CLEARWATER - A proposal to raise Pinellas County's gas tax by as much as 6 cents to improve roads is in trouble as a growing number of county commissioners express deep reservations about its necessity.
Three of Pinellas County's seven county commissioners said this week they would not support increasing the tax by 6 cents. Two of the three said they would vote against any increase. A fourth commissioner is undecided and wants more proof an increase is needed.
For months, county officials have advocated boosting the gas tax to pay for transportation improvements. Three community meetings were held to gauge public support, but commissioners said the public needs to be told more.
The commission will take up the issue again at a work session on Tuesday, but no vote is planned. An earlier plan had the commission voting on the gas tax in November, but that schedule has been scrapped.
Pinellas County residents already pay a 6 cent-a-gallon gas tax. Factor in state, federal and other taxes, and they pay 45 cents in taxes on every gallon of gas.
For some commissioners, that's enough in what they see as a tough economy.
"When we ask people for money, we do it with a plan in mind," Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd said. She opposes any new gas tax at this time and wrote a memo in September outlining her reasons.
"I think we've been going about this in the wrong manner."
Todd is joined by Commissioners Calvin Harris. Both said the timing isn't right and the county hasn't done enough to sell the need for a new tax.
"The economy is bad," Harris said. "We need to help families stabilize income before we do some of these things."
Commissioner Ken Welch also was skeptical about the timing. He said he might consider a smaller increase of up to 2 cents if the money from one of the pennies could be used to improve and better coordinate traffic signals on major county roads. Revenue from the other, he said, should be dedicated to helping pay for the proposed Roosevelt expressway connecting U.S. 19 and Interstate 275 near the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
But Welch said he would only support that when the county has produced better information demonstrating the need. He said people have more questions.
"What I keep hearing everywhere I go is that folks want transit to be addressed," Welch said, indicating they want to hear about how the county's bus system would factor in. "We also keep hearing, "We want development to pay its share for transportation."'
Commissioner Susan Latvala said she has yet to make up her mind, but would be more inclined to support the smaller tax tied to the projects Welch mentioned.
"We are not ready to make the decision because the public doesn't know what we are doing," Latvala said.
All four commissioners shared concerns about the lack of support from the county's 24 cities. A council of mayors chose not to endorse the tax and at least one city commission has publicly opposed a full 6-cent tax increase.
Tarpon Springs Mayor Frank DiDonato, who chairs Pinellas County's council of mayors, said many mayors worry that increasing the gas tax might threaten other voter initiative taxes they have come to depend on, such as the Penny for Pinellas sales tax. That tax will expire in 2010 unless it's renewed by voter referendum.
"Some of us are afraid if we push the gas tax, we may lose the Penny for Pinellas," DiDonato said. "Some of the cities can't afford to do that."
Commissioners also cited dwindling support from residents, many of whom attended the public information sessions to voice opposition.
One person who visited all seven commissioners is Paul Bedinghaus, chairman of Pinellas County's Republican Party. He asked them to vote against the tax.
"They were very receptive toward the message," Bedinghaus said. "I think for now, I think it is safe to say the votes are not there to increase the tax. Later on they might look at a much lesser tax, maybe a penny or two. But right now I'd say the votes are not there."
