What will appear on my ballot?
“Bay County’s one half cent local government infrastructure sales surtax”
➡ “Shall the half-cent sales surtax be levied for ten years in Bay County to provide for the repair of local roads, reduce traffic congestion, increase neighborhood safety with pedestrian paths, build sidewalks near schools, reduce local flooding and other similar uses authorized under Florida law and to seek matching state and federal funds for these purposes, subject to a citizen’s oversight committee and, to ensure that all dollars are spent in Bay County?
____ YES = FOR THE ONE HALF CENT (1/2%) SALES TAX
____ NO = AGAINST THE ONE HALF CENT (1/2%) SALES TAX”
Why is a half-cent sales tax necessary?
Thanks to the passage of the Half-Cent Surtax, Bay County has made significant headway in our efforts to build better roads, reduce traffic congestion, improve bridges and reduce neighborhood flooding, but we still have a long way to go. The renewal of this surtax will ensure that the cost of the improvements are borne by all who use these resources, rather than only property owners.
Who will pay the sales tax?
Anyone who buys goods in Bay County will pay the half-cent sales tax. This means that visitors and tourists to the county will also help pay for the roads and bridges that they use.
Where will the money go?
Every dollar generated will stay right here in Bay County. The revenues will be evenly distributed across the county on projects that will:
- Resurface roads
- Repair bridges
- Pave county dirt roads prone to flooding
- Reduce neighborhood flooding
How do I know my money will be spent wisely?
A Citizens Oversight Committee, comprised of local business and community leaders, serves as an additional layer of protection to ensure added transparency and accountability to taxpayers.
Do other counties have local option sales taxes?
Yes. This measure will make our sales tax equal to our neighbors in the panhandle in Gulf, Walton, and Okaloosa counties and still less than the rates in Franklin, Calhoun, Washington, Wakulla, Liberty, Jackson, and Holmes counties.
Source: https://floridarevenue.com/Forms_library/current/dr15dss.pdf
When will voters get to decide?
Voters first approved the surtax on Nov. 8, 2016 by a margin of greater than 10 percent. The surtax vote will appear on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. Early voting will take place from October 21st through November 2nd. You can find your polling place at www.bayvotes.org/Election-Info/Election-History-Sample-Ballots.