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Politics
Penny for Pinellas extended to 2020
By WILL VAN SANT
Published March 14, 2007
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[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Volunteers hold up campaign signs Tuesday standing outside the Gulfport Recreation Center.
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CLEARWATER - With the majority of precincts reporting, the Penny for Pinellas sales tax appeared to have won the support of county voters Tuesday night. The vote in favor of the 1-cent-on-the-dollar tax will extend it from 2010 until 2020. County Administrator Steve Spratt said he was relieved but not surprised that the Penny had passed. "I was cautiously optimistic that we would prevail," he said. Spratt said Pinellas County and its residents would now enjoy "a decade of progress," thanks to their support of the Penny. Pinellas County and its 24 municipalities plan to use the estimated $2-billion in revenue for a range of infrastructure projects including new roads, public buildings, bridges and parks. Tuesday's vote came despite a rising antitax sentiment. In recent days the Penny has been a target of criticism from Gov. Charlie Crist, a Pinellas voter, who said local governments have more than enough revenue. Also coming out against extending the Penny was the leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Robert N. Lynch, who said more Penny money needs to go toward aiding the needy.
[Last modified March 14, 2007, 05:42:02]
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