Okaloosa County BOCC — May 17, 2013 — Gas Tax Discussion - Ltr to Chairman — reading text

Board of County Commissioners State of Florida May 1, 2013 Honorable Don Amunds, Chairman, Okaloosa County Commission Re: Gas Tax Discussion Mr. Chairman, During my campaign for election the condition of our transportation infrastructure was an issue that I received much feedback on. Since being elected, a majority of the inquiries and comments that I receive from the public relate to transportation infrastructure indicating that the public continues to consider safe and adequate transportation infrastructure to be an important public asset. While there are no doubt areas within our County government which could benefit from substantial improvement, as highlighted by the TDC debacle, I nevertheless remain convinced that our Public Works Department has worked diligently to do more with less in a period of declining budgets. By way of example, our pavement preservation budget has been tweaked and stretched with the use of new and creative techniques to squeeze all available utility out of every dollar. Unfortunately, the available dollars seem to be insufficient to adequately maintain our current infrastructure. In recent weeks I have engaged our constituents in a conversation about levying a portion of the additional available local option gas tax for transportation infrastructure improvements. Our constituents are wary of giving the County any more of their hard earned money, and understandably so. However, 1 was somewhat surprised to see a consensus developing that many citizens recognize the need for additional investment in transportation infrastructure and are willing to pay their fair share, IF implemented the right way. Based on the comments I have received, I believe that the following would be necessary to build citizen consensus on additional transportation infrastructure investment: 1. The citizens believe the cost of infrastructure should be shared by locals and visitors alike as both use the roads. I believe a gas tax- as opposed to additional ad-valorem assessments- meets this requirement. 2. The citizens want a defined plan for the expenditure of any anticipated revenue before the tax is levied. I have enclosed with this letter one option for ways in which the revenue could be spent, though there are certainly other worthwhile projects throughout the County which could be considered. ™ ~=©BCC-North 302 N. Wilson St. Suite 302, Crestview, FL 32536 (850) 689-5030 Fax (850) 689-5025 ™ BCC-South 1804 Lewis Tumer Bivd. Suite 100, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 651-7105 Fax (850) 651-7142 3. The citizens do not want the full revenue available to be levied. Just because we can levy an additional five cents does not mean we should. The citizens demand that revenue sources be used judiciously. The attached option anticipates the use of three cents of additional gas tax which would generate about $8 million dollars over five years at a cost to consumers of just under 1% per dollar spent at the pump given current gas prices. 4. The citizens do not want general revenue shuffled away from transportation to be replaced by additional gas tax revenues with no additional benefit to our infrastructure. Based on these concerms J believe that the Commission should pledge not to reduce the current funding for transportation infrastructure and commit that any additional gas tax revenue would be in addition to current funding levels. 5. The citizens want to ensure that the tax will not exist forever once created. Based on these concerns, I believe that the Commission should consider sunsetting any additional gas tax after five years. In five years it would then be the responsibility of the Commission in place at the time to justify the continuation of the tax to the citizens. If we fail to fulfill our obligation to improve transportation infrastructure readopting any tax will be a political failure. I respectfully request that we discuss thése issues and that each Commissioner be given the opportunity to meet with Public Works staff and our constituents between now and our next meeting to fully consider whether or not levying an additional gas tax is appropriate to help maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure. Sincere! Nathan D. Boyles Commissioner, District 3