Penny tax for light rail advances

TAMPA - Hillsborough voters on Wednesday steered closer to voting on a sales tax increase for transportation. Backers estimate it could cost the typical family $144 per year.

County Commissioners voted five to two in favor of advancing a measure that would put transit tax the question on the November, 2010 ballot, the same day the governor's race and congressional seats are decided.

"As much as I don't want to put this on the ballot because I know there are going to be a lot of people who are concerned about paying a little more, I think this is absolutely the right thing to do," said Hillsborough Commissioner Mark Sharpe. "And it will, over time, save us money."

The proposed plan includes doubling the area's bus fleet, improving roads, and eventually building a light rail system linking The University of South Florida to the West Shore district via downtown Tampa.

Commissioner Al Higginotham, who joined Jim Norman in voting against the measure, said he had concerns that the project could be a waste of tax dollars.

"I worried what we're going to tell to tell our kids 30 to 40 years from now, when they say where's my money?

Commissioner Kevin White said the question should lie in voters' hands.

"The people will end up making the ultimate decision, whether they want to pay this extra penny or not," White said.

As commissioners discussed the proposal, some residents issued a warning.

"If it's not going to stop in our community... [for] the working poor that need transit the most, why should we vote for it?" asked Gerald White.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, the area's most prominent light rail cheerleader, sat in the front row as the commission voted. She said the vote was historic and expressed optimism that the public would ultimately approve the penny sales tax increase.

"They get it," she said. "In fact, I think the public is ahead of the public officials on this particular subject."