It came as no surprise to anyone who lives here that the Old Seven Mile Bridge has become one of our most popular attractions here in the Middle Keys. Pedestrians and cyclists have really enjoyed having the old bridge back. And it’s a testament to the hard work of state and local officials who took on the task of rebuilding this historic structure.
The Old Seven rehab came with a $42 million price tag, and that has some folks in Tallahassee looking at options for some form of cost recovery. Now that everyone is running for everything, politicians are doing all they can to make themselves seem fiscally conservative, even if they spend like drunken sailors during non-election years.
Some of these politicians are using a relatively under-the-radar state department called the Bureau of Fiscal Disbursement to figure out ways to claw back money spent on expensive projects, especially in counties that are considered wealthy. It’s no secret that many state officials look at Monroe County as one of the richest in the state, primarily populated by wealthy property owners with huge bank accounts and stock portfolios.
It should come as no surprise that officials in the Bureau of Fiscal Disbursement are considering a number of “user fees” to offset the cost of the Old Seven rehab project. A Tallahassee source texted me some of the ideas — I can tell you right now, they will not be popular with our locals and visitors. Here are some of their proposals:
1) Bridge Tolls. The Old Seven Mile Bridge will soon be outfitted with pedestrian gates that will only open after the proper toll has been paid. The bridge walker (or rider) will stand on a scale that will measure the weight of the walker as well as any bicycle or dog (or beer) that accompanies the walker. After the toll — initially set at $1 for every ten pounds — is paid, the gate will open just long enough to allow passage to you and your dog or bicycle. Because of the cost of these specialized gates, the Bureau of Fiscal Disbursement only has one budgeted for installation during the first year of the pedestrian toll program. While they realize that only one toll gate may inconvenience bridge walkers and bikers, the Bureau has to operate under a budget as well.
2) Parking Fees. There will be a parking fee of $5 per axle for any vehicle using the parking facilities near the bridge. This fee will also apply to bicycles, even if the bicycles will be used to ride across the bridge. This means that cars and bicycles will each pay a $10 minimum charge. One full-time parking attendant will be at the bridge at all times, so there will be no evening free visits.
3) Exit Turnstiles. A one-way turnstile will be installed at the exit of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. It will also be equipped with a scale to measure the weight of each person (plus bike or dog) who exits the bridge, and it will compare it to the weight measured upon admittance. If the weight is significantly lower, the turnstile will print a citation for littering or not cleaning up dog poop. A credit card payment will be required before the turnstile will open.
4) Photography Fees. Scenic photos taken from the bridge that include any images of the bridge, the ocean, sea life, or sunsets will be assessed a licensing fee for use of imagery owned by the state. All these natural wonders are part of the state’s holdings, and the state has been losing millions of dollars every year by not charging visitors who take Florida photographs.
The Bureau of Fiscal Disbursement is targeting all the wealthy locals and visitors who they believe are the users of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. My Tallahassee source, Senior Budget Official April F. Dia, says the Bureau of Fiscal Disbursement sees these user fees as a way to repay the state for the multiple millions spent on the bridge rehab. The Bureau has been closely working with another relatively unknown agency, the Department of Urban Habilitation, on creating the user fee schedule that they plan to announce on Friday. If approved by the Governor and Cabinet, the fees could begin exactly one year from the date of the announcement, April 1, 2023.
If you don’t like these potential Old Seven user fees, direct your comments via fax to the BFD and DUH, and by the way — have a great April 1st!
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