Getting sales tax vote on the road

OK. Let’s try this again.

A vote, commissioners. We need a vote for the 2026 sales tax referendum.

This is the commissioner’s job. Not to attend meetings, answer emails, or make speeches. His or her job is to participate in the policy-making process and that occurs with each vote.

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Commissioners punted on the vote two weeks ago. Despite being handed the 1-cent sales-tax survey info on a silver platter (here's the full report), commissioners couldn’t articulate which direction to take, so they took none.

The collective disappointment across the county, particularly to those who are really into this thing, was clear. I can’t tell you how many people I talked with who were ready to throw in the towel.

The sales tax steering committee, headed by Don Taylor, said from the start it wouldn’t make a recommendation. The idea was to hand the survey’s raw data to commissioners in the hopes it would show a pattern easy enough for them to follow.

After the board discussed the findings on Oct. 7 and did nothing, the steering committee had no choice but to come back with very specific marching orders for commissioners.

They are:

— Place the sales tax referendum on the 2026 ballot. No need to study this any further or hire outside experts to gather more feedback.

— Have the tax sunset in 10 years.

— Create a citizens’ committee to review spending every six months.

— 70% to road resurfacing.

— 25% to road capacity issues.

— 5% for parks.

The committee made no specific mention of Commissioner Holly Davis’ idea of hiring the North Florida Land Trust to create a “Forever Nature Coast” study, sort of Citrus County’s conservation corridor. However, the committee's recommendations leave conservation out in the cold, so read into that what you will.

(Commissioner Davis has an excellent idea about creating conservation areas, however, it doesn’t belong with the sales tax talk. Here’s her Chronicle column. Give it a read.)

I have a few thoughts:

— I haven’t said much about this, but the steering committee is somewhat of a mystery. While the town halls were open to the public, the committee’s deliberations were not. I haven’t a clue how the committee reached its recommendations, particularly in the tax split up.

This isn’t a “sunshine” committee, meaning members are not county appointed. However, its membership includes three selections from each commissioner.

While I admire folks volunteering their time for such an important mission, this lack of transparency in the process is a little concerning. It wasn’t an issue until the committee made a recommendation. Now, it’s fair for the public to ask how the committee reached those conclusions.

— That said, I’m less concerned with the committee’s details than I am that this thing will move along.

We have a bit of a procedural issue. You know me…government geek to the extreme. There is no sales tax discussion on the agenda. No avenue for commissioners to issue a formal vote, other than the item Commissioner Davis has.

This is the problem with commissioners doing nothing two weeks ago. What’s the direction? How do they return referendum discussion to the dais? And, just as importantly, who is leading that discussion? So far, none of the five has stepped up.

Fortunately, a formal vote to move forward isn’t necessary. A tightly-worded consensus will work (says the non-lawyer blogger).

— 5% for parks? Hmmm. Is this a bone to the conservation crowd, or does it have some strategic purpose? The survey showed interest in parks and conservation. Not as much as roads, but far greater than 5%. We could use an explanation from the committee on that one.

— Finally, commissioners, it’s now or never. Seriously. If we can’t get consensus for a referendum, even after the committee’s specific suggested direction, what’s the point? I’m confident commissioners are ready to move this along, albeit a step or two behind everyone else.

The community is eager for this discussion. Join us, commissioners.

Have a great Tuesday, friends.

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