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Leaders drop 3-cent increase in gas tax
The proposal would have added to the already unpopular 2-cent tax commissioners extended in November.
By ASJYLYN LODER
Published June 16, 2006
The Hernando County Commission quickly backed off a short-lived proposal to put a new gas tax before county residents. The county already renewed its politically unpopular 2-cent gas tax in November. The 2 cents per gallon were part of a 3-cents-per-gallon tax passed in 1999. The 2 cents were set to expire, with 1 cent left in place for road maintenance. But the rising price of asphalt outstripped the remaining penny. The new proposal would have tacked on an additional 3 cents per gallon. The commission deftly side-stepped the political battle, but it's still facing a staggering deficit in road money. 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. Public Works director Charles Mixson told the commission on June 6 that unless he gets another $1.4-million a year, the county's roads will quickly degrade. Commission Chairwoman Diane Rowden said, "We know what the problems are. We've got to start ... on some solutions." A gas tax means those who use the roads pay for the roads, she said. She backed a last-minute effort Wednesday to schedule a public hearing on a gas tax, but the proposal stalled. 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 seven-hour hearing on the controversial Hickory Hill development. Commissioner Robert Schenck opposes adding a gas tax. "Gas is already at an all time high, and I think it would be a 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. "It was pointless," she said. Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or 352754-6127.
[Last modified June 16, 2006, 07:06:18]
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