Judge Upholds Road Tax; Residents To Speak At Commission Meeting

TAMPA, FL -- On Monday, a Hillsborough County judge upheld a voter approved 1-cent sales tax for transportation and transit improvements that was challenged by Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White.

"It is evident that the voters of Hillsborough County desire to improve transportation needs,” wrote Judge Rex Barbas in his decision.

Barbas did modify details of the charter amendment regarding spending allocations and restrictions. However, those provisions can be reinstated by a majority vote of the Hillsborough County Commission.

“The Hillsborough County Commission has the power to put back what the court has taken away, and so we will ask the board at its next meeting to do just that, to follow the wishes of the more than 282,000 residents who voted for the plan exactly as described in the charter amendment that they approved to be spent,” said All For Transportation chairman Tyler Hudson.

AFT also has the option of appealing this afternoon’s ruling.

Following passage of the tax on Nov. 6 by a 57 percent majority of voters, White filed a lawsuit maintaining that the tax violates state statutes for amending the county's charter.

The 30-year transportation measure adds a penny on the dollar to the county's sales tax raising about $276 million per year to go to projects designed to relieve traffic congestion in Hillsborough County and its three incorporated cities, Plant City, Temple Terrace and Tampa.

White contends that the voters were deceived into approving the transportation tax. They were told it was a citizen-led initiative when, in fact, it was led by monied special interests in downtown Tampa using a slick $4 million public relations campaign to sway voters.

He said voters were misled into thinking that voting for the tax would result in the construction of new roads in the rural areas of unincorporated Hillsborough County where two-thirds of the voters live. That's not the case, said White. The funds will actually go to transportation alternatives, repaving roads, sidewalks and improved traffic signals.

"There's practically nil road projects in this thing," he said. "What would be done if two-thirds of citizens in rural areas find out they've been hoodwinked and there's nothing in here for roads?"

As stipulated in the amendment, the county, cities, the Metropolitan Planning Organization and HART have appointed representatives to serve on an independent oversight committee, which will review all transportation projects to be funded with the tax. However, the committee has yet to meet due to the legal turmoil surrounding the tax.

“All for Transportation set out nearly a year ago to change the course of this community, to reverse a generation of neglect for our transportation system," said Hudson. "With this challenge behind us, we implore our local leaders to turn to the work of implementing transportation solutions that will reduce congestion, make our roads safer for everyone, and expand transit options.”

Leaders All for Transportation plan to speak at Wednesday's Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners meeting to encourage commissioners to honor voter’s wishes on the transportation tax following the judge's ruling.

See related stories:

Despite Lawsuit, Commission Moves Forward With Transportation Tax

All For Transportation Launches Campaign To Approve Referendum

1-Cent Sales Tax Referendum For Transportation Makes It To Ballot