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Commissioners move to renew 5¢ local option fuel tax for another 10 years
Summary
The board voted to renew the county's 5-cent local option gas tax for an additional 10-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2026; staff said the tax has generated roughly $488,000–$497,000 annually and funds local road projects shared with municipalities under state distribution rules.
The Hardee County board voted to renew the county's local option fuel tax — a 5-cent per gallon local tax on motor fuel — for an additional 10 years beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Presentation: Diane Moore, the county budget manager, briefed the board on the ordinance and cited the enabling language in Florida law. Staff told the board the local option tax can be imposed by a majority vote of the county commissioners without a referendum, and discussed how the state formula distributes revenues between the county and municipalities. Moore and the packet materials reported annual revenue from the tax around $488,000 to $497,000 in recent years.
Board discussion: Commissioners raised questions about public perception and emphasized the need to explain the renewal to residents. Several commissioners said the tax is not new to county motorists and that it helps fund road projects and maintain infrastructure; they noted that continued collection helps preserve local matching and project funding. No commissioner advocated abolishing the levy at the hearing.
Action: The board approved an ordinance renewing the imposition of a 5-cent local option fuel tax under Florida Statutes for a 10-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The recorded vote on the ordinance reading was unanimous.
Why it matters: The tax is a recurring local revenue source used for roads and infrastructure; renewal preserves a revenue stream for capital and maintenance work and affects motorists who purchase fuel in the county.
Ending: Staff said the ordinance will be finalized in the administrative process and that county staff will continue outreach to explain the renewal and where the revenue is used.
