Community Voices: We’re voting Yes on Question 2

Welcome to the Catalyst’s Community Voices platform. We’ve curated community leaders and thinkers from all parts of our great city to speak on issues that affect us all. Visit our Community Voices page for more details.

On Nov. 8, our St. Petersburg community will be asked to either vote yes or no on the referendum for the economic development ad valorem tax exemption. The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce is in support of the referendum and here’s why.

This tax exemption is both an incentive tool and investment tool to ensure that our city remains competitive with other local Tampa Bay municipalities that already have this tool in place, and other states that offer incentives that do not currently exist in Florida.

A primary goal of the tax exemption is to benefit local companies by helping them keep and grow well-paying jobs here in St. Petersburg. The granting authority is what’s on the ballot – it is not a blanket or automatic approval to any business pursuing the incentive. The projects will still be vetted and brought to city council multiple times to be considered on an individual basis. These incentives are only for five years at the baseline.

Two companies have utilized the ad valorem tax exemption in the previous 10-year period, Jabil and ASI. In that time, the tax exemption has proven its immense value. Both organizations wanted to grow and add additional high paying jobs, and both were able to stay in St. Petersburg due to the tax exemption. Jabil added new jobs at an average wage of $95,000 and ASI added new jobs at an average wage of $44,906.

Growing higher wage jobs in this city is important, retaining those amazing employers and those jobs here is critical to our long-term economy.

The Chamber believes that this tax exemption is critical to the continued prosperity those who work in our city. A “YES” vote for Referendum Question No. 2 will ensure that current local businesses can stay and grow in our community, and that new businesses will continue to be attracted to the Sunshine City.

Chris Steinocher is President and CEO of the St Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce.