By a 6-1 vote, Hillsborough County Commissioners have agreed to try again with a 30-year, 1% transportation sales tax. Commissioners are asking county staff to return on April 6 with the language for a proposed referendum. If that passes, it would go to the voters in November.
Nearly 60% of voters approved a transportation tax in 2018, but it was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court last year after a challenge from commissioner Stacy White.
In discussion this morning, commissioner Harry Cohen urged his colleagues "not to sacrifice good for the sake of perfect."
"The fact that we know that no matter what we do," Cohen said, "we're not going to actually have enough to solve every single problem we have shouldn't prevent us from doing something now."
Money generated from the 30-year sales tax would be split among the county and the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City---along with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit agency and the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization.
photo: Getty Images