Short-lived gas tax proposal gets low-octane reception from commission.
By ASJYLYN LODER
Published June 15, 2006
The Hernando County Commission backed off a last minute proposal Wednesday night to hold a public hearing on a new gas tax.
On Wednesday morning, the commission tacked the hearing onto the end of the agenda for its land use hearing. That meeting didn’t end until nearly 9 p.m. after a 7-hour hearing on the controversial Hickory Hill development.
The proposal was to hold a public hearing June 27 to consider adding another 3 cents per gallon to the county gas tax.
The money would help offset rising road construction costs and make up a $1.4 million annual shortfall in the road maintenance budget.
Without more money, roads will begin to decline, said Public Works Director Charles Mixson. “We’re short of funds. If we don’t get the additional funds, we’re going to start sliding backwards.”
The county’s pavement management program is facing a 10-year projected deficit of nearly $44-million, according to county estimates. The 10-year deficit for new road projects stands at $152-million.
Commission Chairwoman Diane Rowden said, “We know what the problems are. We’ve got to start voting on some solutions.”
A gas tax means those who use the roads pay for the roads, she said.
Commissioner Robert Schenck opposes adding a gas tax.
“Gas is already at an all time high, and I think it would be disservice to our citizens to try and tack on an extra gas tax now,” he said.
In the end, the commission didn’t even vote on whether to hold a public hearing. A gas tax takes a super-majority — four of five commissioners — to pass.
It was clear from the opposition voiced by other commissioners that the gas tax wouldn’t get four votes, Rowden said.
