TRANSPORTATION
To address the present and growing strains on our area’s transportation infrastructure, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Creation of a properly funded regional transportation entity, focusing on multimodal transit options, that best represents the infrastructure and funding demands in Hillsborough County.
• Full funding of the FDOT District 7 work plan for FY 2007
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
To ensure our members have access to a workforce best prepared to compete in the 21st Century, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Increased funding for adults with disabilities, adult basic and post-secondary career, and technical education for Hillsborough County public schools.
• Full funding of the University of South Florida request for $12 million recurring revenue for continued enhancement of advanced graduate studies.
• Increased per capita base and capital funding for 21st century facilities at Florida’s existing medical schools.
• Legislation addressing the shortage of affordable and workforce housing.
• Renewal of F.S. 445.007 to preserve the local control authority and responsibilities of regional workforce boards.
INSURANCE REFORM
To provide short-term commercial property insurance relief and long-term commercial property insurance availability for our members, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Reduced Citizens assessments on all non-Citizens policyholders.
• Encouraging foreign re-insurers to invest in Florida markets.
• Recognizing the need for a funding source for insurance for public buildings and emergency shelters.
EMPLOYER HEALTHCARE REFORM
To reduce the high costs of healthcare for employers, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Legislation without the use of government mandates.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
To ensure infrastructure capacity is adequately met by the 2008 concurrency deadline, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Increased PECO funding for Hillsborough County public schools.
• Full funding of the SWFWMD downstream augmentation project.
TAX & TAX REGULATION
To address rapid growth of commercial property taxes, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• Legislation that addresses the increasing property tax burden placed upon businesses and other non-homestead exemption properties.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
To ensure the Tampa-Hillsborough County area remains highly attractive and competitive for new and existing business growth, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce supports:
• State investing of additional revenue for capital improvements to government-owned professional sports facilities, to ensure that these facilities remain state of the art and competitive with other venues across the country.
• Increased funding for state economic development incentives programs, including: full funding of the $75 million request to create the Florida Capital Formation Act.
• Fully funding state universities’ request for strategic planning initiatives, including: $27.7 million for USF programs, such as biotechnology and biomedical engineering & Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Community Development.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT REFORM
To ensure the Florida Constitutional Amendment process remains transparent and accessible to all Floridians, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce opposes:
• Changing of statutes by petition and ballot.
