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Missed The Bus: Century Votes Against 3-Cent ECAT Gas Tax
June 16, 2009
The Town of Century wants the Escambia County Commission to know that it does not support a 3-cent gas tax increase to fund mass transit.
The town council voted 3-2 Monday night against supporting the tax for Escambia County Area Transit, even if the county commission rolls back property taxes by an amount equal to the gas tax increase. Council members Gary Riley and Sharon Scott cast the no votes — essentially voting to support the tax.
Council member Nadine McCaw, who voted against the tax increase, said she was tired of agencies promising great benefits for Century and then pulling their services out of town. Citing the loss of courthouse services, the hospital, the health department and the town’s last school, McCaw said she would not support the town supporting ECAT funding without concrete service guarantees.
“Can you guarantee that you won’t touch the route here?” McCaw asked Marilyn Wesley, director of Neighborhoods and Community Services for the county, about Century’s only ECAT route. “We are always the first ones to go.”
Wesley said ECAT was committed to the Century route, having purchased two smaller buses to use on the route beginning in the fall.
“We are hurting our businesses if we adopt your 3-cent gas tax,” Council President Ann Brooks said. She said gas was already about a dime cheaper across the state line in Alabama.
“We need that bus,” Brenda Spencer told the council. Spencer rides the bus most days from Century to her job in downtown Pensacola. “This is something where we will benefit.”
Wesley said the tax would generate an estimated $4.1 million in funding per year for ECAT, with property taxes being rolled back by $3.2 million. The extra $600,000 per year, she said, would be put into a reserve fund for future growth.
Monday night was the second time Wesley has spoke to the council about supporting the tax; she first asked for the council’s support on June 1.
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