Hillsborough County commissioners voted 4-3 Wednesday night against putting a half-cent sales tax increase referendum on the November ballot.

  • Half-cent sales tax increase would have funded Go Hillsborough transportation plan
  • Opponents of the plan fear another attempt to fund a light rail project
  • Newly approved "mobility fees" may provide available funding for transportation projects

The decision came after a contentious meeting with feelings strong on both sides.

Hillsborough County officials said the bulk of the money would have been used to repave crumbling roads, build new roads to relieve traffic congestion and expand bus routes and other mass-transit options.

Some taxpayers said the improvements are desperately needed.

"I drive 18 miles to work back and forth, and years ago it didn't take over an hour to get home and get to work," said resident Gerald White. "So i'm looking for some relief tonight with this transportation plan the county is putting forth.”

Opponents of the plan called it a ‘boondogle,’ fearing it was just another attempt to fund a light rail project.

"People they're not going to ride these trains,” said resident Barb Haselden. “You know what we need is we need more capacity on the roads and we need some ideas and money put towards those problems.”

People on both sides of the issue agree that driving in Hillsborough County under current condition can be a hassle. Where they disagree is just how to fix the problem.

Some speakers at Wednesday’s meeting recommended a gas tax, rather than a sales tax. Others asked commissioners to find money in the current budget for additional transportation projects.

County commissioners said the money simply is not there.

However, on Tuesday night commissioners voted to charge developers more money to build in Hillsborough County. The so-called “mobility fees” will be based on the amount of traffic generated by new developments, as well as the cost of construction to build new roads to handle the additional traffic.

County officials say the additional revenue from mobility fees will generate some additional funding for transportation projects.