GROUP TO RALLY AGAINST GAS TAX INCREASE , COUNTY TO DISCUSS 4-CENT HIKE TUESDAY

STUART – A new citizens group plans a demonstration Tuesday to draw attention

– and stir opposition – to a proposal to raise Martin County’s gas tax by 4 cents a gallon.

Members will have their work cut out for them.

Despite media coverage, many people, even those whose livelihoods are directly affected by the price of gas, appear unaware of the plan to raise the tax from 8 cents to 12 cents a gallon.

The extra revenue would be used to pay for road construction and maintenance.

Louise Fralick, owner of Stuart Taxi Service in Palm City, expressed surprise when asked last week about the tax increase proposal.

“I hope not,” she said. “The roads are part of my business, but I think the money could be found elsewhere.”

Fralick said she understands the county’s argument about needing the money to improve streets and build roads, but the tax will end up on the meter.

“Gas already has gone up 11 cents in the last two weeks. If they add 4 cents more, certainly we’ll have to pass it on,” Fralick said.

Courtney Kinzer, manager of AAA Auto Club South of Martin County, said the motor club hasn’t received a single call to inquire or complain about the proposal to raise the county gas tax to the state maximum.

“It’s not that we’ve heard people for or against, we haven’t heard any comments,” Kinzer said.

The County Commission is set to review the tax increase proposal at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Officials say the increase is needed to close a $2.6 million gap between the work planned for the next five years and revenue forecasts from the gas tax, impact fees and grants the county uses for road projects.

The increase would go into effect Jan. 1 if approved by July 1.

Palm City resident Ray Adams, of the Concerned Citizens of Martin County, said the group expects to have 20 to 50 people outside the County Administration Building on Tuesday morning to protest the increase.

He said the group will include local veterans, newspaper carriers and members of the Martin County ViewPoint and Citizens for a Sound Economy.

“People are basically against taxes. They’re not against the projects, (they

‘re) just saying ‘find the money elsewhere,'” said Adams, who is also a member of Citizens for a Sound Economy, which successfully fought a proposal to raise the county sales tax last year.

“The commission has enough money, and taxes are high enough. They found $4 million on a cost overrun this last week,” he said. “That’s typical. They can move money from one place to another.”

On March 5, the commission added $4.2 million to the $3.2 million budgeted for the often-delayed widening of a two-mile segment of Dixie Highway, between Jefferson Street and Cove Road.

The concerned citizens group has collected about 2,000 signatures from people opposed to the increase, Adams said.

Commissioner Michael DiTerlizzi said he’s gotten a few calls and e-mails, but they’ve been mixed.

“A few for, a few against. Most want what I want: more information on how much it will cost us,” said DiTerlizzi, who owns gas stations in Palm City, Stuart and Indiantown.

Average cost projections are expected to be available by Tuesday.

Commissioner Dennis Armstrong said he’s heard few comments about the tax other than from the citizens group, which he said opposes all tax increases.

“Generally, everyone seems to be supportive of it,” he said.

Besides the need to pay for local road work, he said, the increase is necessary to allow the county to apply for state grants. Officials say the state is reluctant to award grants to counties that don’t levy the maximum tax.

“There’s not a lot of publicity of our inability right now to get some of the money back because we’re not topped out,” Armstrong said.

Commissioner Lee Weberman said he’s aware of the protest plans, but he has not received any comments one way or another on the increase.

“Actually I’m pretty surprised,” he said. “I know the gas . . . (price) fluctuates so much – it’s up 8 cents one day and down the next – that many people may not be as concerned. I’m not saying it’s not painful, but it’s a little different than a sales tax.”

DiTerlizzi said residents should be more concerned about oil companies that set gas prices.

“Gas prices raised 15 cents in the last two weeks; I don’t see people picking on oil companies,” DiTerlizzi said.

Adams disagrees with commissioners.

“About 10 to 20 percent said we need the projects, not 100 percent, but eight to nine of 10 would sign the petition,” Adams said. This is not the first time the commission has considered making the tax rate equal to that of Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.

A year ago, commissioners objected to raising the gas tax because gas prices averaged almost $1.75 a gallon.

Gas prices are up “slightly” from a few weeks ago, a normal spring increase, Kinzer said. Kinzer said the county’s proposed tax increase would probably have little effect on most people’s driving habits.

“We have found in general when gas prices skyrocket, it doesn’t curtail people’s travel,” Kinzer said. “As long as the economy is good and they have expendable income, they travel.”