New chair, then a sales tax vote

OK, let’s ease into it.

Tuesday is the Citrus County Commission’s organizational meeting. Barring something odd, Commissioner Diana Finegan will be the new chairman.

I never miss the board’s annual meeting. With a new chair usually comes focus on that person’s board priorities and his/her style of leadership.

---

The odd-numbered year organizational meeting doesn’t carry the excitement of an even-numbered year, when newly elected commissioners take the oath of office.

Still, it’s very challenging for a commissioner who assumes the gavel for the first time. Let’s give Chair Finegan (if that’s how the vote goes) grace to figure it all out.

I’ve rearranged vacation schedules in the past so that I don’t miss the annual meeting. Well, I’m missing this one. I’ll have more about this Tuesday, but I’m headed out of town for a few days. A spiritual adventure with my Deb.

Not gonna lie. It took all I had Sunday to open that board agenda. It’s been three weeks since Deb’s passing, and while it’s gotten better each day, some tasks aren’t there yet.

So, please pardon me if today’s blog doesn’t carry the usual JWC flair that we’ve all come to enjoy and heckle.

But I wanted to say something about the sales tax. The proposed ordinance is on Tuesday’s agenda, and a glance suggests it looks fine. Other than one area, which I’ll get to in a minute, the ordinance is the springboard to start the 12-month conversation about taxes and our priorities.
​
I know some people want to steer the sales tax conversation away from roads and into other areas. (This is an example of why I shouldn’t write about politics while my emotions are still out of whack. Because if I really write what’s on my mind, those folks would be offended. And I don’t want to offend anyone today, if I can help it.)

Here’s the proposed ordinance. Take a look while I break it down some:

— It’s a 1% discretionary local option sales tax on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.

— If approved by voters, the tax starts Jan. 1, 2027. There’s no conclusion date on the ordinance (I thought they were talking about 10 years), so that’ll be decided Tuesday.

— Sales tax funds would be deposited into an Infrastructure Sales Surtax Trust Fund. The cities would receive a share based on their population. 

— Funds would be used for a “pavement management program” to bring the county’s 1,844 miles of paved public roads up to standard. Notice it says “paved” roads. Sorry, IV 4. (Not part of the ordinance, but we're going to need an extremely specific spending plan well before this goes before voters.)

— Oversight and accountability: “The County Public Works Director along with the Office of Management and Budget Director will provide to the Board of County Commissioners an annual report on the revenue and expenditures of the sales surtax.”

Yeah, that ain’t gonna cut it.

We can’t have foxes watching the henhouse, and that’s what this is. Forget for a moment that this county is constantly recycling public works and budget directors, there’s no accountability here at all.

The sales tax steering committee had a better idea: Create a citizens’ committee for oversight. The public needs to be involved in this accountability process. We can’t leave that solely to the county.

Other than that, it’s a solid plan. Don’t let naysayers condemn today a referendum that takes place 12 months from now, simply because it doesn’t include their pet projects.

Time’s a wastin', Citrus County. We’re not getting any younger.

Have a wonderful Monday, friends.

Join the discussion on our Facebook page.

Support the blog by subscribing to JWC Inner Circle for 99 cents/month.

Individual donations are appreciated through Venmo, PayPal, or Patreon.