In a united front, leaders across Hillsborough County are campaigning for the renewal of a half-cent sales tax, a staple of county funding for nearly three decades. This levy, dubbed the Community Investment Tax (CIT), is set to expire in 2026 unless voters elect to extend it during the November elections. The CIT, originally passed in 1996, facilitates a wide range of essential public amenities, including transportation, public safety, and educational infrastructure.
According to a statement obtained by ABC Action News, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor stressed at a Friday news conference that the reauthorized tax would pivot away from previous commitments, like stadium construction, towards urgent county needs. "It is not going to pay for wants. It’s going to pay for needs," Castor asserted. Similarly, in a WFLA report, Plant City Mayor Nathan Kilton acknowledged current financial strains but emphasized the tax as a critical resource: "I know it’s a tough time for folks right now to ask to redo this tax. I know a dollar doesn’t go as far today as it did yesterday."
Essential services, which the CIT supports, were underscored by other officials as well. Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross declared to Bay News 9 that "I think every fire truck and police car we have in the city of Temple Terrace has been bought with CIT money.” Meanwhile, the burden of this tax isn't solely on local residents. Mayor Jane Castor pointed out in a ABC Action News interview that a significant portion of the sales tax revenue—around 20%—stems from non-residents who work or visit Hillsborough County.
While there is significant support for the tax renewal among county leaders, not all residents are convinced. Amid concerns over the current economic landscape and the tangible impact of inflation, some, like Hillsborough County resident Paula Lascola, express reservations. Lascola told WFLA, "I just think we’re paying enough. It’s hard to make ends meet right now, you know, I don’t think a lot of people can afford it." On the other hand, resident Craig Brotchie, speaking to ABC Action News, sees a positive trade-off: "Hey, we’re in America. It’s a great place to live, and I’m not going to begrudge paying the taxes that I have to pay to keep everything going good."
The gravity of the decision is not lost on voters nor public officials, as the November ballot also includes a call for increased property taxes to raise teacher pay—a measure separate from the CIT. As laid out in the referendum language, the outcome of this ballot will determine financial trajectories for public services and education while providing a reflection of taxpayer sentiment in an age of financial precarity.
