Taxing decision results in win for transportation

A Hillsborough County judge recently upheld a voter-approved 1-cent sales tax for transportation and transit improvements, where County Commissioner Stacy White had challenged the legality of the money distribution process. 

“It is evident that the voters of Hillsborough County desire to improve transportation needs,” Judge Rex Barbas stated in the ruling, according to a news release.

White’s civil lawsuit against the city of Tampa, Hillsborough County, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and other local government entities alleged that unelected residents shouldn’t have oversight of funds collected from the tax increase. He contended the amendment was worded in a misleading way that essentially cedes veto power to an unelected, unaccountable group of private individuals.