Tampa Mayor Jane Castor held a news conference to make a final push for the renewal of the Community Investment Tax (CIT) that voters will decide on November 5th. On this the last full week before election day, Castor gathered the news cameras to, once again, make her case to voters.
See news coverage by WFLA – News Channel 8 TV.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor held a press conference Monday to share how the Community Investment Tax has contributed to public safety operations and resources. The event fell on National First Responders Day, with emergency vehicles from the Tampa Police Department and Tampa Fire Department on display. Funded in part by CIT funds, officials said those vehicles were crucial in recent emergency responses during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. According to Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw, his officers made over 100 rescues using those vehicles. Bercaw and several other first responders joined city leaders Monday as they discussed the CIT.
Since 1996, the CIT has provided funding for public safety resources, infrastructure, parks, schools, and transportation projects throughout Hillsborough County. The half-cent tax is up for renewal this year on the November ballot. Castor expressed her support for the measure, stating that it could help address infrastructure needs and more in the county. Millions of dollars will also go toward supporting first responders by providing them with new equipment and other upgrades. The mayor estimated that nearly 20% to 30% of the funding comes from tourism and people from outside Hillsborough County coming to work and study. District 7 Councilmember Luis Viera called it a “basic open and shut issue,” adding that if residents want to have “first-class police and first-class fire, we’ve got to fund it.”
Should the measure fail, Castor said the county will have to find an alternative source of funding in order to not only help first responders, but pave roads and complete stormwater and infrastructure projects. “If this funding doesn’t come from the half-penny sales tax, it’s going to have to come from somewhere,” she said.