16 days ago
Tampa, Florida - In a 5-2 vote, Hillsborough County Commissioners directed the county attorney to draft a resolution of intent to place a one percent sales tax on the November 2010 ballot that could bring light rail to the area.
The tax would help generate money to fund a transportation improvement plan that not only includes light rail, but an expanded bus system, trails and non-transit projects such as roads and intersections.
Commissioners Norman and Higgonbotham opposed moving forward.
The Transportation Task Force has been working on the multi-modal transportation plan for the last three years, which would include a light rail system connecting USF, downtown Tampa and Westshore with future expansions possible.
In order to fund the projects, the task force is asking commissioners to put the an on-going, one percent sales tax on the ballot. The task force is also asking the county to retain the HART ad valorem and gas taxes.
Seventy-five percent of the sales tax would fund capital and operating costs of transit projects such as bus and rail. Twenty-five percent would go toward non-transit projects such as roads and trails.
This is the closest the county has come in years to a light rail system. Commissioners will decide whether to put the issue on the ballot during the December 2 meeting. Public input meetings would follow throughout 2010 to prioritize projects.
It is estimated the one penny tax would generate about $178 million each year and cost the average person $85 each year.
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