Published: August 01, 2011
Updated: August 01, 2011 – 5:17 PM

TAMPA —

The HART board today voted to increase the maximum possible millage rate to balance its 2012 and 2013 budgets by an amount that would add 41 cents to the average homeowner’s transit-related property tax to $45.21 a year

Without an increase in the millage rate from 0.4682 per $1,000 of household value to 0.5 mills, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority would lose $1.84 million in revenue next year because property values have declined, HART staff members said.

That would create further bus service reductions in addition to those enacted this summer and planned for November, HART staff members said.

The HART board adopts a millage rate Sept. 26. Hillsborough County Commissioners do not vote on HART millage.

HART commissioners Sandra Murman, also a county commissioner, and John Byczek opposed the increase in millage. Murman said she could not support any tax increase at this point in time.

HART commissioner and county commissioner Mark Sharpe said he changed his mind at the meeting to support the millage rate increase because he was concerned – as were other HART board members – that service cuts would be counterproductive to residents’ efforts to reach work or get jobs.

In other business, the HART board approved a contract to purchase 41 new shelters in 2012 from Tolar Manufacturing Co. Inc., for a price not to exceed $846,220.

HART has one shelter for every seven bus stops, up from one in every 15 three years ago. There are currently more than 3,500 bus stops throughout Hillsborough County.”This is good news for our customers who want more coverage from extreme weather elements this area experiences,” HART spokeswoman Marcia Mejia said.