Thursday, June 02, 2005
Three down and one to go
It will be interesting to see what happens between now and the time Seminole County commissioners actually vote on the penny increase in the fuel tax. The vote requires support from four of the five commissioners to pass, and, as it stands now, it is one vote short.
Commissioners Carlton Henley and Randy Morris are firmly behind the one-cent increase, which is sought to provide a dedicated funding source for handicapped transportation within the county. Commissioners Brenda Carey and Dick VanDerWeide are firmly against the increase.
In the middle is Bob Dallari, who tells us that although he still undecided, "I am leaning toward voting for the gas tax. This additional funding source would be earmarked for the elderly and paratransit, and not for the general LYNX ridership. The information provided to me so far indicates an approximate cost of $19 annually for the average gas consumer. There has also been some discussion of making this a flat tax by addressing the roll-back rate in the General Fund."
Dallari's reference in the last line refers to an offer made by Morris during the Board's last meeting, in an effort to allay the fears held by Carey and VanDerWeide of a tax increase. Morris offered to find a way to offset the gasoline tax increase by an equal amount in general tax revenues, essentially making the tax revenue neutral while at the same time establishing a dedicated funding source for the transportation of handicapped persons to whom such service is essential.
Morris essentially cut the legs out from under the opposition to the tax held by Carey and VanDerWeide, and it will be interesting to see where things go from here. During his 12 years on the commission, VanDerWeide has developed a reputation as a shrewd and ruthless political manipulator, leaving open the question of whether he has any tricks up his sleeve to counter Morris' offer.
Of course, the question then becomes why VanDerWeide would be opposed to a tax that would be revenue neutral. His initial protest was that the tax would have to be passed before the offset could be enacted, thereby raising fears of the general fund reduction not actually happening despite the promise of the quid-pro-quo.
The lesson there is that when you play the game as VanDerWeide does, you assume everyone else is capable of the same behavior as is one's own self.
The public hearing for the tax increase is this Monday, June 6, starting at 4:00 PM in County Commission chambers.
Commissioners Carlton Henley and Randy Morris are firmly behind the one-cent increase, which is sought to provide a dedicated funding source for handicapped transportation within the county. Commissioners Brenda Carey and Dick VanDerWeide are firmly against the increase.
In the middle is Bob Dallari, who tells us that although he still undecided, "I am leaning toward voting for the gas tax. This additional funding source would be earmarked for the elderly and paratransit, and not for the general LYNX ridership. The information provided to me so far indicates an approximate cost of $19 annually for the average gas consumer. There has also been some discussion of making this a flat tax by addressing the roll-back rate in the General Fund."
Dallari's reference in the last line refers to an offer made by Morris during the Board's last meeting, in an effort to allay the fears held by Carey and VanDerWeide of a tax increase. Morris offered to find a way to offset the gasoline tax increase by an equal amount in general tax revenues, essentially making the tax revenue neutral while at the same time establishing a dedicated funding source for the transportation of handicapped persons to whom such service is essential.
Morris essentially cut the legs out from under the opposition to the tax held by Carey and VanDerWeide, and it will be interesting to see where things go from here. During his 12 years on the commission, VanDerWeide has developed a reputation as a shrewd and ruthless political manipulator, leaving open the question of whether he has any tricks up his sleeve to counter Morris' offer.
Of course, the question then becomes why VanDerWeide would be opposed to a tax that would be revenue neutral. His initial protest was that the tax would have to be passed before the offset could be enacted, thereby raising fears of the general fund reduction not actually happening despite the promise of the quid-pro-quo.
The lesson there is that when you play the game as VanDerWeide does, you assume everyone else is capable of the same behavior as is one's own self.
The public hearing for the tax increase is this Monday, June 6, starting at 4:00 PM in County Commission chambers.
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