The Marion County government is making a final push to encourage residents to vote to renew the one percent sales tax that will sunset at the end of this year.
The ordinance, which was originally approved by voters in 2016, has been referred to by the county as the “Penny Sales Tax” and provides for the “Four-year extension of the One Percent (%) Public Safety and Transportation Infrastructure Sales Tax.”
It is referred to as a “Penny Sales Tax” because it is technically a surtax, or an additional tax on something that is already taxed (i.e., retail sales). In this case, renewal of the surtax would mean the rate at which each resident is taxed for a sale would remain at 7 cents for every $1.00, instead of reverting back to 6 cents.
The full ordinance reads as follows:
“Should Marion County Ordinance No. 20-07 adopting a four-year extension of the One Percent Sales Tax to be levied for a period of Four (4) Years, commencing on January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2024, to fund Public Safety (Law Enforcement, Fire, Animal Control, and EMS) Capital Facilities and Equipment needs and Road Projects for Marion County and its Municipalities, be approved?”
According to county records, the tax has generated $167 million to fund public safety improvements and road projects throughout Marion county over the past three years. Over $21.5 million was spent on vehicles for the county and the city of Ocala, including 315 replacement vehicles for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and one helicopter that carried a $4.35 million price tag.
The largest expenditures included $26.58 million on a new four-lane roadway from Northwest 44th Avenue to Ocala city limits, and $12.3 million on a multi-phase project for a new four-lane roadway from SW 95th Street to SW 42nd street.
Additional county road projects include a new four-lane roadway that begins a little over a mile south of Highway 484 and runs to the Marion Oaks trail, as well as the addition of two lanes to Highway 484 from Marion Oaks Pass to the Marion Oaks Course. Those projects totaled just under $20 million.
Last November, the tax paid for the complete construction of Rolling Greens Fire Station #28, which cost just under $2.65 million.
For a complete map of the road projects funded in whole or in part by proceeds from the surtax, visit the Marion County Sales Tax Road Projects Map webpage.
In addition to road projects, the county spent $6 million on the construction of a new, hardened evidence building for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, as well as $4.29 million to upgrade fiber optics and network infrastructure, servers, switches, and a new phone system for for the main operations center, district offices, and county jail.
The city of Ocala spent just under $5.2 million on the construction of Fire Station #7, located at 885 SE 31st Street, and the First Responders Campus in East Ocala (340 NE Eighth Avenue).
Around $8.2 million was spent to equip public safety personnel with more than 2,000 new radios for emergency communication, including a little over $2 million for Motorola encrypted portable radios for city of Ocala personnel.
The county has taken to the web with a series of social campaigns and announcements in recent weeks to encourage residents to vote to renew during this year’s general election. Early voting began in Marion County on Monday.
Most of the comments across social media were not in favor of renewal.
“All of the projects the County wants to spend this 1% sales tax should be requested in a comprehensive department budget. But instead the County sells this extended tax to the residents in a form of Safety and Infrastructure. Get your spending under control. With an estimated 8% in County Property Value there will be an increase in County Revenue. Vote ‘NO’ to this Tax. If you vote ‘Yes’ after four years you will set a precedent of a 7% sales tax in Marion County. We are not Orlando or Tampa,” said Facebook user Stephen Nadeau.
“I can tell you this, NW 193rd St never saw a penny’s worth of this tax. All I see are the new government buildings and vehicles,” said Facebook user Kurt Fleiner.
Last week, the county provided a video update to explain the changes to those residents in the county whose first language is Spanish.
During a separate video published earlier this month, the county indicated that the Penny Sales Tax has “generated $66 Million for Public Safety,” paying for 30 ambulances, 22 fire trucks, 300 self contained breathing systems, and 12 additional vehicles for Marion County Fire Rescue.
“The mission of MCFR is protect life and property, with honor, compassion and respect. Updated equipment, reliable vehicles and additional fire stations mean our crews can protect life and property more quickly and efficiently. We are proud to serve this community and its great citizens each and every day. Thank you for investing in the resources we needed to be successful to protect the great people of this great county,” said Marion County Fire Rescue Chief James Banta in a video posted on the county’s Facebook page.
“I propose we take it off the ballot during this pandemic, where people have been out of work, businesses closed, and the economy has not been doing well. I say let it sunset until the mid terms in 2022 and then put it back on the ballot. Either way if it’s on there now and it’s defeated, it’ll be back on in 2022 anyway” said Facebook user Luis Serret.
According to the county, renewing the sales tax should generate an estimated $196 million in additional county revenue.
For a comprehensive breakdown of the items purchased with the surtax, visit the Marion County Sales Tax website.
What are your thoughts? Do you support the extension of the one percent sales tax? Share your thoughts in a comment below, a letter to the editor, an email, or through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.