SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County Commissioners voted 4-1 to increase the tax you pay at the pump.
Beginning Jan. 1, drivers will pay 12 cents on the gallon, a 5-cent increase.
This is expected to cost the average Seminole County driver about $24 extra a year, the county estimates.
Commissioner Bob Dallari was the only commissioner who voted against it. All other commissioners voted to increase the gas tax, saying the county can’t cut any more without taking a hit on public safety.
“Nobody wants to pick up the phone to call 911, and say I have an emergency, and we tell them hold on, you got to wait an hour,” said Chairman Jay Zembower.
Now, Seminole’s gas tax will be in line with that of other counties like Volusia, Osceola, and Marion, which already pay 12 cents a gallon. But it’s higher than that of Orange and Brevard counties, which currently tax 6 cents a gallon.
Commissioners also voted to increase the utility tax rate in unincorporated areas from 4% to 10%. This tax applies to electricity, natural gas, and water services.
The tax increases aren’t popular among Seminole residents as commissioners also discuss increasing property taxes.
Many residents question whether the county has cut enough to reduce its $34 million deficit.
“We have cut and cut and cut, and we can’t cut our way out of this problem,” Zembower told Channel 9.
Zembower says this tax is expected to generate $8.8 million a year. The revenue will be used to fund new roads, resurface paved roads, and help maintain public transportation.
It would also help to cover Seminole County’s roughly $11 million yearly obligation to Sunrail.
Zembower says the county cannot renegotiate how much it contributes to Sunrail because of previous agreements, but says it will be vocal about the county’s future obligations to Sunrail.
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