Task force recommends push for mass transit tax

By MIKE SALINERO | msalinero@tampatrib.com
Published: June 18, 2009

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TAMPA --

An economic development task force has recommended that Hillsborough County "aggressively" push for a 1-cent sales tax in 2010 to fund mass transit.

Bob Abberger, chairman of the 12-member Economic Stimulus Task Force, told county commissioners Wednesday that a multimodal transportation system is a key ingredient in bringing high-paying jobs to the county.

"Mobility is going to be key, and solving our mobility problems is going to be a key component of our outreach to corporate America," Abberger said. He added that the commission should "carefully consider supporting and aggressively marketing the referendum next year" on a 1-cent sales tax for transportation.

The commission voted in April to start work on language for a sales tax referendum that would be put before voters in November 2010. The commission will make a final decision on approving the referendum in September after it gets a recommendation from the county's 21-member transportation task force.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.