Opinion: The past 20 years justify another 10

The Pinellas Trail. The Florida Botanical Gardens. Boca Ciega Millennium Park. The Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center. Clearwater's Brighthouse Networks Field. Miles of new sidewalks and bike paths.

These public amenities, which help make Pinellas County a special place to live and raise a family, are among hundreds that benefitted from the Penny for Pinellas sales tax during the last 20 years. Without the tax, most probably would not exist today. Pinellas residents should keep that in mind March 13 when they vote on whether to extend the tax for another 10 years.

Voters first approved the tax in 1989 as frustration about the county's widespread infrastructure deficits was peaking. Pinellas' road network produced nothing but grid lock. Towns still had dirt streets. Jails and recreation centers were bulging. Public buildings were in disrepair. Environmental lands were not being purchased and preserved.

Residents were fed up, but they opposed property tax increases. What they were willing to do, in both 1989 and 1997, was approve 10-year levies of a sales surtax.

The tax adds 1 cent to the state's 6 cent sales tax. That extra penny on a dollar is charged only on the first $5,000 of a purchase, and essentials like food and medicine are not taxed.

The tax, which is divided among the cities and county, raised more than $800-million its first 10 years, $1.3-billion the second 10, and is forecast to raise $1.9-billion if extended another decade.

That is a lot of money, but it has been put to good purpose and wisely spent. The parks, libraries, nature preserves and recreational facilities the tax has helped build are wonderful amenities. But much of the penny revenue has gone for essentials such as roads, bridges, fire stations, jail expansions and flood control projects. That essential work never stops, and the cost of such projects is skyrocketing.

One of the best reasons to vote "yes" on March 13 is that everyone who buys something in Pinellas County pays the tax. Not just property owners, but also renters, vacationers and day visitors pay into the penny pool.

A second reason to support the tax: It helps reduce the pressure to raise property tax rates. The penny sales tax can only be used for capital expenditures. Local governments use the penny to pay for capital projects, which preserves property tax revenue for day-to-day operations. Without the penny, property taxes would rise, further straining the budgets of property owners.

The Penny for Pinellas has boosted the quality of life for residents and will help meet the complex demands of the future.

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Comments on this article

by Diane	10/05/07 03:43 AM
why dont they refund some of the insurance money since there has been no storms and keep some in reserve they dont have to be a hog about it

by Diane	10/05/07 03:41 AM
how is it legal that our own state insurance citizens is higher than any other company and monopolizing the industry. We have not had storms for the last few years nor were the ones devastating that we did have what are they doing with all that money

by Diane	10/05/07 03:35 AM
why are we building more schools rather then adding a second floor to the existing ones. Would this help save taxes.

by Diane	10/05/07 03:32 AM
There are way to many police cars on the road. cant they ride together. Were is the money going from the fines? It cant be for new cars or jails are taxes pay for that.

by Diane	10/05/07 03:27 AM
useless spending going on. I went to the DMV and pulled a number a lady helped me and then told me to pull another number to pay. I did she took my money and gave me another number to receive the info. what was wrong with the fist lady handling all.

by Diane	10/05/07 03:12 AM
I say raise the sales tax 3 cents and give a 2 cent to taxes and the other cent to insurance for home owners and let the home owner decide if they want more coverage it can be purchased. This will protect the rich middle class and the poor.

by Martin	03/12/07 03:08 PM
Until my insurance co. refused renewal, I never realized FL owned an ins. co called Citizens which by FL law has to have the highest rates in FL. UNBELIEVEABLE, but true,instead of a law mandating the lowest rates,it's the highest.Look into this.

by Lee Anne	03/12/07 03:00 PM
NO, Originally it was so property taxes wouldn't go up.Well they keep going up. They need to learn how to properly spend the already too much that they take from all of us in so many different ways.Learn to spend OUR money more wisely is the mission.

by Martin	03/12/07 02:43 PM
It's a definite NO vote,don't give them another $1.9 billion over the next 10 years that they can mismanage the spending of the way that they have mismanaged the spending of the penny proceeds for the last 20 years.Make them spend taxes more wisely

by Margaret V. Evans	03/12/07 11:17 AM
I read penney tax may be going for homeless shelters to what? attract more non-taxpayers to Pinellas County. I am not voting for it. Proper budjeting is the answer.Where is all the outragious amounts of property taxm money going? No more taxes.

by James	03/11/07 09:01 AM
NO MORE PENNY for PINELLAS. Property taxes went up anyway. $7000 a year now on 2.4 Acres in North Pinellas and they are going up still! How about "PENNY for HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE"? 1.9 Billion Dollars will insure a lot of homes & businesses.

by roger G.	03/10/07 06:41 PM
vote YES YES YES 40 % is paid for by out of staters !!!!

by Mike	03/09/07 05:40 PM
No more tax. The county is raking it in due to the increased property values.

by mark	03/08/07 09:58 PM
Its time to put are hard earned money in our own pockets,not our crooked politicians.Our home tax's go up every year.sure vote yes on raise it a penny and do away with property tax's . I would like a topic on florida's homeowners insurance! rip offs.

by HECTOR	03/08/07 07:35 PM
I could not disagree more strongly. Property Tax is out of control in Florida. We cannot continue with the outrageous increases in spending on niceties as opposed to necessities. We should wait for the State to revise the entire system.

by Peter	03/08/07 06:41 PM
They cant spend what they have correctly so why approve it? Spend billions when all they need to do to save money is time lites so one is not 4 seconds and the other is 8 minutes! I will vote yes anyway.

by Joan	03/08/07 05:01 PM
Nobody likes taxes, but keeping the Penney tax is better than raising property taxes. Give property owners a break! In California an outside group introduced sweeping tax cuts with Proposition 13. It passed and almost bankrupted California.

by Mike	03/08/07 01:11 PM
Another point about the penney tax - maintenance is a whole cheaper than construction. Most cities absorb those costs by having employees schedule the maintenance just like any other job.

by Mike	03/08/07 01:09 PM
Everyone has a yes/no opinion on penny tax. But an advantage to having this extra tax is that all tourists help US out through their purchases. They too are helping to pay for penney projects.

by steve	03/08/07 12:17 AM
Look at the public comments. 8 VOTE NO-0 vote yes. And you call yourself nonbias. We in town call liberal. Will I be punished for that? One more objuction is that you limit us to 250 words and your ---- is endless. Free press, I think not, paid press

by Steve	03/08/07 12:07 AM
My God! Do you hear the cry of the people? So sad- activism a must. We all are tired of goverment abuse. If you spent it well I would not mind, but I am told if you dont spend it you will not get as much next year. Where is the insentive. Enough!!!!

by Steve	03/08/07 12:01 AM
Hey Saint Petersburg Times!!!!! Have you read the feedback??? Or are you going to censure the voice of the people one more time? I even wonder if this will make the web posting. How about an article on this outcry INSTEAD OF VOTE YES. WE ARE ANGRY!!!

by Steve	03/07/07 11:52 PM
VOTE NO! Why does ST PETE TIMES gloss over facts for politicians purpose? Those that know, vote NO! Personally, I think the trail would be put to better use for mass transit. 200 bicyclist-vs-50000 comuters? Should I run for office? Steve Westphal

by Donna	03/07/07 07:27 PM
Penny for Pinellas has made it possible to do a lot, true...the only question in my mind is: If this is to help finace and maintain public parks, why is the decision on Brooker Creek coming after the vote? Will that decision maintain or mutilate it?

by Tiffany	03/07/07 04:37 PM
Pinellas County is the only county in Florida that has this over the top tax and the County Commissioners have been fiscally irresponsible in their spending and accounting for the millions of dollars collected. Put a stop to it now! VOTE NO!!!

by Mark	03/07/07 03:49 PM
If what you say is true about property taxes not increasing, then why is the property taxes so high? Property taxes keep increasing regardless if the sales tax is approved or not. This sounds more like a double-edge sword.

by Anna	03/07/07 03:49 PM
Sorry to read St. Pete Times endorsed a 1% extra tax, we are overtaxed. I am sure they can find a penny from the high property tax we pay. Please vote "no". Why vote for higher taxes.

by Shelby	02/27/07 04:19 AM
yea, right. The St Petersburg Times and vitually every liberal newspaper has neen bashing the 2.5% sales tax plan. Yet they praise the 1% Penny for Pinellas tax. I say vote NO on March 13th. Everyone needs to live within their means including gov't.

by John	02/25/07 09:08 AM
I agree, I hope SPT will come out in favor of eliminating property tax on all property, not just homesteaders. They should support an increased sales tax to do that. This would enable taxpayers & businesses to live within their means and better plan

by Yue Chun	02/25/07 06:40 AM
Remember, all these capital expenditures usually require maintenance, overhead, and employees. These are costs that has to come from somewhere. If we want the county to lower our taxes, then vote NO on March 13th.

by John	02/25/07 06:36 AM
If you follow the Time's logic, then the 2.5% additional sales tax in lieu of property tax is the way to go also. I hope the Times remembers this recommendation if they ever gets the chance to voice their opinion on the 2.5% proposal.