A scenic pedestrian path across a bay, parks, fire stations, major highway projects, drainage work, bridges, a community center.
The list of invaluable projects that have been financed since the Penny for Pinellas was first collected in 1990 is endless.
But there’s still work to do – much more. If approved, the 10-year extension of the 1-cent local-option sales tax is expected to raise nearly $2 billion for more improvements, particularly transportation-related.
Among the proposed highway projects are mid-county expressway, east-west 118th Avenue from U.S. 19 to I-275, undergrounding improvements along Gulf Boulevard, the replacement of bridges along the county’s roadways and intersection improvements.
Plans also call for existing court facilities in the county to be renovated to accommodate growth, the expansion of the jail to relieve overcrowding and the extension of the Pinellas Trail and the purchase of additional lands for parks. For a complete list of the proposed Penny projects, go to www.Pinellascounty.org.
Hard to imagine how the county would finance the improvements without the additional penny tax. The millage rate needed to generate the same annual amount is 2.3 mills.
The tax revenue is split between county and city governments, and the beauty of this tax is that about one-third of it is generated by tourists. That’s reasonable since visitors use our parks, roads and other services.
With property values and insurance costs soaring in the last couple of years, it’s easy to understand why voters would be tempted to let anti-tax sentiment influence their decision on the Penny for Pinellas.
But if voters reject the sales tax, the needs will not go away. Drainage improvements, road projects and jail overcrowding still will need to be addressed, probably through a large millage increase.
Local governments also have done a good job of laying out their plans for the tax and showing what projects have been funded.
Downtown parking in Clearwater, a beach parking garage, youth recreation facilities, beach access parks, the Memorial Causeway Bridge, Pinellas Trail overpasses, endangered land acquisition – the scope of what is or will be financed by the Penny for Pinellas is proof of how valuable this revenue source is for residents and visitors.
Vote March 13 for the extension of the Penny for Pinellas.
The evidence of what it means to this county is everywhere. Just look around – see the big picture.
