Six weeks after the Hillsborough County Commission voted on a 4-3 vote to reject bringing a proposed transportation referendum to the voters this fall, the BOCC will be back at it again on Thursday – this time proposing that the tax last 15 years, not the 30 years that it had been promoted as over the past year.
While the shorter duration of the tax might be enough to persuade a majority of the board to support putting this proposal on the November ballot, there are absolutely no guarantees (and certainly not any public polling) that indicates that a shorter tax will persuade voters reluctant to tax themselves to be more supportive.
The Hillsborough County Republican Party is advising its members to show up to the County Center on Thursday night to actively oppose the measure. Here’s just part of a statement issued by the party earlier this week:
Apparently taking 7% of every dollar you spend is not enough. Grabbing more of your hard earned money isn’t looking out for you!
Wages have been stagnant for over a decade. The middle class is shrinking. Yet some Commissioners want to add more tax load to your already aching back.WHY? We just told them NO to a 30 year tax six weeks ago. Yet they are ready to pile on a tax that will grant them another ½ percent.WHY? This would be a 15 year tax until 2031 and they only have a 10 year plan!
