TAMPA, Fla. — A circuit court judge has struck down the Hillsborough County transportation tax referendum, which was due to appear on the November 8 ballot.

The question was going to ask voters to approve a 1% sales tax on transportation. It passed 5-2 by the Hillsborough County commissioners back in April to appear on the ballot.

A special city council meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss the circuit court ruling.

The referendum was challenged for being "ambiguous and misleading," the judge agreed and will issue a written ruling soon.

A similar measure was passed in 2018, but struck down by the Florida Supreme Court as being unconstitutional. If the tax had been approved by voters, it was projected to raise $342 million in its first year.

Nearly half of those funds (45%) would have gone directly to the Hillsborough Area Regional Authority (HART). The rest of the funds would have been divided between Hillsborough County and three cities (Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City), plus a small amount for the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization.

Multiple officials commented on the ruling including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

The mayor is hoping something can be done to still get the referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot.

“Our community's future hinges on solving our urgent transportation needs," said a statement from Mayor Castor's office. "I hope the County Commission looks at every option to make sure voters will still have their say on this critical issue on November 8.”

Sheriff Chronister said he supported the initiative, despite it being publicly funded, due to possible enhancements to public safety.

"While it’s never a good time to raise taxes, the cost of doing nothing is staggering,“ Chronister said in a statement.