Whoever first suggested going for a 20-year extension on Charlotte County’s 1%, or penny, sales tax knows a bit about math and economics. It makes sense if you study the numbers.
But the timing is a big problem.
The county is asking people who are already paying sky-high prices for gas, watching their grocery bills go up and dealing with at least two other tax proposals in the county to commit to two decades of a tax.
It’s not an easy sell.
A common refrain from voters that we’ve heard is that “I’ll not be around to see the benefits.”
But, in reality, that concern is a big reason to vote for the tax extension.
The most attractive feature about what the county is asking taxpayers — and snowbirds and tourists — to do is speed up the process to complete projects like the Cultural Center and expanding Edgewater Drive and Harborview Road.
“Instead of waiting six to seven or more years to get projects done, we’ll be able to do them in two to three or four years,” Charlotte County Administrator Hector Flores told The Daily Sun’s editorial board.
That fact is a good selling point.
Since 1994, voters have supported this tax. Its big plus is the cost is shared by anyone who buys anything — except food, medicine or some services — up to $5,000 in the county. There has been a good return on the revenue.
“In 30 years, we have completed every project we promised except one,” Flores said. “We did not do the Cattle Dock boat ramp. We switched the money to the Placida boat ramp, which is a lot busier.”
The idea of committing to 20 years allows the county to bond projects with the future revenue guaranteed.
The means the county can begin work on major projects like roads and the Cultural Center immediately.
One way to look at it is it allows the county to buy a mortgage on big projects.
What if people could not get a mortgage to buy a home? Think of it like you’re living in your home and paying a mortgage rather than having to save up all the money before you can move in.
The county is emphasizing how starting projects sooner will save money since construction costs are going up regularly.
The list of planned projects this extension would pay for is long and varies from roads to public safety to park enhancements.
Some of those projects are:
The long-awaited Cultural Center replacement. The county is yet to agree on a final design but much has been done already.Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center parking garage. This would be a big plus to alleviate the parking problems for weekend events in Punta Gorda.The widening of Harborview Road. Most all the right of way has been purchased.The widening of Edgewater Drive and Flamingo to allow motorists to have four lanes from Charlotte Harbor to State Road 776.Tringali Recreation Center replacement — this would be a boost for West County.Babcock Ranch Community Library and Annex.
There is so much more.
We understand the hesitation to commit to 20 years of a tax.
But it’s not a new tax. We’ve been paying it for decades and so have visitors and snowbirds to Charlotte County who don’t even live here full-time.
This is not like a tax property tax that is paid in a big chunk each year. It is paid in pennies when you buy something.
We recommend voters approve the tax referendum to keep and even improve our quality of life.