Penny For Pasco Sales Tax To Be On November Ballot

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — Pasco County voters will decide in November whether they want to extend the Pennies for Pasco 1-cent sales tax for another 15 years to help fund roads, sidewalks, schools, parks, economic development and public safety.

The tax, which Pasco County voters originally approved in March 2004 and extended for another 10 years in 2014, expires at the end of 2024.

The Pasco County Commission and Pasco County School Board voted unanimously to ask voters to renew the tax, generating $1.9 billion in revenues over 15 years to be distributed among the county's municipalities, Pasco County and Pasco County Schools with 10 percent going to the cities, 45 percent to the county and 45 percent to the school district.

To date, the tax has allowed the county to undertake major economic development projects including the major Moffitt Cancer Center research park, purchase environmentally sensitive lands, make improvements to major roadway, renovate and build schools.

The county proposes to spend 40 percent of its share of the tax money on transportation, 20 percent on economic development, 20 percent on public safety and 20 percent on purchasing 3,000 to 3,7000 additional acres of environmental lands and infrastructure for Baillies Bluff Wilderness Park and the Len Angeline Wilderness and Recreation Park.

The funds going toward economic development would be used to redevelop blighted areas, for work force development, attract new companies to Pasco County, support locally owned small businesses and business incubators.

The public safety portion would fund fire rescue boats, in-vehicle computers, all-terrain vehicles and life-saving equipment for the Pasco County Fire Rescue and new vehicles, in-vehicle computers and other equipment for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Road improvements to be financed with the 1-cent tax include construction of roundabouts, intersection improvements, multi-use paths, bike lanes and sidewalks.

The general election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 8.