LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County leaders believe a one-cent sales tax could help them make major changes throughout the county.
County leaders said the revenue generated could help keep residents safer. The tax is expected to generate about $450 million, and county leaders want to spend it on public safety, roads and sidewalks.
Channel 9 was there Tuesday as commissioners were given a presentation on the penny sales tax renewal, which outlined where county leaders want to spend the money.
"One of the biggest priorities is going to be public safety," said Commissioner Jimmy Connor. "Fire trucks, ambulances, patrol cars for deputies. We are way behind in purchasing those, because we have cut just about everything over the past five years."
The report said the Sheriff's Office has 100 patrol cars over 100,000 miles. It also said 50 percent of the fire departments vehicles are over 10 years old, and 27 percent have more 150,000 miles on them.
Along with equipment, the fire department also needs new stations as some are more than 30 years old.
The report said the county's ambulance fleet travels 1 million miles a year, so officials said they constantly need to be maintained and replaced.
Leaders also said that 37 miles of roads need to be resurfaced, and there are 150 miles of damaged sidewalks that need to be repaired and 28 miles of sidewalk needs to be added.
"If you have kids or grandkids out there, you want them to be walking on a sidewalk and not the side of the road," said Connor.
Tax watchdog Vance Jochim warned county leaders to be careful with their wish list.
"I think you ought to live within your means and not make promises to spend something that we don't have yet," he said.
Officials also want to upgrade parks, trails and county buildings, but they said they can only make it happen if voters decide to renew the tax.
WFTV
