Board holds first reading on reenacting local option motor fuel tax; second reading set for Sept. 23

Gulf County held a public hearing and first reading on an ordinance to reenact the county’s local option motor fuel tax. Attorney Novak read the ordinance on the board floor and said the second reading will occur at the commission’s Sept. 23 meeting.

The ordinance text read into the record describes the reenactment of the “ninth cent local option motor fuel tax originally implemented under Gulf County ordinance 02/2010” and states, in the attorney’s reading, that “there is and shall be imposed a continuation of 1¢ sales tax on every gallon of motor fuel and special fuel sold in Gulf County” under Florida Statute 336. Attorney Novak also said the ordinance would take effect immediately if adopted and be filed with the Florida Department of State.

Public comment: The chairman opened the hearing to public comment; no members of the public spoke on the item. The board took no final ordinance vote at the meeting and scheduled a required second reading for Sept. 23.

Why it matters: If reenacted, the ordinance will continue the local option motor fuel tax for a specified term and set the distribution of proceeds consistent with the cited state statute, as stated in the attorney’s reading.