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Joe Chillura Deserves Our Gratitude

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By JACK GUGGINO

Published: September 18, 2007

The Hillsborough County Commission will soon consider allocating $500 million for road improvements proposed by the Transportation Task Force. If approved, the funds will come from the Community Investment Tax, which in its 10th year of collection has been responsible for many great things in our community and has kept property taxes down.

The half-penny CIT, approved by voters in 1996, has generated $682 million and paid for 30 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 13 high schools and two educational centers, as well as millions of dollars' worth of sheriff's equipment, senior care facilities, road resurfacing and sidewalks. The Tampa Art Museum and the Tampa Bay History Center would not be on the drawing boards without CIT dollars.

In its 30-year lifespan, the CIT is expected to generate $4.8 billion dollars.

Additionally, proceeds of the tax, which was roundly criticized as being a 'stadium tax' early on, have paid for fire stations and equipment, upgrading of an aged Tampa Police Department fleet, sorely needed infrastructure repair and replacement and scores of other buildings and equipment needed to deliver services to taxpayers. Only 6 percent of the total revenues are earmarked for our football stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and numerous other events.

I find it incredulous and embarrassing that due respect and gratitude has not been given to the author of the CIT, former county commissioner Joe Chillura. Instead, it has served as an albatross around the neck of one of our community's most passionate, dedicated and brilliant public servants. Had he not had the vision and creativity, each property owner would now have to pay out an additional $200 a year or more in ad valorem taxes to fund the above-mentioned projects.

Thank you, Joe Chillura.

Jack Guggino is a Tampa ophthalmologist.

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