Divided City Council Repeals Utility Tax

By CHRISTIAN M. WADE The Tampa Tribune Published: July 24, 2008 PORT RICHEY - It has been a major source of municipal revenue for nearly a half-century. But the utility tax, a 10 percent levy tacked on to property owners' annual tax bills, long has been a source of discontent for those who argue it amounts to double taxation. The momentum behind efforts to do away with the costly tax has been building for years, with political action committees and even city council members campaigning against it. Tuesday night, a sharply divided council voted to repeal the tax. Mirroring a vote on the ordinance two weeks ago, the measure was approved 3-2, with Mayor Richard Rober and Councilman Steve O'Neill dissenting. Vice Mayor Mark Hashim said repealing the tax would put more money back into the pockets of city taxpayers at a time when... [read full story]