TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Mayor Jane Castor is making a pitch for the Community Investment Tax renewal on the Nov. 5 election ballot.

The CIT is a half-cent sales tax that has been in place since 1996 and expires in 2026.

What You Need To Know

  • The Community Investment Tax was narrowly passed by voters in 1996

  • The CIT is a half-cent sales tax to help fund infrastructure and public safety projects 

  • Renewal of the CIT is required or the tax would go away in 2026

  • Some are against the CIT on the ballot this year, but want to revisit the tax during the next mid-term election cycle 

Castor said its renewal will ensure the city continues to support first responders with the latest equipment that helped save lives during hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“We need to ensure everyone that they are voting yes so that we can continue to support not only our first responders but also parks and recreation — creating new recreation opportunities and maintaining the parks we have,” the mayor said.

Castor said not only does the CIT support first responders, but it will also help update Tampa’s aging infrastructure, specifically water and wastewater pipes, as well as repaving roads and all big ticket expenses that come up in the next decade.

However, like others, District 6 City Councilmember Charlie Miranda is questioning the CIT renewal on the ballot this election cycle.

 
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He said the tax doesn’t expire for two more years, and putting the CIT on the ballot early just gives the city a second chance at passing it, if it fails next week.

“If everything they say is true, we wouldn’t need anymore money,” Miranda said. “The roads would all be paved. We have terrible roads. We have terrible parts in wastewater and things that have to be fixed and were never fixed. So what’s the deal then, and where did the money go?”

The CIT is just one of two tax increases on the ballot next week.

The Hillsborough County School District is also asking for a referendum to help increase teacher pay.

It sued Hillsborough County to get the referendum on the ballot after the county expressed concerns that asking for two tax increases on the same ballot may have them both fail.