Commissioners debate 1-cent tax for light rail

What was expected to be a standing-room-only and possibly contentious crowd April 22 turned out to be a polite gathering of about 50. Perhaps that said more than the two county commissioners debating before them.

The issue? A proposed 1-cent sales tax for light rail and other transportation projects.

"The comment I heard is that most people feel this thing is not going to pass," said Fred Jacobsen of the South Hillsborough Economic Development Council. "They've already decided they're against the tax, so why bother? These people vote."

Commissioner Mark Sharpe said he supports the tax. Al Higginbotham does not. While the two friends said they agree on most issues, this is not one of them. But both said continuing to pour money into road widening is not the answer.

Higginbotham said the proposed penny tax actually amounts to a 14-percent tax hike for most families. "Is it right for you? Is it right for Sun City Center?" he asked.

Higginbotham argued the county's problem is not one of revenue, as Sharpe contends, but one of spending. He favors improving the county's bus system before spending billions on rail.

Sharpe, who supports rail, said a modernized transportation system would reduce traffic congestion and dependency on foreign oil and save consumers from rising gas prices.

"Finally, after 20 years of debate, it is going to be decided not by seven commissioners, but by the citizens, who will have the ability to vote 'yes' or 'no,'

" he said. "My message is, 'If we don't do this, there's no money to fix roads, widen them or accommodate additional traffic.'

"

Mariella Smith of Ruskin said Sharpe was on the money.

"He offers a concrete solution to our transportation problems, while Higginbotham serves up a vague 'look within' for funding without any specifics about what programs he would cut to expand the increased bus service," she said.

"Nobody likes a new tax," she said. "But if we're going to stop sprawl and have smart, compact growth, we have to fund all forms of mass transit. It's an essential component of changing directions, which in the end will be cheaper for taxpayers."

Jacobsen said the county's 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan states that the cost of implementing all of the transportation improvements needed by 2035 will far exceed anticipated revenues.

Before putting a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot, "Chairman Ken Hagan should simply show us, on one sheet of paper, the projected money-in and money-out for each of the years in the 2035 plan," he said.

"I'm definitely not in favor of it," said Sun City Center resident Uta Kuhn. "I feel it's going to be another white elephant like so many other projects. The economy doesn't support the increase; there are issues of trust about the way they'll spend the money, cost overrides and underutilization. And we're sick of being taxed to death."

Not everyone agreed.

"I'm in favor of the concept of light rail, and I'm leaning towards it but I'd like more details," said Paul Courter of Sun City Center. "I need to know how we would benefit directly."