BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County commissioners on Tuesday voted against a plan to raise its gas tax to address a funding shortfall for critical transportation improvements.
The vote had to be unanimous in order to carry, which it was not.
The plan would have increased the gas tax between 1 and 5 cents per gallon to generate additional revenue.
Brevard is experiencing growth, with new buildings and homes increasing demand on infrastructure. According to the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO), the current funding formula is insufficient to cover the county’s transportation projects.
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Resident Shawn Reed, who buys diesel gas, thinks the price at the pump is already too much.
“I spend about $130, $140 every two days,” he said. “It makes you want to move out of the country because it’s ridiculous.”
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The SCTPO found that under the current funding formula, Brevard County will only be able to pay 9% of its more than $2.65 billion in transportation needs through 2050, including projects like widening State Road 524.
“Well, I think they need to widen [524], but then they also keep OK’ing all these apartment complexes that go up here that should pay those taxes, what they are getting from those,” Raymond Busse said.
More than half of Florida’s 67 counties already charge the maximum extra 12 cents per gallon in gas tax, including several in Central Florida. However, Brevard is one of 11 counties still charging only 6 cents per gallon, at least for now.
“I don’t care what other counties do if they want to pay 15, 20. That’s their prerogative. Don’t want that here in Brevard County,” Busse said.
The county board has several options to consider. Take no action, ask for further evaluation, adopt an up to 5-cent tax increase on gas and diesel, add an additional 1 cent only on diesel or send the choice to voters through a referendum.
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