HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County Commissioners voted Wednesday to restore percentages on the amendment for a transportation sales tax that passed on the ballot in November, 2018. 

The 30-year, $15-billion transportation tax will be used on transportation improvements across the county, from Tampa to Temple Terrace to Plant City. 

Commissioners voted today to write up a proposed ordinance that will allocate the money from the transportation tax toward three different areas:

  • 54 percent toward the county and its three municipalities for transportation
  • 45 percent toward Hart for buses and public transportation
  • 1 percent to the metropolitan planning organization

Since the 1 percent sales tax hike was approved in November, it has faced legal challenges.

In December of 2018, Commissioner Stacy White filed a lawsuit attempting to invalidate the amendment, saying the referendum misled voters — making them think tax revenue would be spent on priority road work when in fact the referendum prohibits it. 

Last month, Judge Rex Barbas ruled that the tax is legal but chose to modify parts of the amendment regarding spending allocations and tasking the county commission to divvy up the funds. 

However, the citizens group, All for Transportation, warned the county could try to use the money as a bailout for other transportation problems, and not the issues voters specifically voted it for. 

Residents will have to wait for the process to go forward and that means an appeals process that could longer delay the implementation of the tax.

At the earliest, the Florida Supreme Court could hear the case in August.

The Hillsborough transportation tax is still being collected.

There's more than $60 million in the coffers at this point.​