It is a productive and encouraging time for supporters of new schools and other capital construction in Pasco County even though a vote on a proposed sales tax increase to finance the work remains 18 months away.
Two weeks ago, in the waning hours of the regular legislative session in Tallahassee, both the Senate and House approved a measure to allow local governments the option of tying a property tax rate reduction to passage of the sales tax. The strategy was used successfully in Orange County last year, but duplicating the offer in Pasco required a change in state law. Both the House and Senate concurred, attaching the appropriate language to a Department of Revenue bill, and forwarding it to Gov. Jeb Bush.
Increasing the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent is expected to generate $31-million annually for schools, the county and municipal governments. Supporters estimate 20 percent of the proceeds will be paid by visitors, so Commissioner Ted Schrader and school officials suggested offering property tax relief as a political enticement to help sway the electorate.
After the success in the Legislature, supporters learned Monday that results of a mail survey of about 250 Zephyrhills residents showed strong support for the tax increase. Nearly 48 percent of the respondents favored the sales tax increase, compared with 38.5 percent who were opposed. The survey, though unscientific, indicates the sales tax has significant backing in Pasco's second-largest municipality, and the results should provide a political comfort level to a City Council that approved the ballot question by a mere 3-2.
Tuesday, advocates were buoyed by election results in neighboring Polk County where voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase to finance school construction. A day later, Allen Altman, of the Pasco Citizens Committee promoting the sales tax increase, publicized astounding numbers in a new telephone poll of 400 Pasco County voters. Seven of every 10 people polled supported a sales tax increase to build schools and close to the same number agreed to the tax increase for county projects including road construction and preservation of environmentally sensitive land.
The results of the poll, paid for by Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe Architects of St. Petersburg, do not guarantee an election outcome. They should be regarded as a snapshot of public sentiment at a given time, and the poor budgetary performance by the Legislature in Tallahassee likely contributed to the most recent poll results. But, it must be noted a pair of polls conducted as part of the 2002 local political campaigns measured similar support for the sales tax. The task for tax proponents is to maintain the same sentiment next year.
If voters approve the sales tax in November 2004, the school district intends to use the proceeds to meet the $50-million shortfall in its state-required, five-year construction plan and to try to reduce the hundreds of portable classrooms in use across the county.
Pasco County has not formalized how it would spend its share, but discussions have focused on nearly $30-million worth of parks and library expansions not financed by impact fees, expanding the Land O'Lakes jail and buying $11-million in public safety communications equipment.
The new poll results show the public has its own ideas. Transportation improvements - traditionally financed with gasoline taxes - are listed as the public's top priority.
A frequent criticism of the tax proposal - the Pasco Republican Executive Committee already objected without knowing the plan's details - is the lack of specificity. People correctly want to know the fine points.
Pasco County shouldn't hesitate with the details. Commissioners would be wise to capitalize on the current momentum and expedite that information. The more the public knows, the greater the chance a majority will conclude increasing the sales tax is the right thing to do.
