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Politics
Penny vote gives county jitters
Leaders acknowledge this is a tough time to ask the public for a tax.
By WILL VAN SANT
Published March 6, 2007
From the halls of the Florida Legislature to city halls across the state, it's tough to be a tax these days. But what does this levy loathing mean for the Penny for Pinellas sales tax extension, which voters will decide a week from today? The situation has Pinellas County leaders fretting. "I think about it constantly," said County Administrator Steve Spratt, "when I go to bed, when I wake up and most of the time in between." The taxpayer unrest will be at Spratt's door Friday. A group called Cut Taxes Now plans to demonstrate against the Penny at the county courthouse in Clearwater. It's the first organized rally against the Penny. And it's coming late in the game; early voting started Feb. 26 and continues through Saturday. But could it signal trouble for the Penny's passage? David McKalip hopes so. He's the neurosurgeon and St. Petersburg native who formed the group last year in disgust at local government spending and taxation policies. In 2006, Cut Taxes Now mounted an unsuccessful effort to derail former City Council member Rick Kriseman's bid for the Legislature. This year, the group, which claims 250 members, has targeted the Penny. Revenue from the 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax is shared between county government and Pinellas' 24 municipalities. Governments have come to rely on the Penny to pay for public buildings, roads and parks. Monday, the antitax group released a list of what its members consider frivolous projects that government leaders hope to pay for with Penny money if the tax is extended from 2010, when it's set to expire, until 2020. Among them: $30-million to purchase land for affordable housing; $10-million to fulfill a master plan for the open-air history site, Heritage Village; and $3-million to help complete Eagle Lake Park in Largo. According to McKalip, these expenditures are wants, not needs, and cannot be justified when people are being forced from their homes by high taxes and rising insurance costs. "When my family has a tight budget, we don't put a shiny new swing set in the back yard," McKalip said. "We tighten our belts." McKalip has no illusions. Cut Taxes Now has about $2,500 to use in its fight against the Penny. The county has budgeted $200,000 for its promotional efforts. "We're David vs. Goliath," he said. "As we grow, we will be fighting these battles more effectively." While county leaders may be uneasy about the Penny vote, they have some reason for hope. They point to a recent survey the county paid for of 300 voters in which 67 percent of likely voters expressed support. And the Penny passed the last two times it was up for a vote, narrowly in 1989 and overwhelmingly in 1997. Still, this year may be different. "There is an antitax feeling out there," said County Commissioner Karen Seel. "It has me concerned. I'm just hoping that people see the value of the Penny." Will Van Sant can be reached at vansant@sptimes.com or 445-4166. . on the web Penny sales tax To visit the county's Penny Web site, go to www.pinellascounty.org/penny. To visit the Cut Taxes Now site, go to www.cuttaxesnow.com.
[Last modified March 6, 2007, 06:09:18]
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by Sue
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03/07/07 10:22 PM
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We already have a 13.2 cent per gallon county fuel tax for the roads. We sure as hell don't need any more parks or public buildings cause the population has gone from flat to declining in 2007.
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by Schunacher
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03/07/07 03:32 AM
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Yes to Marco Rubio's 2.5% tax plan, No to Penny For Pinellas.
You know voting against the liberal paper is a good thing. No more tax & spend government. Times have change.
Boston tea party revolt ala Florida style.
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by Drew
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03/06/07 09:34 PM
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True, it is ALWAYS a tough time to ask the public for more taxes, especially now when we are being taxed to death as it is. Vote this one down, let them do what we all do - make do with what we have, not what we can extort from others.
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by Joel
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03/06/07 09:18 PM
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Any business owner knows we carry ALOT of the burden of this tax. If it's not called a sales tax, it's a use tax. Then it goes to fund "city" projects or centers-I pay to use their facility that I ALREADY paid for.
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by GBB
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03/06/07 07:20 PM
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I can't give one more cent.I think Speaker Rubio may have the solution and Pinellas needs to learn how to do things on a beer budget not champagne.Just the wastage on signs and fliers makes my blood boil.Money that could have helped the homeless!
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by Peter
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03/06/07 05:10 PM
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Hurray !!! David I agree with you completly. The lights in Pniellas make traveling here a true nightmare in any direction. Put the Penney to work where it will be appreciated by the majority of the population. Better Traffic Control in Pinellas.
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by David
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03/06/07 02:19 PM
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The Penny for Pinellas should not go to Parks and Public Housing.
How about keeping the Penny and applying it towards scyronized lights on the roads so someone can get to the Parks and Home in an reasonable amount of time.
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by John
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03/06/07 02:03 PM
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Past audits of "penny" expenditures show a reckless disregard for accoutability at best, out right fraud at worst. The politicos have been very poor keepers of our cash - so don't give them any more! Say NO to the Penny!
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by JT
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03/06/07 01:32 PM
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Without Penny Property Taxes will increase. Let non-owners and visitors pay their fair share. Get serious about reducing Government spending not shifting the burden around. Last here should be first to pay or protest against spending for growth etc.
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by Bland
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03/06/07 09:58 AM
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The Penny for Pinellas should be voted down. From 2004-2006 population growth and personal income was flat while the county budget rose 60% or $800 Million. If Speaker Rubio's proposal succeeds we do not wish to increase sales tax beyond 8.5%.
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