Conference For Vinik's Massive Rail Tax Hike
August 13, 2018  Vinik's Massive Transit Tax Hike Is Another Boondoggle!
August 16, 2018  Vinik's 30 Year "All for Transit" Tax Hike Constrains Roads, Creates Gridlock - Vote NO!
August 19, 2018  What They Say, What They Do
August 22, 2018  All for Transit Tax Hike: Costly and Won't Work 
August 23, 2018Pay to Play On The Ballot 

From Tampa Bay Beat by Jim Bleyer
August 5, 2018  Transportation Experts Slam Hillsborough Light Rail Plans, Higher Sales Tax
August 13, 2018 OPPAGA Counsel, Like Sgt. Schultz, Knows Nothing

Tampa Bay Guardian by Tom Rask
July 7, 2018 Sloppy transit sales tax effort raises question – is Water Street on the skids?
September 7, 2018 State agency hides the ball on Hillsborough transit tax hike, info funneled to friendly media instead

Tampa Bay Times
June 15, 2018 Petition language reveals details of Hillsborough sales tax transportation initiative
August 8, 2018 Petition succeeds, Hillsborough voters set to decide on sales tax hike for transportation
August 9, 2018 After making the ballot, All for Transportation launches Hillsborough campaign 
August 9, 2018 Editorial: A big first step toward improving transportation in Hillsborough
August 23, 2018 Tampa would use transit tax proceeds to quicken improvements, not revamp plans

August 23, 2018 Tampa chambers, downtown partnership back transportation sales tax initiative.

The end game is this. This All Florida Transportation initiative is even more poorly conceived, planned and promoted than Greenlight Pinellas and Go Hillsborough.

The revenue from this tax is controlled by an unknown board appointed by unnamed elected officials. The tax applies to all residents of Hillsborough County, but a significant portion of the funds goes to just three Cities. Another large chunk goes to HART the Hillsborough County Bus line. They're very inadequate controls and a significant lack of accountability.

It may be time for a tax to support transportation improvement in Hillsborough County, but this proposal is a light rail/developer’s delight not a commuter’s solution.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.
See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures:

Contributor to: Rick Scott for Senate 

Please comment below