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Staff Presentation Prepared for January 24, 2012 Regular County Commission Meeting Potential Tax Distribution Techniques (edited to include County Distribution) County Emphasis on Fixing RoadsThe County currently has approximately a $380M backlog in roadway maintenance (repaving).
Funds available for maintenance account for about $9.5M per year
1.
A local option Transportation Surtax (sales tax) could provide another $15M
2 for Pavement Management.
County staff are proceeding with the development of a 2012 ballot initiative for a 1-cent Charter County Transportation System Surtax.
This Surtax is currently proposed for a period of at least ten years, with half of the revenues going to the County for the Pavement Management Program, and the other half distributed to the Cities based on a formula of road miles and population.
For information on where Country Transportation dollars are spent, please review the Commission Special Budget Meeting presentation,
Where does the money go - BOCC Special 2011 04 05.
Direction from the Board:
On September 20, 2011, The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners moved to direct staff to proceed with the development of a 2012 ballot initiative for a 1-cent Charter County Transportation System Surtax for a period of at least ten years, to begin discussions with City of Gainesville, small municipalities, and staff and to begin the community involvement process
...(Item IV. Sales Tax: Pavement Management Program from the meeting minutes)...Click to watch the
September 20, 2011 BoCC Special Meeting, go to Item 6. Sales Tax: Pavement Management Program
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At present, County staff are in discussions with City staff and commissions to discuss the initiative, proposed splits, draft project lists, and inter-local agreement language. Here are some draft material from the discussions:
- Pavement Management Project Ranking Methodology
- Prioritized Pavement Management List
As project lists become available from the Cities they will be posted here for your information.
In the interim, please contact the appropriate City Commission for more information.
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What the Statute says:
The §212.055(1)Charter County and Regional Transportation System Surtax allows Counties to levy by referendum or charter amendment a surtax up to 1%. The funds are deposited into a trust fund and distributed by the County, including to Cities if interlocal agreements are established. The monies can be used for a wide range of transportation projects including things like maintenance, operations, new roads, bus systems, rapid transit systems, capital projects and transportation related debt service.
You can read the whole State of Florida Statute on the
Florida Legislature's website.
- Select Title XIV: Taxation and Finance,
- then Chapter 212: Tax on Sales, Use, and Other Transactions,
- then 212.055: Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent; authorization and use of proceeds.
Other Information From:
State of Florida,
Department of Revenue
Discretionary Sales Surtax Information 2010 2011 2012
Florida Tax Watch
How Florida Counties Compare, October 2011
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click here to see the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
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Current Staff Activities
At present, County staff have met with staff from each City to gather and exchange information and is now presenting at City Commission meetings, when requested, to answer questions.
The County will also be meeting with community groups upon request to provide information on this initiative. To schedule a meeting with County staff, please email us at
dmarchman@alachuacounty.us.
Footnotes:
- Approximately $1M from the General Fund (less than 1-cent of every dollar of property taxes) and $8.5M from Gas Tax revenues
- Based on revenue estimates of $30M and a 50% distribution to the County.