Menu

Call or Text 407-500-7427 | Serving Orlando & Tampa
Lake voters could decide on 5-cents-a-gallon gas-tax hike for road improvements

Lake voters could decide on 5-cents-a-gallon gas-tax hike for road improvements

by DeVore Design, February 20, 2018
Lake County residents likely will vote this fall on whether to increase the gas tax by a nickel to fund road improvements, possibly joining Osceola in Central Florida in opting for the maximum 11 cents per gallon in local-option taxes allowed by state law.

“I’ve noticed over the past year that one of the primary topics for complaints has been the state of our county roads,” said County Commissioner Wendy Breeden, who suggested at a meeting last week that Lake voters, rather than commissioners, make the call on the higher tax in a referendum.

Commissioners agreed to let voters decide in the Nov. 6 election and directed staff to draft ballot language along with a list of road projects the extra cash could be used to fund.

“What are our greatest needs? We need to take a look at that,” Commissioner Leslie Campione said. “I’d like to see what we’re going to put forth to the residents.”

A 5-cents-per-gallon increase would cost Lake drivers an estimated $50 in extra gas taxes per year and generate roughly $6 million annually to go toward road upgrades. If residents approve it, Lake would also join Polk and Volusia counties in having all available local-option gas taxes for local transportation needs.

Though Lake commissioners back a referendum, Osceola commissioners opted to impose the higher gas tax themselves. They voted 4-1 — meeting the state requirement of support by a supermajority — to levy the tax in 2015 after saying the county was woefully behind in maintenance. The tax took effect Jan. 1, 2016.

The higher gas tax in Lake tax would take effect in 2020 if approved.

“This is absolutely something we need to do,” commission Chairman Tim Sullivan said, referring to a referendum. “The one thing you even hear at the federal level is we continue to fall behind on infrastructure.”

The prospect of imposing the other nickel of possible local-option gas taxes has been kicked around by Lake commissioners on and off for years, but the idea never went anywhere. This time, the idea of putting the decision in voters’ hands appealed to commissioners.

Sullivan noted that people who drive through the county but live elsewhere would pay the tax along with residents.

Lake has responsibility for 1,389 miles of road way — roughly the distance between Tavares and Boston.

About a quarter of those roads were rated poorly in 2015, according to Lake’s Public Works Department.

The idea of shelling extra pennies to fix roads doesn’t bother Tavares resident Barry Porter, who uses more than 100 gallons a month driving to gigs to impersonate Elvis Presley.

“Well, if it improves the infrastructure, sure,” he said.

Counties are allowed by state law to impose two separate local-option gas taxes totaling 11 cents.The first optional tax, up to 6 cents per gallon, is applied to all motor fuel including diesel, while the second option, up to 5 cents a gallon, doesn’t apply to diesel fuel.

About $2 million of the tax revenue would be distributed to Lake’s 14 cities based on population.

The local taxes are in addition to the 17.4 cent state gas tax.

jruiter@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5927; Follow him on Twitter at @JasonRuiter1.