Hillsborough county closer to a 2010 increasing sales-tax proposition

November 6, 2:49 PMTampa Economic Policy ExaminerDarin Clark

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Tax burdens
taxes.jpg

A 1-cent increase in sales tax is looking more likely now as a proposition on next year's voting ballot.

Earlier this week Hillsborough county commissioners voted 5-2 on drafting language to support a 1-cent increase in sales tax to be proposed on the 2010 ballot box. Another vote by the county commission will be taken later this year, and likely again earlier next year on the exact language to be used for the ballot box initiative.

The proposed increase in sales tax would raise revenue for downtown Tampa public transit projects. The projects would include light rail and more buses, in addition to proposed road work.

However, some of the anxiety being expressed by a couple of the county commissioners, as well by Tampa Mayor, Pam Iorio, a former county commissioner, is how best to sell the public on the proposed tax increase. Specifically, how to convince taxpayers to support a tax increase during a dismal economy.

A couple of politically popular approaches taken so far to incite public approval, no less, have been appeals to the environment and future generations. Specifically, commissioner Mark Sharpe, was quoted in the St. Petersburg Times as stating; "do it for the kids", and "I'm really hopeful that we'll all step up and do the right thing".

Of course, the "right thing" would ultimately be determined by the tax-paying public - assuming the tax proposition makes it onto the 2010 ballot box. A similar voter / bureaucrat conundrum discussed last month, here.

Does the county commission and Mayoral clamoring merely beg the question? Should roads and transit systems be completely privatized, thus solely imposing a voluntary, market-based per-user fee?

In the case of privatization, downtown transit systems, whether light rail, buses, or any other form of transportation, would come into operation exclusively based on the purchasing decisions - demand - of the county's private residents (and tourists).