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Century Refuses To Sign Off On Gas Tax Hike; OK With New Library Tax
December 4, 2012
The Town of Century is refusing to go along with a new four-cent gas tax increase for mass transit approved by the Escambia County Commission, but the town is willing to support a new county property tax dedicated to library funding.
The county has asked Century to sign off on an interlocal agreement that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contend the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as they force drivers choosing to purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
However, the refusal to play along with the county’s new gas tax, to some degree, really does not matter.
Interim Escambia County Administrator Larry Newsom and Amy Lovoy, the county’s budget chief, both told the Century Town Council Monday night that the county will still receive the additional gas tax proceeds collected in Century because Century will automatically be included if the tax is approved by Pensacola, the largest municipality in the county.
“It appears that if Pensacola adopts this (the gas tax), Century is in by default,” Newsom said.
However, Newsom said Escambia County is sympathetic to Century’s gas station situation, and the county is encouraging Century to lobby state lawmakers for legislation that would allow Century, a business Enterprise Zone, to skip collecting the extra tax.
The Century Town Council is, however, willing to support a new property tax as a dedicated funding source for the county’s library system. Countywide, the tax will generate an estimated $3.7 million for library operations.
Lovoy said the average Century residents would see a property tax increase of $1-7 for libraries.
Pictured top: Interim Escambia County Administrator Larry Newsom addresses the Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured below: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
30 Responses to “Century Refuses To Sign Off On Gas Tax Hike; OK With New Library Tax”
I was at the meeting in Pensacola. This meeting was just a show. Their decision had already been made. I think this meeting may have been a legal thing they had to do. From what I heard at the meeting the city does not contribute one dime to the buses. If we could see an honest count of of who rides the buses we would see that 75+% of the riders are city folks. Guess where 4 of the commissioners live. Once again the county is bowing their knee to the city folks and the powers that be. We (district 5) are the red head step children of the city. Things will not change! Look at history! I thank Kevin for his NO vote. Stand your ground Century. Your vote will not change anything but it will show the city folks where you stand. The city always gets the gold mine and #5 gets the shaft. Look at history! As you might guess I do not go inside the city limits unless forced to.
We do need paid fireman. Numbers in this county indicate we do. I would hate to live in Warrington and have my house catch fire. People dont have time to volunteer anymore. And correction north end has fulltime fireman during the day because, guess what, there are no volunteers during the day. Also fact check, Cantonment’s volunteer district chief said they need fulltime firefigthers. Its a new day. Populations in this area keep rising. If this happends, guess what, you are going to need more county services. Our population is over 350,000 people and guess how many gaurenteed fireman are going to show up at your house. Roughly 9-12. In other parts of the country where the the county is like ours they have a fulltime staff with no volunteers and about 450 fulltime firefighters. We have roughly 100.
Well James, I do not believe in this tax and will not support it, By the way gas will be cheaper in Alabama, and Alabama is very close. So it is my money and I will choose how to spend it. now you are more than free to go by gas for any one you wish, to support this cause. In fact just give your local gas station your credit card, I am sure they will use it well.
The bus system should be paid for by the user. But its to expensive so “everyone” has to pay for the few to get ANOTHER break, or more WELFARE. I don,t owe the riders or the bus operators union anything. I go to Miss. at least once a week and will buy gas and more things there.
And, the CC needs another raise. Their part time job is not paying enough!
TO: James Broel … Yes you are correct on this, and My family is as American as you can get, BUT… When the Economy is this bad, My mother cannot afford even the $1.75 a tank increase to fill up her car because she only had $40 left over after bills are paid to buy groceries for the month (Thank God for a freezer full from the garden), a blessing everyone does not have and with cost of living increase on her check next year not covering the Medicare cost increase,. NOTE (Makes just enough that a single elderly lady doesn’t qualify for food stamps) but $10 increase on Electric, $10 increase on Supplemental Insurance, $10 here and there, she has no other option but to park her car.
NOW, how is that fair? Her and her Husband worked hard all their lives to see the load get so heavy …Government is running short SO RAISE TAXES? When is the last time they gave a substantial raise on SS checks?
Politicians think the way to fix a problem is to raise taxes. They have not woke up to the fact is to quit spending and make do with what they receive in taxes now. Working people have to manage their budget and tighten their belt. We don’t need a transit system, people can catch a ride with a friend or call a cab. As far as a library tax, open the library doors less days and less hours. When Washington gets through with its new taxes NO ONE THAT IS THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL NOT SURVIVE. The welfare class will survive for they are protected .
i live on ss and what upsets me is the way this was done in direct opsition to the public voice i would like to see figures on the number of riders they have per year about all we can do is vote them out next time
What most of you in Escambia County, FL do not realize is gas is a lot cheaper in Alabama (even prior to the .04 cent tax increase) than it is in Escambia County, FL. Particularly in Baldwin County, AL. So there is a lot of merit that the Century gas stations would go not be competetive and go out of business.
@Bob Hudson…are you saying you’d rather buy gas in another county or state where it may be more expensive just to make a point you don’t agree with the gas tax increase to fund the ECAT system?
Duke of Wabeek…your quote was “Why should people have to fund something in which they have no stake or interest in?”
And to which I reply the following…
(1) We have roads for people who no longer drive or never drove a car to begin with.
(2) We have emergency programs in place to help people rebuild with monies or low interest loans in times of natural disasters.
(3) We have bridges that cross rivers and streams that make our path if we drive much easier.
(4) We help those less fortunate at times.
It’s called living in a society…sure some abuse the system but those who are less fortunate deserve an opportunity. Next time we have a hurricane hammer our coast of Northwest Florida, see if you can find other people who live in the midwest complain and whine that the money they contribute in society isn’t anything they have a vested interest in.
We as citizens in the U.S. help each other because it’s a good thing to do for our fellow men and women even if you we don’t see the immediate benefit to our own shallow world and spheres of influence.
I support Centurys decision to not support the county gas tax hike….I will not buy my gas in this county and also if my new commissioner votes yes….then I will not support him either…..He needs to listen to the voters….this is not a tax hike that eis fair….if your going to raise a tax…raise the hotel bed tax….
YEAH can beulah stay out of this also we get nothing out here.
Let those who pass thru here and the tourist pay for it.. But a lot of us will be buying gas else where.
Good for them…
The thieves that are “County Commissioners” …
never mind…
Worthless piles of humus….
l have not purchased 1 gallon of gas in ESC county since the meeting to raise the tax was set. I’m not waiting till 2014. I’m starting now. Also have purchased as little as possible of anything else in this county. Had to buy a Frig a week ago.Bought it in Pace. I want to get that sales tax that I pay down to as little as possible. I will NOT forget and will NEVER give in. I hope there are thousand’s of people who will do the same in ESC county. Let’s make them hurt like they are making us hurt.
Crooked and corrupt county. Alway’s has been. Time is NOW to stop it.
What a lot of people do not realize is that the extra $.04 per gallon can only be used for transportation, which means it will be a “dedicated” source of funding for ECAT. But the really big deal here is that the extra tax on gallon of gas will allow $3.2Million that is currently going to ECAT out of the ad valorem (property taxes) to be derived from the gas tax and relieving property owners of the burden of having to continue to pay it. ECAT will not be getting more money; they will be getting the same amount but without it coming from the backs of the property owners. Did you know approximately 45-47% of the residents of Escambia County do NOT pay property taxes? Also, anyone and everyone driving through Escambia County and buying gas in Escambia county will be paying into it. i repeat EVERYONE instead of just a few (property owners). Personally I would like to have it come from everyone instead of just a select few. Just my thoughts
1, The citizens in Century are right in pursuing this issue. Taxation without Representation was the reason we fought the British…..They reap no benefit from this bogus tax, not to mention what it will do to their economy when those living there drive over the bridge to buy there precious petro……
Real simple, want to ride the bus ? Then you pay for it, the rest of us (who can , will buy our gas else where ) I do not support the tax, and will do my best not to pay it.
David I would recommend that you go fix yourself another large serving of reality and have a glass of chocolate milk to go with it. If the bus route does not go to Century then Century has no interest at stake in ECAT. Why should people have to fund something in which they have no stake or interest in? This has nothing to do with politics just funding and allocation thereof. Socialism pure and simple.
REGARDING:
“And people wonder why we cannot achieve cold fusion.”
Politics and physics are two separate matters. You can’t just legislate changes in the nature of the universe.
David for reality
It’s amazing we vote for people’s best to operate the county the county commissioners. Pay them big buck on top of what they already make. They feed us a line of bull to get elected. Then cut funding to some services then add taxes for other services. The streached middle gets stuck again.
Century supports the library because it’s “dedicated funding”…. It can’t go anywhere but to the library! Very smart!!! I totally agree and THEY are paying attention.
What no one else is paying attention to, except for the Century Town Council, is that the new gas tax is NOT a “dedicated funding” to ECAT!!….. It is allocated for how long to ECAT? So within a year it will/can go into the general pension and the same ole song and dance begins; no funding for ECAT available and the “supposed” need to add another gas tax (unneccesary) to fund ECAT.
Hold the County Commissioners responsible! Make something that they voted on without considering the majority of the public view be used year after year for what they “say it will”, NOT just for 1 year!!!
Check out how much over the years has been added to the “gas tax” that is no longer used for what it was originally “appropriated” for because it is not “dedicated”.
If the buses don’t run there they should not have to pay. Still looking for property tax rate decrease for bus operation. A portion of this gas tax was already included in property tax rates. Where’s my cut. Are the cc going to use that tax towards the Library System that 90% of us don’t use. I have my library in my hand.
Discontinue the service route to Century and let them off the hook. And people wonder why we cannot achieve cold fusion.
Is the gas tax going to be like the Fire Tax – started out at $25.00 now on our tax billing it is $97.00! Do we have input into this – NO – raise our taxes some more to keep the south in with full time firemen….not volunteers, like we have in the North-end…..We don’t need full time firemen, but we pay for the South-end full time…….. Think about it! We keep the South-end going…….
just another reason to get our gas in flomaton…better yet brewton where it is alot cheaper than anywhere around.
I have contacted Commissioner Barry to see what needs to be done to bring this to the actual people that have to pay for this. In other words lets vote on it. If it takes a petition then lets do it. I for one think it was very unfair for the Commission to rush this through without any input from the voters. I say lets lower the pay for the ones that voted for it and see what they think about that.
There is an old adage that goes something like this”if you listen to the music you have to pay the fiddler”. Now think back a little while and those of you who voted for the clowns in officeof the county commissioners and the ones who didn’t vote are largely responsible for this. The houligans have no shame and there is more to come.
Think about it: they’re hiking gas tax, not so they can noticeably *increase* the amount spent on the ECAT bus system; but so that the monies currently allocated there can be put elsewhere. Like the commissioners’ pockets.
It’s in the minutes of the meeting where they approved the tax; see for yourself.
Whoa! Not fair to allow one town to “skip” the gas tax and make the rest of the northend pay. What are they thinking? I say let Pensacola raise their own gas tax and leave the northend alone since Pensacola reaps the benfits. How about the rest of you out there?