TAMPA, Fla. – Hillsborough County voters will have the opportunity to vote in November to decide whether to renew a 30-year-old sales tax.

Revenue from sales tax is used to finance important things in the district, such as road construction projects and other services.

Now district officials are appealing to citizens for an extension of the tax.

For the past 28 years, people in Hillsborough County have paid a half-cent sales tax as part of something called a municipal investment tax. But in November, Hillsborough County residents will decide whether to extend or eliminate the sales tax.

In 1996, residents voted to introduce a half-cent municipal investment tax for 30 years, expiring in 2026.

“Many people don’t even know they’ve been paying that half-cent sales tax for 30 years, but everyone knows they’ve benefited from what it was used for,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Friday during a press conference.

One after another, the other heads of government explained the benefits of corporate tax at the event.

“I believe every fire truck and every police vehicle in the city of Temple Terrace was purchased with CIT funds,” said Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross.

Karen Perez, chair of the Hillsborough County School Board, said it also helps schools.

“Through 2022, Hillsborough Public Schools will have received more than $655 million invested in our schools,” she said.

Officials said the money will fund vital equipment and projects at fire stations, roads and public utilities – with the majority of the funds going to the county and the rest distributed to the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. The current corporate tax rate is 25% for schools, but if voters approve the extension, that amount will drop to just 5%.

Castor said if her proposal to extend the corporate tax for another 15 years is not passed, the money will have to come from somewhere.

“It will probably lead to a tax increase in some other form,” she said. “Most likely in property taxes.”

One of the projects that will be funded with sales tax money involves the county’s stadiums. According to Hillsborough County documents, funds allocated or proposed for Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena can only be spent on maintenance and repairs, not on new buildings or facilities.

However, some citizens stated that they did not agree with an extension of the sales tax given the current economic situation.

“I just think we’re paying enough,” said Hillsborough County resident Paula Lascola. “It’s hard to make ends meet right now, and I don’t think many people can afford it.”

Hillsborough County voters will see the following language on their ballot in November:

“Shall Hillsborough County renew the existing local government infrastructure surtax, known locally as the ‘Community Investment Half-Cent Sales Tax,’ effective December 1, 2026, through December 31, 2041, to be shared with municipalities and the school board to fund transportation and public works infrastructure, public safety, public facilities, public utilities, and public schools?”