5-Cent Gas Tax Increase Coming?
Pasco Commissioners are considering an increase in the local option gas tax. The hike would have West Pasco motorists paying a nickel more at the pumps.
West Pasco motorists struggling with high prices at the pumps might soon find themselves paying a nickel more a gallon.
Pasco County Commissioners were asked during a workshop Tuesday, March 12, to consider raising the local fee from 7 cents to 12 cents, according to The Tampa Tribune. The reason lies in the county’s need to generate more money for road repair and maintenance. A raise in the tax would produce nearly $8 million a year that could be used improve roads throughout the county.
Mike Garrett, the county’s public works director, says his department is underfunded when it comes to meeting road maintenance and repair needs. Understaffing is also a problem. Right now, it can take up to 26 days for county staff to repair a pothole simply because of short staffing, The Tribune reported.
Commissioners have until May to decide if they want to pursue the 5-cent hike. If they do, a public hear would take place in July. Should the raise be approved, it would go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.
Would you be willing to pay 5 cents more for road repairs? Share your thoughts by taking the poll or voicing them in the comments section.
Need to save at the pumps? Be sure to check the New Port Richey Patch Commute section before you fill up!
Balee
8:36 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
Isn't there anything else you can tax that will benefit all? This makes a further burden on all people who are trying to get back on their feet to work after suffering from recent losses.
Werner Rist
9:48 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
What happened to the penny for Pasco, already spent I bet.
Why are we all of a sudden under staffed and under funded. Where is that staff and money. People are driving less than ever, how does that translate into more staff and more money. There needs to be more of a public accounting than the word of public official.
Since we don't have a dependable or convenient mass transit system in this county, our cars and their use become a necessity and their use and maintenance should be the last thing on the list to be taxed.
Flash Cunningham
10:26 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
That would be fine if they would use the money for what it suppose to be used for instead of fating there own pockets
Lou
5:21 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Maybe have two men trucks at the most, instead of having one doing the job and three looking on.
Randy Withers
8:29 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
NO.... I am already paying too much for gas! My job is and hour or more away and I have already had to pay as much as $100. a week for gas to go to work, I can't afford more to come out of my paycheck for my drive.
Carole
10:36 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
The State already collects taxes for roads by gasoline taxes. Where is the money going or where is money being wasted?
Sandra Dornick
8:36 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
NO ... Listen we are going to be hit with the highest tax increase from federal, obamacare and what ever else this jury rigged administration comes up with. You have a lot of people that cannot afford more taxes thrown at them. Nothing is going down in price, nothing. Employers are reducing hours worked so they don't get trapped in this healthcare debacle. So just where would people dig more money out of their pockets to pay more gas tax. Work smarter.
I agree with one of the other posts ... why are 3 hanging on a shovel and one working ... THEY need to find more efficient ways of doing things.
Larry
10:51 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
"Understaffing is a problem" according to Mike Garrett, the county’s public works director.
Is that so? Hmmmm. Whenever 2 County employees are required to accomplish a task (including pot hole repair) that requires only 1 employee in the private sector real world, then we have a productivity problem. There re too many unproductive slugs working for the County. That's the problem. Mr. Garrett's public works department is not understaffed. In reality, the department is overstaffed with unproductive slugs who milk every job they are dispatched to accomplish. He doesn't need more staff. He needs to make his current staff, including himself perhaps, more productive. No more taxes. Enough is enough. Now is the time to increase productivity from the staff you have. Just do it.
tony r
8:02 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
why only tax west pasco when it is written to improve the county roads? is w. pasco the only side in the county?
Diane Carlstrom
2:51 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Cut taxes in one area and they go up in another. I have seen it time and again. A state votes in someone that will cut, cut, cut and those cuts get passed down and have to be made up for somehow or else we all just deal with lots of pot holes, schools closing and other things. Talk about people wanting free stuff....