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Price at the pump might go up -- from taxes
(Florida Keys Keynoter (Marathon) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 24--Be prepared to pay more at the pump if the Monroe County Commission adopts a pair of fuel taxes when it meets Wednesday.
One is a 5-cent local option motor fuel tax, while the other is a ninth-cent local option motor and special fuel tax. That former tax is currently 6 cents.
The first is a constitutional gas tax collected by the county and divvied up among itself, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Colony Beach and Layton according to an interlocal agreement. The county keeps all of the second tax.
Each penny generates about a quarter million dollars a year, county officials say.
At the December commission meeting, County Attorney Suzanne Hutton said the gas tax contracts with the cities expire in July and that the county should consider renegotiating the amount of money each municipality receives. The county was never obligated to share any gas tax money and many feel the cities receive too much.
A presentation at that same December meeting by County Engineer Dave Koppel outlined the county's shortfall in funding to repair its 28 bridges, many of which are approaching 50 years of age. Koppel said the county will likely face a $100 million total bill over a period of years to repair all its bridges.
"We were misinformed by [former County Administrator] Tom Willi when he told us we had plenty in reserves and we could share it with the municipalities," Mayor George Neugent said.
He said a tax increase is the only way to make up the county's deficit. "I don't mind sharing it but we need to take care of our needs and that's the only way we can do that."
County Commissioner Kim Wigington said the county has an obligation to maintain roads and bridges.
"We're going to have to do something and I know people aren't happy about it, but this is for a particular fund," she said.
Islamorada has budgeted to receive $160,000 in constitutional gas tax money in 2009, while Marathon has budgeted to receive $290,000.
Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro said he is adamant about not raising taxes and that constitutional gas tax disbursements are "lopsided" toward the municipalities.
"They say tourists are going to pay 50 percent, but we have to pay the other and there's a small percentage that will pay the majority" of that half, he said, referring to those who use the roads frequently for work.
Wednesday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Harvey Government Center in Key West.
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Copyright (c) 2009, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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