Pinellas County Will Not Pursue Transit Tax on November Ballot

Tampa, Fl
From: Eye On Tampa Bay
Posted by: Sharon Calvert

Yesterday Pinellas County Commissioners decided not to pursue putting a transit tax on the November ballot.

Pinellas County's decision followed that of Hillsborough County who decided Wednesday, thanks to four commissioners Miller, Murman, Hagan and White with common sense, to ditch a transit tax referendum as we battle the Coronavirus emergency and its economic devastation.

There was a striking difference Pinellas commissioners displayed over what we saw by Hillsborough Commissioners. While three Democrat commissioners in Hillsborough (Smith, Overman, Kemp) wanted to keep pursuing a $16 Billion transit tax referendum during this crisis, there was much more consensus and agreement in Pinellas to ditch a November tax referendum.

Pinellas's discussion reflected more agreement their first priority must be the health and safety of their residents and their focus must be on the emergency at hand and its devastating economic impact.

What is questionable is why the meeting's agenda item was titled "Transportation Update" when it was actually about pursuing higher taxes and a transit tax hike referendum.

County Administrator Barry Burton had prepared a presentation for the transportation agenda item but his presentation was not attached to the agenda online. Burton's presentation was not transparently available to the public before the meeting or at the time of the meeting.

When a Public Records Request was submitted, the day before yesterday's meeting, requesting a copy of documentation or presentations associated with the "Transportation Update" agenda item, the response received from the County was there were none.

Burton never made his presentation once it was clear the commissioners were not going to pursue raising taxes or a transit tax referendum. Now we know there was a presentation planned but the County kept it from the public.

Yesterday's commission meeting can be viewed here.

Most of the meeting was discussing their Emergency Orders and Governor DeSantis's state-wide "stay at home" orders. Watch the video Pinellas Sheriff Gualtieri presents reflecting the compliance with the County's orders.

But now DeSantis's orders changes things, forcing businesses considered non-essential that were complying with Pinellas's order to close.

And there is confusion with all these Orders.

But at least for now, taxpayers in Pinellas and Hillsborough get relief from any proposed massive tax hike referendum being on the ballot in November.

Posted by Sharon Calvert at 11:58 AM 

This post is contributed by EYE ON TAMPA BAY. The views expressed in this post are the blog publisher's and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of Bay Post Internet.

Cross Posted with permission from: Eye On Tampa Bay

Hillsborough Commissioners Use Virus Distraction to Propose 16 billion New RAIL Tax Leaving Roads in Shambles

Tampa Bay, Fl 

Opinion by: Len Mead
Unwashed Tea Party Conservative

Mead1720@gmail.com

Tea Party principles that elected Trump: Limited constitutional government, Free market solutions, Individual Responsibility

$22 Trillion Government spending is bankrupting our great country, click HERE

Agree with this message? Then FORWARD IT TO YOUR E-MAIL GROUPS. 

Hillsborough Commissioners Use Virus Distraction to Propose

$16 Billion New RAIL Tax Leaving Roads in Shambles 

As Obama’s hatchet man, “dead fish” Rohm Emmanuel declared,  “Never let

a crisis go to waste.” (To advance higher taxes, more government growth and regulations, and more socialism) 

So, right here in “River City” we got problems effecting our pocketbooks, our decrepit roads, and our county competitiveness with the highest sales tax in the state.  

What can YOU DO to stop this tax gouging and county budget mismanagement while you are “sheltering in place?”You can e-mail all our commissioners with one click HERE

• Tell the commissioners now is the time to CUT TAXES, not raise them so our county returns to being tax competitive
• Tell the commissioners to use the existing tax funds deceptively
  
  collected for surface rail be used to maintain and improve our roads
• Tell the commissioners NOW is the time to lay off thousands of the 10,000 county bureaucrats on the payroll starting with the thousand making over $100,000.
• Tell the commissioners to immediately LOWER our county sales tax 2% and KEEP it lowered as long as the bogus “transportation” rail tax has been in place.  This will return the deceptive taxes collected to taxpayers and make our county extra competitive with a 6.5% tax.
• After the bogus rail tax has been returned to taxpayers, THEN raise it back 1% so our sales tax going forward is 7.5%.  

For help with your message to our commissioners, use Sharen Calvert’s details , below: 

County Commission Chair Pursues Picking Your Pockets During Crisis.

or any of the suggested points above. You will have really accomplished something today even without leaving your “shelter.”

The opinions here are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bay Post Internet or the Blog Publishers where it appears.

Please Comment Below 

Will Manatee County Enforce Stricter Stay at Home Orders?

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

Will Manatee County Enforce Stricter Stay at Home Orders?

Manatee county has an estimated population of about 385,000 with a growth rate of 2.68%, and these numbers will certainly grow significantly when new Census is complete.

The Manatee County Commission, County Administrator and the Manatee County Sheriff have been reluctant to move to stricter stay at home requirements to help limit the spread of the Corona-19 virus.

There seems to be a failure to recognize that as the county has changed the population demographics tend toward those who are most at risk.

With the State now issuing a statewide stay at home order, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issues statewide stay-at-home order, it would seem reasonable for Manatee County to put in place some stricter guidelines.

Manatee County Commissioners and County leadership seem to be more concerned about taking responsibility for shutting down local business and the ensuing blow back, than they are about the spread of the virus.

The County Commission has been reluctant to take a stand, instead waiting for the state to take the lead. This timid approach is in stark contrast to Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, where the effort has been to get out in front rather than play catch-up.

Some strong and decisive leadership from the County Commission and the County Administrator, would make all of us feel a little more reassured and give the Manatee County Sheriff and local police departments an indication they will be supported should enforcement be necessary.

Here is a link to the Manatee County CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION page.

For now, the political leadership and the governmental management leadership in Manatee County are waiting for others to step out and make their decisions for them. Governor DeSantis has now set the direction; it is time for Manatee County Officials, booth elected and appointed to step up and lead their County.

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.
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Disclosures:

Please comment below.