Another sales tax increase? Slow down, Broward

Re: Would you pay more sales tax to get a free heart test? Broward is considering it, Sept. 21

A Broward County commissioner proposes that we again raise our county sales tax, this time by another half penny. Why not?

Voters fell hook, line and sinker for a penny sales tax increase for transportation in 2018. I was a vocal critic of the tax and remain so until our elected officials show that they have prudently spent what they’ve been given. Traffic lights are not fully synchronized, traffic is a mess in the downtown corridor and county officials semi-delegated their responsibilities to a developer-controlled advisory board.

How much has the penny for transportation raised to date? What projects are completed? What part of the new tax is diverted to operating expenses? It’s admirable that Commissioner Mark Bogen wants residents screened for coronary artery disease but I suggest he worry about prudently spending the money we must pay for 30 years. We also have two tax-supported hospital districts that offer care. I encourage exploring all legal efforts to repeal the 2018 penny sales tax.

To be fair, I am a huge fan of Dr. Claudio Smuclovisky, having been his patient twice (he discovering a coronary artery blockage). But keeping elected officials out of our health care decisions and our pockets is healthier for us. If they can’t move cars efficiently from Point A to Point B with a higher sales tax, why would we think they can move blood efficiently from our hearts through our arteries with even more money?

Howard Tescher, Fort Lauderdale (Editor’s Note: Bogen was the only Broward commissioner who voted against the 2018 penny sales tax referendum).