As most Tampa residents know who supported the light-rail referendum that failed in Hillsborough County, the proposal did actually pass within the city limits. However the anti-rail mood in the areas outside Tampa dwarfed that support, and the measure lost by 19 percentage points.
But in recent months Mayor Bob Buckhorn and several City Council members have pondered a 'What if?' scenario. That is, could Tampa their own referendum? Would there be enough money from city taxpayers to fund a rail system?
On Monday, members of HART's Finance, Governance and Administration committees met and discussed what if Tampa had the legislative ability to levy a surtax that would only benefit Tampa — not the rest of the county HART serves. And there was no talk of light rail in any of the scenarios.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2012.