Monday, August 15, 2011

E-Mail From Mr. Blair

County Commissioner Kevin Beckner Votes to Increase Property Taxes

With the US economy in shambles, families across the
economic spectrum hurting right here in Hillsborough County, HART
(Hillsborough Area Regional Transit) board members including Kevin Beckner
voted to raise taxes. Notably opposed were John Byczek and County
Commissioner Sandra Murman.

This rate increase (Aprox$2 million annually) represents a 6.4% increase
over the current amount being collected by HART from home and property
owners.

Former County Commissioner Brian Blair says, “The citizens of
Hillsborough County are tired of having their taxes raised every time
another government experiment fails. Raising taxes in this bad economy
makes no sense and will be a further waste of taxpayer dollars.”

On August 2, the St. Petersburg Times reported that despite the recent
$5.3 million dollar expansion of the downtown streetcar, ridership
continues to fall well below HARTLine Projections. While serving on the
HART Board a few years ago, then Commissioner Blair warned that the
streetcar would waste millions of dollars. The Streetcar project has almost
burned through more than $10 million dollars from the endowment fund that
along with passenger fares was supposed to fund the Streetcar forever.

This tax increase will also be used to meet the demands of the transit
union which is demanding salary increases of as much as 4.9% for its
employees.

“The HARTline board has shown through this vote to raise our taxes its
contempt for the hard workingmen and women of Hillsborough County. This is
unacceptable and I won’t stand for it.”

Join me on Monday, September 12 at the HARTline Budget public hearing and
together we will make our voices heard.

HART Administrative Office
1201 E. 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor
Tampa, Fl 33605
Florida Conference Room


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