No. This is an extension of a one-cent Local Option Sales Tax that has been approved by voters in 1992, 1999, and again in 2006. On Voting Day, voters are being asked to extend the tax until 2038.

There are many. Ongoing governmental operations, such as sanitation or park maintenance, cannot be funded. The monies also cannot be used to pay salaries.

Necessities such as food, medicine, mortgage payments, car payments or a portion of any purchase over $5,000 will be exempt, just as they are with current sales tax.

Both the Escambia County Commissioners and the Pensacola City Council will present approved lists of Local Option Sales Tax projects to the public before a vote is held to extend the tax.

Proposed project lists were presented to voters before the original Local Option Sales Tax was approved. Both the Escambia County Commission and the Pensacola City Council have published the results of proposed projects so that citizens can see that the promises made for the expenditure of the Local Option Sales Tax have been kept.

It is a pay-as-you-go tax paid by everyone, both residents and non-residents of Escambia county who purchase any non-exempt items. In fact, 36% of the tax is paid by people who live outside of Escambia County!

It is estimated that it will raise $420 million of which $360 million goes to Escambia County and $60 million goes to the City of Pensacola.

It is estimated that it will raise $420 million of which $360 million goes to Escambia County and $60 million goes to the City of Pensacola.

The Local Option Sales Tax has a very defined and limited usage. Some refer to it as “bricks-and-mortar tax” because it can only be used for capital improvements.

Road building or resurfacing, sidewalk construction and drainage improvements are some of the projects that are typically funded by the Local Option Sales Tax. Other items can include the purchase of law enforcement, emergency medical service, or firefighting equipment.

The Local Option Sales Tax helped pay for the construction of the Pensacola Fire Department’s new headquarters on Cervantes Street, for expansion of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and for construction of a new Emergency Operations Center.

LOST funds have also improved many park and recreation facilities.

Both Escambia County and the City of Pensacola are faced with capital needs, such as drainage projects and replacing dilapidated public safety equipment that cannot be met within their limited general fund budget. Without the Local Option Sales Tax many legitimate needs of local governments could not be met.