Mayor wants local gas tax to end, some Council members don't agree

[Dog Walker]

It is just such a bad idea. If he needs something to the extend to anti-tax crowd just renew it with a half a cent decrease. While that is a bad idea as well in these budget strapped time it is not as brain dead as scrapping the whole thing.

In general, politicians do not like dedicated funding sources.  They can't play with them as much as they can general revenue.  Aren't you glad that the school system has its own dedicated funding source?

[urbaknight]

Keep the gas tax and/or reinstate the mobility fee.

[thelakelander]

We need both and more.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is what caught my eye in the statement from the mayor.

"Now, we can provide the best return on investment by exploring innovative ways to support our transportation networks," the statement said.

But Brown has not proposed any specific alternatives

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-08-03/story/mayor-wants-end-local-gas-tax-city-council-members-say-they-want#ixzz2b7sBe3Ap


It is difficult to see this idea to cut the gas tax as anything but a political move geared toward re-election.  It is my understanding that the mayor's office claims they get many, many emails asking them not to raise taxes.  That being the case it would follow that the mayor would look to gain political traction by moving to end a tax but he has no plan or specifics regarding how to do so and how to shore up lost revenue.  No plan, no specifics.  Again, great declarations of action from the mayor without a plan, this should worry everyone in Jacksonville.   Maybe someone needs to remind Mayor Brown that there are only 20 registered Tea Party voters in Duval. 

[Dog Walker]

We need both and more.

True words!

[HisBuffPVB]

Extjend the gas tax, revenue is needed, No infrasturce repairs or replacement without the gas tax.

[spuwho]

I want to see a regional transportation plan that doesn't involve one getting/trying for re-election.

Once they have a plan and its not breakable by re-election promises, then I will commit to any tax they like.

I agree with the previous post. Politicians hate protected, dedicated revenue sources. They want to play with the piggy bank themselves.

[tufsu1]

I want to see a regional transportation plan that doesn't involve one getting/trying for re-election.

The TPO updates their regional plan every 5 years....the question for the 2040 update now underway ios whether they should assume that local gas tax revenues exist beyond 2016.