BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County is the latest to consider increasing its gas tax to fund infrastructure improvements.
“I wouldn’t mind paying whatever extra gas tax they’re thinking is going to be a good enough idea, if we make sure that it’s going to the things that they’re saying it’s going to,” Brevard County resident Trevor Tolley said.
“If it’s just getting stuffed into an account somewhere that’s used for whatever they want then no, I disagree with it.”
Currently, Brevard’s gas tax is 6 cents per gallon. The County Commission is considering an increase ranging from 1 to 5 cents, which could generate $6.4 million annually, according to the county. Another option is a “ninth-cent fuel tax” on unleaded gas — a 1-cent increase that would bring in $2.7 million.
Either way, the money would be dedicated to transportation projects.
“I think if they can prove that the funds are going to where they I think they’re saying they need to go, then I agree with it. We have a lot of lackluster DOT and road maintenance around here. Like, there are a lot of roads that are not nearly as nice as our tax dollars are saying that they should be,” Tolley said.
Several other counties have already raised their gas tax. Seminole County’s tax is now 12 cents per gallon, and Lake County is considering a similar increase.
“Well, you have to pay for stuff. So, they have to get the money from somewhere,” said Louis, another Brevard County resident.
“So, if they decide to do it on the gas, it’s not that it’d be something else.”
[WATCH BELOW: Seminole County votes to raise gas tax]
John Friday, also from Brevard, said he prefers a gas tax hike over raising property taxes.
“It’s not a bad tax because everyone can participate in that,” he said.
The commission meeting is Tuesday at 9 a.m. If approved, the tax increase would take effect on Oct. 1.