As officials peddle the increase to municipalities to help persuade the public, Largo elicits promises for road projects and a bigger share of the pie.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published September 24, 2003
LARGO - Monday, Pinellas County officials made their case for doubling the gas tax to the people. Tuesday, they tried to win over Largo city officials.
Lobbying the cities is part of the county's plan to get support for what could be an unpopular tax at a time when gas prices already are climbing. The county is proposing to double the gas tax to 12 cents per gallon to fund countywide transportation projects and improvements.
Pinellas County Public Works Director Keith Wicks showed commissioners on Tuesday the same presentation that people saw at Monday night's public information session. It outlined needed improvements and quoted statistics of county residents unhappy with road conditions.
Wicks highlighted several future projects, including one in Largo on Indian Rocks Road.
He asked Largo commissioners what it would take to get their support. In return, they asked for a guarantee that the county would follow through on its plans.
Commissioner Pat Gerard said street improvements on Indian Rocks Road should be on the top of the list.
But Wicks could make no promises.
Commissioner Charlie Harper mentioned the financial pressures already faced by residents because of current gas prices and Largo's recent millage rate increase, the first in 11 years.
"The timing has to be most terrible time in the world to ask for an increase in taxes," Harper said.
Commissioner Gay Gentry questioned putting revenue toward expanding roadways before repairing existing problems. "It's like feeding a monster," she said.
Also a point of contention is the percentage of proceeds from the gas tax that go to the county vs. the 24 municipalities in Pinellas.
The county collects 75 percent of the current 6-cent-per-gallon gas tax, the municipalities split the rest. The county is proposing splitting the first five cents of the increase in a similar fashion, with the sixth cent collected entirely by the county.
The cities are lobbying for more money, with some suggesting municipalities should share as much as half of the new revenue, estimated to be about $23-million a year.
A memo prepared by Largo staff made an argument for a higher percentage of funds for the cities because they can be more responsive to local needs. They cited past projects paid for from the gas tax funds that have eased congestion and improved traffic flow.
Wicks said half may be too much, but 40 percent may be feasible. However, the county thinks the ratio needs to stay as is until 2007, when the current tax expires, he said.
Since 1993, Largo has collected $5,827,000 from its share of the county gas tax, or about $582,700 a year. County staff estimates that the tax increase could bring Largo an additional $436,044 to $926,593 each year.
The county doesn't need the support of the municipalities to pass the gas tax increase, but thinks their endorsements would help with public sentiment.
The next county public information meetings on the proposed tax increase will be held Oct. 2 at Largo High, 410 Missouri Ave., and Oct. 9 at Boca Ciega High, 924 58th St. S, Gulfport. Both will be at 6:30 p.m.
