Hearing on the Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation

Just a reminder, hearing tomorrow on the penny tax that is expected to build funds for improved transit. I realize the class is over, but I'd imagine you're at least interested in how this progresses. This is a very important event for transit in Tampa, and I'll be there (i.e. so it's even more important). Event details below, taken from the Hillsborough County Government Website. Hope to see you there!

County Commissioners Holding Transportation Tax Referendum Public Hearing

DATE: Thursday, May 13 TIME: 6-10 p.m.; doors open, speaker sign up and displays start at 5 p.m., hearing starts at 6 p.m. PLACE: All People's Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa (one block east of 56th Street, beside King High School) The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to receive final public comment and vote on placing a proposed one-cent transportation sales tax referendum on the ballot in November 2010 for voter consideration. The proposed transportation tax would be used to pay for transit and non-transit projects, such as light rail, bus service expansion, roadways, intersections and supporting projects throughout Hillsborough County. The one percent sales tax will be split 75 percent for transit and 25 percent for non-transit. Hillsborough County Public Works and Planning & Growth Management departments, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) and the Metropolitan Planning Organization will provide displays and staff starting at 5 p.m. to provide information about the proposed transportation sales tax and the projects that it would fund. The hearing will start at 6 p.m. with a brief presentation from Hillsborough County and HART to explain how the proposed tax would work and the projects that it would fund. Public comments will be accepted afterwards by attendees that sign up. Written comments also will be accepted at the meeting from those that do not wish to speak. Parking will be available on-site at All People's Life Center, including disabled parking, and off-site to the west of the Center in the King High School parking lot and to the east of the Center in the large grassy lot. A map is available on the Transportation Referendum Web site listed below. This hearing will be broadcast live on Hillsborough Television on Bright House channel 622 and on channel 22 on Verizon and Comcast. It also can be viewed through live online streaming at: www.htv22.org. For more information, visit the Transportation Referendum Web site at: www.hillsboroughcounty.org/transportref/. The site includes the proposed list of projects that the tax would fund; the draft ballot language and Ordinance that would govern the use of the proposed tax; and the interlocal agreement that sets out how the money will be divided among the County, the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City, and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority