It’s time for PSTA property tax increase

It is time to give all of hard working people out at PSTA not only a little more revenue but a vote of confidence.

St. Petersburg, Fl
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin

The PSTA board is considering raising their Pinellas county millage rate from .7305 to .7500. You can get the details in Janell Irwin’s Tampa Bay Business Journal  article PSTA takes first step in raising property tax rate.

The average home owner would see a tax increase of less than $3.00 on their property ta bill. The tax increase would produce about $1 million in additional revenues for PSTA.

Regular readers of my Posts know that I have been highly critical of PSTA in the past but my more recent posts following the transit agencies approach to their mission have been positive.

Is PSTA closing in on a viable solution to the public transportation last mile problem?

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The PSTA Board’s leadership and Brad Millers execution and innovative thinking have produced some impressive results.

This tax increase will have several positive effects. In addition to producing some much needed revenue it will add a shock absorber to the inevitable drop in property values and it will also take off the table the excuse in the pursuit of new revenues that there is still room in the millage rate since this increase puts PSTA at the max millage rate allowed by state law.

Any further increase in the millage rate will require action by the state legislature.

According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal article there seems to some reluctance among the PSTA Board members regarding a tax increase.

I don’t think this one will be a problem if PSTA tells the story of the last year or so.

You will see the tax increase as it applies to you in your upcoming TRIM notice from the Pinellas County Tax appraiser.

It is time to give all of hard working people out at PSTA not only a little more revenue but a vote of confidence for all they are doing to provide our communities with efficient an effective public transportation.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to Like or share on Facebook.

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Disclosures:
Contributor: Bob Gualtieri for Pinellas County Sheriff, Carlos Beruff for US Senate

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to Like or share on Facebook.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.

Disclosures:
Contributor: Bob Gualtieri for Pinellas County Sheriff, Carlos Beruff for US Senate