In November 2018, more than 57 percent of Hillsborough County voters approved the imposition of a 1 percent sales tax designed to improve the county’s transportation infrastructure and transit service. The tax, enacted through the gathering of signatures to propose an amendment to the county’s governing document, the Hillsborough County Charter, went into effect on January 1, 2019, and is effective for 30 years. While the tax went into effect, litigation challenging the tax was filed and the local governments in Hillsborough County have had to spend time and money on a legal defense, as opposed to making transportation improvements. More than $62 million dollars has reportedly already been collected. 

So what happened?

On June 17, 2019, a circuit court judge upheld the overall constitutionality of the transportation tax adopted by the voters, but ordered an amendment of the county’s charter to remove several provisions as the court found them to be inconsistent with general law and therefore unconstitutional. The court “severed” the language that it found problematic and kept the rest. In Florida, counties can pass laws and adopt county charter changes, but not in a manner that is inconsistent with the laws adopted by the state legislature.

What stays?

The court order allows the 1 percent sales tax to continue to be collected and used for transportation projects. The Independent Oversight Committee remains in place to review annual audits of the use of the tax, prepare annual reports, and review citizen proposals.

What goes?

The charter amendment as approved included a very specific allocation of how the sales tax collected could be spent, such as how much was to be spent by the local transit agency, how much for congestion reduction, and a series of other specific transportation uses. This allocation of funds was stricken by the court, and therefore the allocation of funds would now be done at the discretion of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. The Independent Oversight Committee’s power to approve project plans was also removed by the court, along with all of the specified prohibited uses that were in the charter amendment proposal, such as the limitation on using funds for highway lanes.

What’s next?

There is a possibility of appeals of the court’s decision by either side. If this court decision is the final word on the validity of the tax, then the debate shifts to the County Commission to see how the transportation tax funds will be allocated, with calls already being made to follow the formula approved by the voters.