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Council To Discuss Dredging

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

TAMPA - The city council will decide Dec. 18 whether to take another step toward taxing waterfront property owners to pay for canal dredging.

The public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at city hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Additional hearings and council votes next summer would be required before up to 600 property owners are assessed an estimated $8,000 each.

First, the council must decide whether to gauge support for the $6 million project among waterfront property owners on 13 canals in West Shore and two canals on Davis Islands.

The council could require a simple majority of property owners on each of the 15 canals, or a higher threshold, such as the 60 percent required to amend the state Constitution. It also could vote on the proposed tax without holding a referendum.

Hillsborough County residents outside Tampa are engaged in a similar debate about taxing waterfront property owners to pay for $15 million in canal dredging. The county might match the money up to a set amount, and also pursue state and federal grants.

A county canal advisory committee has recommended determining whether to levy the tax by a simple majority. Some opponents have called for a two-thirds threshold. Like the city council, county commissioners could impose the tax without a referendum.

Hillsborough's canal decisions are on hold pending January's statewide property tax referendum.

Mark Holan

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