904 356-JOBS (5627)

904 356-JOBS (5627)

Duval voters opposed to gas tax hike, Skyway spending (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Daily Record) —

Duval County residents are opposed to a bill to increasing the city’s gas tax but if there is one, they don’t want the money spent on the Downtown Skyway, according to a poll released May 18 by the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida.

Mayor Lenny Curry and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority want to increase the gas tax from 6 cents to 12 cents per gallon to pay for nearly $1 billion in infrastructure projects. City Council is debating the legislation, Ordinance 2021-0223.

Asked whether they support or oppose the bill, the poll found 58% of respondents either strongly or somewhat oppose it.

However, asked about using the increase to free up money for septic tank phaseout projects, 68% said they approved, either strongly or somewhat.

“This is a somewhat tricky situation,” said Michael Binder, UNF Public Opinion Research Lab director, in a news release with the poll.

“The bills are structured so that the septic tank plan depends on freed-up funds from the local option gas tax, but the data shows voters want the improvements without the additional gas tax.”

Respondents also were asked about spending on infrastructure projects being debated by the Council, including the Downtown Skyway modernization and the Emerald Trail park system.

When asked how much money should be spent on improving the Skyway, 34% said none, 21% said less than $190 million and 21% said $229 million. The transportation authority wanted $379 million for the project, but that was cut by $132 million at the Council Committee of the Whole meeting May 12.

Asked about spending on the Emerald Trail, 54% said at least $150 million should be allocated to funding it, with 23% indicating even more should be spent. 

Council member Matt Carlucci’s amendment to take the $132 million removed from the Skyway budget and reallocate it to Emerald Trail likely will be the first for a vote at the next Committee of the Whole meeting May 19.

“An enormous majority, 87%, think that less money should be allocated to the Skyway than the original proposal, many of whom think the number should be zero,” Binder said. The Emerald Trail fared somewhat better, but voters aren’t terribly excited about spending money on either project.”

Council President Tommy Hazouri said he wants a first vote on the full bill May 19 with a final vote May 26.