An anti-tax group with ties to a right-wing radio host in Orlando has come out against efforts to increase Broward's sales tax by a penny to pay for transportation improvements.

''Ax the Tax,'' an offshoot of a group founded by radio host Doug Guetzloe, plans to oppose the penny transportation tax with a grass-roots campaign. It's unlikely they will have much money to spend, said Mark Eckert, the Sunrise businessman heading the campaign.

In June, Broward County commissioners by a narrow vote agreed to put the issue on the ballot this fall. They're expected to approve the ballot language when they return from their summer break in mid-August.

If Broward voters approve the tax hike, the sales tax will increase from 6 to 7 cents on every dollar spent. That would generate about $260 million a year in new revenue for transportation improvements, including more buses and a light rail system.

The tax is backed by People for Progress, which has ties to the pro-business Broward Workshop.

The campaign, headed by transportation planner and former Broward County Commissioner John Hart, has run into little formal opposition so far.

For the most part, they've found that the people they talk to in community groups across the country are fairly supportive of the initiative, Hart said.

''As they get to understand the nature and scope of what this is all about . . . we're finding a growing groundswell of support,'' he said.

Ax the Tax in Broward is led by Eckert, a former Libertarian Party member.

Now a Republican, Eckert is best known for leading a statewide campaign in 2002 that put dozens of Libertarian candidates on the ballot in state House races; Libertarian candidates outnumbered Democrats that year.