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Gas Tax Hike Deal Sealed; Century Can’t Opt Out
April 3, 2013
The Escambia County Commission voted Tuesday night to approve a gas tax increase interlocal agreement with the City of Pensacola, sealing the deal on a four-cent countywide tax hike for mass transit set to begin next year. And, despite the Town of Century’s refusal to along with the increase, the higher gas tax will be collected in the town for ECAT.
Century refused sign off on an interlocal agreement with Escambia County that would allocate additional gas taxes collected in Century to the county for mass transit. Town officials contended the new tax is unfair to North Escambia residents and may force the three gas stations in Century to close as drivers purchase lower priced gasoline across the state line in Flomaton.
But regardless of Century’s refusal to support the tax, they simply can’t opt-out of the tax altogether, County Attorney Alison Rogers said.
“The local option fuel tax statute provides that the most populous municipality within the county speaks for all the municipalities in the county on this issue,” Rogers said. “Century will not be receiving any of the fuel tax proceeds of the additional 4 cents. That will go to the county for mass transit purposes.”
The Century Town Council wanted the Florida Legislature to consider exempting the town from the tax, but the proposal never made it to a meeting of the Escambia County State Legislative Delegation. That’s because, according to Rep. Clay Ingram, Florida law won’t allow the Legislature to consider such an exemption.
“The Century mayor’s office concluded that, under Florida’s constitution, a local bill is not the appropriate procedure by which to achieve an exemption, but they are currently looking at other options,” Ingram said in February.
Pictured: Two of Century’s three gas stations at the intersection of East Highway 4 and Highway 29. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
32 Responses to “Gas Tax Hike Deal Sealed; Century Can’t Opt Out”
it’s all about union raises or go on strike again. and look at what the city of pensacola is planning to do with the extra tax money coming in, and it’s not for transit!
I think across the state line, you will see gas prices go up. They may stay a penny or two below stations back in Florida and the majority of folks are going to buy gas when they decide they need it and where they want to stop.
Big rigs use diesel and I don’t think diesel is included with this tax, but I’m sure if I’m wrong, someone will speak up.
Money is needed for transit to keep the public transportation running and with that much money, it should include help for Public Transportation with North Escambia.
I can’t remember if buses still sell advertising space, but if they do, advertising on a bus going back and forth from Century, Walnut Hill etc would make for smart advertising dollars for any business that does mobile service. i.e. autoglass, plumbing, A/C & Heating and of course Lawyers (gag) etc,,.
>>>Did they ever mention the expected revenue from the tax and how much they really needed?
The increased gas tax is expected to net the county about $4 million when it takes effect no earlier than January 2014. It currently costs the county about $3.2 million to fund the Escambia County Area Transit System, plus about $3.7 million from grants from the state and federal governments.
Did they ever mention the expected revenue from the tax and how much they really needed?
REGARDING:
“it’s called taxation without representation .”
Actually, it is NOT taxation without representation.
Our elected county commissioners voted on the taxation.
Since they represent those who elect them and we all have the chance to vote (unless we have committed a felony), we have representative government.
It may be a good idea or a bad idea, but it is NOT taxation without representation.
David for truth
>>>The writer of this article seems to have left out an important piece of information. How did the Disrict 5 Commissioner vote on this issue?
Vote on which part of the issue? We have, by the way, covered this gas tax for months in numerous articles, including how commissioners voted.
As for approving the interlocal with Pcola, the subject of this article, it was a 5-0 vote on the legal formality. This vote did not impose the gas tax, only approve a document.
As for the vote to impose the gas tax, then District 5 Commissioner Kevin White voted against it on his last day in office. Mr. Barry, the current District commissioner, has never had the opportunity to vote on the actual tax.
The writer of this article seems to have left out an important piece of information. How did the Disrict 5 Commissioner vote on this issue?
We are really paying for that base ball stadium. Ever since the stadium was erected they have been scrambling to pay for it. Suddenly they want to cut the police pensions and tax citizens hundreds of dollars a month “to pay for ecat”.
Santa Rosa is closer for me
Do not use it, do not wish to pay for it. the C.C.’s just made a bad mistake, and it will cost the county some what.But hey , Alabama has plenty of gas, and they do not mind selling it.
vote against commsion fire ecat
I wonder why they never said how much money was needed and how much would be generated by the tax? I’ll bet they’re raising it more than needed.. a lot more..
Looks like I’ll be buying my gas in Alabama. Escambia County, Florida wants to be stupid! There are ways around their little game. New set of rules, Checkmate!!!!
This is what happens when we voted blindly to a political party.
…and it doesnt matter to me anyway, thats why I drive an EV.
Gas prices can now go as high as they want and it doesnt matter, but I am concerned for my neighbors on the north end.
@Bob
I think the main issue is that no one ASKED for this. The commission decided it was the way to go about it.
No one asked anyone on the north end or the town of Century if this was a good idea.
its called taxation without representation . its the law of the land some folks will never learn vote out in next election if the news ones go against the majority vote them out keep that cycle going and maybe in 20 yrs or so the ones voted in will learn to work for all the people like they are supposed to do . not just for the lower class. every person is supposed to be represented not pick and choose. course in time all will learn that the funds will be misapproated anyway.
Don’t buy gas in Escambia County. E- mail your commissioners.
DO NOT EVER GIVE UP OR GIVE IN.
Make them Hurt like they make you hurt. That is the ONLY way to get their attention.
Then vote them all out,including district 5. They are all in it together. There are no unknowing innocent ones.
Public transit doesn’t make money anywhere in the world, it’s paid for by taxes. If you complain that the system doesn’t serve your area, run frequently enough, late enough or hasn’t enough express routes, then your only option is to provide the funding for it to do so. But expecting better service/coverage/frequency without additional funding is absurd.
yellahammer. I would LOVE to use the bus service. Unfortunately, it doesnt provide service where I live. Im 40 miles from Century. I would gladly drive the 15 miles to the nearest main road to get the bus. Its not available to me, but that doesnt stop me from being forced to pay for others to use it. You better believe my commisioner will be getting an email. And I will not be re-electing any of the current officers. This tax is beyond unfair and needs to be repealed.
Been sayin it on here for a while. The north end gets shafted regularly. Shut down or schools, close our county offices, now this tax on gas for nothing. Taxes are collected for the public good. When does the good start?
If we don’t demand a recall election on these, our elected “REPRESENTATIVES” then we deserve this kind of abuse.
And we will surely get it.
Time for talk is past, they did not listen to us.
Throw the bums out.
.
Groceries in FL, gas in AL.
But I do agree with previous comments.
I do not feel responsible for paying a tax on gas for a public transportation system I don’t use, and we have very limited access to on the north end.
@No surprize
I believe the commission voted to implement this BEFORE our new Dist 5 commissioner was elected.
Time for a change! VOTE them all out next election. I will buy my gas in Santa Rosa County or Alabama. Raise the fare on the ones that use the service. Maybe we should all bill the county for the gas we put in our vehicles less the cost of the current fare each time we drive somewhere.
What we need to do is cut the tax and just give the salary of our district 5 commissioner , because we have no say on what the good old boys do in the inner city click. Just throw our commissioner and district 5 a bone from time to time.
There are a lot of people who are angry about this gas tax hike, not just the ones in Century. Start sending emails to your county commissioners, folks. Don’t just sit there and complain…complain in a way that makes things change! And don’t forget to vote!
I don’t now why Century is complaining this is a way that there citizens can come and play in Pensacola at our expence.
So when does the every 30 min bus route between Century/Bratt/Walnut Hill via Molino and Pensacola going to start? Just like most things, no one from Pensacola wants anything from the people above Nine Mile Road, except for the money and taxes.
Well thanks again for not listening to the people, you have put the final death blow to another small town. You idiots.
You are going to put the town of Century out of business to help a dead/dying bus service that no one uses. One bus that runs once a day? 6 in the morning for pick up. 6 at night for drop off. Yeah, so worth the risk.
That is so wrong. I don’t feel anyone of us ought to pay for mass transist, specially through a gas hike . NOBODY helps me maintain my vehicle, NOBODY pays my insurance for me , so why should I have to help pay mass transist?