St. Peteโ Beach Toll Proposal Faces Resident Backlash
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. – โคA proposal to implement a $1 โขtoll on St. โฃPete Beach is sparking important โขopposition from residents and business owners who fearโ theโ plan will burden locals and harm the island’s economy. The city is considering โthe toll as a potential funding sourceโค for critical infrastructure improvements, including wastewater and stormwater repairs.
Signs proclaiming “Tolls = resident tax” and “No tolls = no tax” โคhave begun appearing โacross the island, and a petition against โthe toll has already garnered over 1,600 signatures.Opponents argue the proposal is flawed,โฃ citing legal restrictions โon toll revenue usage and concerns about equitable application.
According to Florida law,funds collected from โคtolls can only be allocated to road projects – not โthe โwastewater โor stormwater repairs the city has identifiedโข as priorities. Furthermore,the โgroup opposing โคthe toll points out that โขstate law mandates tolls be appliedโ uniformly,perhaps negating anyโ intended โexemptions for residents or workers.
Business owners โฃare particularly โconcerned about the financial impactโข on employees and customers. Ken Hautman, co-owner of Chill Restaurant and Bar, noted that a daily toll would substantially add to the โคcommuting costs of his employees who live off the โisland. โOthers worry that tourism and off-island traffic, vital to many businesses, could decline.
Matt Vario, owner of The Toasted Monkey, โis distributing anti-toll signs and cautions residents that, โฃdespite the intention to target tourists, โlocals could ultimately โbear the financialโ burden.
Despiteโ the widespread opposition, one resident voiced support for exploring โthe toll option during public comment โคat Monday night’s city commission meeting.
City Manager is preparing a โฃformal presentationโ on theโข proposal, expected to be reviewed by commissioners earlyโ next year. No vote has been scheduled.
Source: Reporting โคfrom FOX 13’s Jennifer โKveglis, โขcomments from Monday’s St. Pete Beach commission meeting, interviews with local business owners and statements โfrom city โขofficials.
Tags: Pinellasโค County, โTransportation