Letter: Reflecting on the surtax
Letter to the editor
A short scroll through a local Facebook “Word of Mouth” page hits your brain harder than an Alachua County pothole. Alachua/High Springs Word of Mouth boasts 33,000 members and is a very vocal, active group. Search “pothole” in the group’s search bar, and with only a couple of thumb swipes, one will see countless posts ranging from people stranded on the side of the road with blown tires, bent rims, or perhaps a lower engine cowling ripped off. A mother waited for help as her three kids sat in the back seat. Maybe you see a well-meaning citizen taking up the County’s torch by purchasing his own load of asphalt millings and filling the craters on his road. That guy should send a bill to the County for his time and materials.
The discourse is palpable. Every time you feel the front end of your car bang asphalt, you curse the County. Don’t worry: the “County is right there with you!” This was posted by the County in response to someone’s comment on its official page. On that post, five out of eight comments simply said, “Fix the roads”; the other three referred to the BOCC as a circus or a waste of time. The public square is very much alive and vocal. Reading so many negative posts relating to County road management and ridiculous spending leads to questions about the “Wild Spaces Public Places, Road Repair, Fire Stations, and Affordable Housing One Percent Sales Tax.”
On November 8, 2022, voters approved a one-cent surtax, replacing the old half-cent surtax and increasing Alachua County’s total sales-tax rate from 7% to 7.5%.
“Wild Spaces Public Places, Road Repair, Fire Stations, and Affordable Housing One Percent Sales Tax.”
That election had an abysmal 53.18% turnout among eligible voters. There were 96,195 ballots cast; of those, only 91,472 voters voted on the surtax. A total of 47,747 voters, or 52.20%, voted for the one-cent sales tax, while 43,725 voters, or 47.80%, voted against it. The measure passed by only 4,022 votes. Shame on the voters who decided to sit out the election altogether—and especially the 4,723 of you who showed up to vote but did not vote on the surtax question.
Two words, “road repair,” may have influenced you. Did you know that, over the surtax’s 10-year lifespan, 50% of surtax revenue is dedicated to Wild Spaces Public Places projects? The other 50% is dedicated to roads, fire stations and other public facilities, and affordable housing. A County surtax report lists 70% of the County’s infrastructure portion for roads and 30% for housing. That means, under that County allocation, roads receive 35% of the total surtax revenue. If roads were your driving factor for voting yes, did you know that, under the County’s allocation, 35% goes to roads?
You have spent 50 cents more on every $100 spent on taxable purchases since the surtax took effect in 2023.
All types of taxation are a non-voluntary transaction between you, the citizen, and the state. Taxes are collected with threats of fines, property seizure, or imprisonment if one refuses to pay. On November 8, 2022, the tyranny of the majority overrode the autonomy of individuals. The County persuaded the majority to approve a tax. The Commissioners’ priorities were not as obvious as the ballot title made them sound — or how you may have hoped them to be.
“The County is right there with you.” A hollow statement. They are above you, citizens of Alachua County. Pay your taxes, OR ELSE, so they can boast and brag about the 10-year road plan that is in place. Is your road on the list?
You can complain about the County’s roads and high taxes on Facebook. There is a good chance that the road you just blew a tire on is not in the Alachua County Transportation Capital Improvement Program. The pothole you reported may or may not get haphazardly filled. I hope you are blessed with a neighbor with the means to take it on himself. Until December 31, 2032, you will continue to pay an additional 50 cents on every $100 spent on taxable purchases compared with the old surtax. But don’t worry: the “County is right there with you!”
Cody Thompson, Alachua County
The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Assertions of facts in letters are similarly the responsibility of the author. Letters are limited to 1,000 words; they may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.
They designed the wording so that only the gullible, ignorant, and naive wouldn’t see their true intent. Based on the results of that vote—and several others—it’s easy to conclude that a majority of Alachua County voters fall into that camp.
Surtax $$…the rough public framing was: ~70% from residents, ~30% from visitors/out-of-county shoppers.
estimated $57/year added cost per household.
I like that visitors to the county contribute to our roadway maintenance and amenities like parks.
The surtax was paired with wild spaces because as a stand alone dedicated road tax it failed twice? Possibly take some time to chastise those voters for our roadway maintenance and conditions. Votes matter. Complaint and pout about it knowing if you voted no you’re the problem as much as any government entity.
Affordable housing was not on the original and subsequent Wild Spaces ballots. It was slipped in, and the measure didn’t pass by much last go-around, which suggests more voters did read and vote against.
So, other than submitting a Letter to the Editor of The Alachua Chronicle, what’s your Plan?
Do you attend and offer public comment at County Commission meetings?
Do you communicate with the County Commission and/or the department(s) responsible for road maintenance?
When will you be running for a seat on the County Commission?
Yes, yes, and are you nuts?
Thank you so much for publishing these numbers, I have been screaming from the rooftops for ages regarding the underhanded tactics of the BOCC and voting language regarding the “Wild spaces public places” 1/2 cent tax.
It was apparent to many that read the ballot language at the time, that the county was going to take MOST of the money for pet projects. Remember when it was voted on our roads were in need of repair back then and now 4 years later everyone is upset. This is why being involved and voting matters. Many didn’t bother to show up, other didn’t even vote on it while holding the ballot. It’s a shame to me that this measure could pass in the county with only 52.20% of the vote (47,747 voters, or 52.20%, voted for the one-cent sales tax, while 43,725 voters, or 47.80%), the state was all to willing to circumvent the voters that approved a vote and reverse the decision based so called “deceptive language” regarding a marijuana legalization bill, but they’ll continue to allow Alachua county to deceave voters at every turn.
ALACHUA COUNTY CANNOT BE TRUSTED READ EVERY BALLOT MEASURE CAREFULLY!
The asphalt workers should refuse to fill potholes anymore, it’s too dangerous working with all the bad drivers mostly dodging other potholes. If I were an asphalt worker I’d form a union.
Anytime our liberal leaders talk about any ballot referendums for additional taxes (even if they say its for road repairs) vote NO as they have already deceived us with intentions. It’s nice to have natural spaces too but I’m sure the majority of the electorate were duped into believing they would be serious about road repair. Don’t fall for it again!
Surtax $$…the rough public framing was: ~70% from residents, ~30% from visitors/out-of-county shoppers.
estimated $57/year added cost per household.
I like that visitors to the county contribute to our roadway maintenance and amenities like parks.
The surtax was paired with wild spaces because as a stand alone dedicated road tax it failed twice? Possibly take some time to chastise those voters for our roadway maintenance and conditions. Votes matter. Complaint and pout about it knowing if you voted no you’re the problem as much as any government entity.