The Board of County Commissioners is expected to discuss in early 2016 whether to add an additional one cent “penny” sales tax to fund mass transit and transportation improvements. Broward County currently collects a sales tax of 6 percent, and this proposal would increase that tax to 7 percent. The last effort to increase the sales tax occurred in 2008, but the referendum proposal failed badly when it only received 38 percent support at the polls. That measure only received endorsement from two of the Broward cities, and several of the county commissioners opposed it.
Sales taxes are among the most difficult measures for the electorate to approve. These type of taxes have only passed if they were balanced between roadway and traffic congestion improvements and mass transit. Pinellas County recently tried to pass a one cent tax for only mass transit improvements, and the proposal was soundly defeated. Private polling in Broward County of likely voters shows that that greatest support for a one-cent tax occurs if it is part of balanced plan including traffic signal synchronization, traffic congestion improvements, and local circulator transportation, in addition to mass transit like buses and light rail.
The main hurdle for the Board will be determining the exact improvement plan to be executed. The issue lies in creating a reasonable balance between mass transit, roadway improvements, and funds allocated to cities for their municipal transportation projects. Although the County Commission puts this measure on the ballot, without support from the cities and the business community – which will be responsible to fund public outreach – this measure will have little chance of passing. An old expression applies to this negotiation between the County and Cities: a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush!