On August 23, 2024 Tampa Bay Chamber President & CEO Dr. Bob Rohrlack joined the Vice Chair of the Hillsborough County Commission, Gwen Myers of District 3, to urge renewal of the Community Investment Tax (CIT). The News Conference hosted by the Vice Chair included the Mayors of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace – who all highlighted the vital role of CIT funds. Since the passage of CIT in 1996, Hillsborough County and the cities of Plant City, Tampa and Temple Terrace have been the beneficiaries of more than $2.3 Billion in CIT funding. These community projects funded by CIT include infrastructure, public safety, public utilities, parks, libraries, and schools, among other things.
The half-penny sales tax enacted in 1996 for 30 years expires in 2026. Voters will decide whether to renew CIT during the upcoming general election. CIT-funded capital improvement projects include construction, renovation, replacement and expansion of existing facilities, assets and infrastructure. Capital equipment includes fire rescue and police vehicles. Approximately 50% of CIT funds help pay for critical transportation needs in Hillsborough County.
From the podium, Rohrlack referred to his notes when it came time to list the different infrastructure projects funded with CIT dollars, which amounts to more than $2 Billion. "They're too many for me to list without looking at my notes," he said. To date, infrastructure and capital projects funded by CIT include:
- 115 road projects
- 68 intersections
- 32 bridge projects
- 126 storm water projects
- 258 parks & recreation projects
- 27 capital improvement projects for law enforcement and the courts
- 17 fire stations
"Last but certainly not least, when visitors come for sports games or concerts at Raymond James Stadium, this half-penny tax amounts to millions of dollars in CIT funds that are poured right back into our community's infrastructure," said Rohrlack, who used the economic impact of last year's Taylor Swift Tour at Raymond James Stadium as an example. Three days of Swift concerts more than doubled the occupancy rates at hotels, drawing more than 200,000 fans and raising more than $5 Million in profits for the county owned stadium. This shared responsibility between visitors and residents lightens the tax burden for residents in Hillsborough County to pay for infrastructure needs.
Chamber Members continue to employ different avenues to raise awareness of what CIT funds can be used for and what they cannot. Earlier this month, members of our Chamber's Policy Advisory Council met at the Hillsborough County Emergency Operation Center for context on the many infrastructure items funded. The site visit, initiated provided council members with valuable information they can share within their own circles of influence.