In a meeting that lasted less than 20 minutes, the Pasco County Commission decided to push back its vote on whether to increase the local gas tax, increase property taxes, or both, during a special meeting Sept. 3.
Both county commissioners Pat Mulieri and Henry Wilson Jr., were absent from the meeting. Wilson was preparing for a funeral service later in the morning for his father, who passed away just ahead of the primary elections last week. Since an increase in the gas tax would require four votes in support, and only three commissioners present, the board instead elected to take up the issue again Sept. 9 in Dade City.
Although the meeting was short, the commissioners did approve maintaining stormwater management fees as well as tipping fees and solid waste disposal rates at the same level as previous years. However, a decision to impose a $1.3 million assessment onto the Fox Ridge subdivision in Zephyrhills was delayed until Sept. 9 as well, so that Mulieri — who represents the district — could be present.
The commission has the option to increase the gas tax up to 5 cents per gallon, which would generate more than $8 million needed for road construction projects. Without that, the other primary option is through a property tax increase.
Each penny of gas tax is expected to generate $1.6 million each year, according to an internal county report. A full gas tax could, however, cost $37.50 more per year for driver, or a little more than $3 per month.
Raising property taxes, however, could have a larger impact to businesses than a fuel tax, according to an internal report. While a 5-cent gas tax would increase costs to a small business owner by $250, raising property taxes instead to hit that $8.07 million mark would cost small businesses $478. That is based on a small manufacturing business with $200,000 property value and $1 million tangible property value.
However, the impact to the average homeowner for a property tax increase would be just under $20 a year for the full $8 million, assessed at homes with $100,000 in appraised value and $50,000 in homestead exemptions.
The meeting Sept. 9 in Dade City is expected to start at 1:30 p.m.
