WAKULLA COUNTY, FL (WTXL) -- A final town hall meeting was held Thursday night for Wakulla County voters to discuss the proposed extension of the penny sales tax.
Since 1987, the one-cent tax that comes from purchasing local goods has funded several capital improvement projects and boosted the local economy.
"It's probably more important to a Wakullan to vote for this than to consider who to vote for president of the United States," said Crawfordville resident John Shuff.
The tax has paid for 11 ambulances, 64 sheriff's office vehicles, a new fire truck, and over $17 million in road improvements. The funds have also been used to improve parks and trails and renovate county buildings.
"If you take it and, say, it's one or two million dollars a year -- that's a huge amount of money," said commissioner Howard Kessler.
If the tax is extended, the county has plans to build a new recreation park, upgrade all public facilities and repair more roads and bridges. There are also plans to design and build a new fire/EMS facility and buy more vehicles for first responders.
"We're in need of two more fire trucks," Shuff said. "We're short one ambulance right now. They're on the docket to be replaced, as long as we pass the penny sales tax."
"What my obligation is, as an elected official, is to first secure the health and safety of our citizens," Kessler said. "I think, unless I can confidently do that, I can't move on to the next box."
The county has earned more than $23 million in revenue since the sales tax was renewed in 2003.
Voters will decide on its fate in the November 8th general election.
