Beware of the True Cost of Toll Abuse

Beware of the True Cost of Toll Abuse

Sally Baptiste, November 17, 2006

Don’t be fooled by the political rhetoric that preaches the tolls are a “USER FEE”. This is the way the politicians will try to brainwash voters into supporting a state funded scam against the taxpayers.

Tell the money grubbing politician to be honest……a TOLL is a TAX! “Toll” is just another word for Tax. A tax is any money paid to a governmental agency for providing a service to the public. The public service SHOULD protect and promote the general welfare of the people.

Orlando, Florida - the toll road capitol of the world. It is nothing more than highway robbery. Here are some of the facts and true cost of TOLL ABUSE:

· Toll taxes increase the cost of living for EVERYONE. Anything that increases the cost of transportation increases the cost of living. It does not matter if you drive or you don’t drive. Your cost of living will increase. The notion of a “User Fee” is totally totally totally BOGUS!!!

· Toll taxes hurt small businesses. In Florida, it is not uncommon for a local landscaping company to pay $1,000 - $2,000 dollars per month in toll taxes.

· Toll taxes limit access to the expressway system to lower income motorists. Toll taxes are very regressive. Toll roads tend to be an elitists system that only the wealthy can afford to use.

· Toll taxes limit access to the most efficient highway system. This forces motorists onto the secondary roads and this creates unnecessary “stop & go” gridlock. The result is negative in several ways. 1) Increases air pollution, 2) Wastes fuel, 3) Increases travel time and 4) Increases road runoff that pollutes our water supply. Everyone in the community and our environment loses with Toll Abuse!

· Toll taxes divert money from the local economy. In Florida, it is not uncommon for a household to spend $100+ per month in toll taxes. This is $1200+ per year in additional taxes. In most cases, this money would have been spent in the local economy via dining out, movies, entertainment, and shopping. Thus, reducing sales taxes.

· Toll taxes are the most expensive way to raise transportation revenues. The collection cost of gas taxes is less than 1%. The collection cost of toll taxes can be between 10-40%. Electronic toll tax collection systems are very expensive. Check out the financial statements of the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority if you have any doubt about the true cost of toll tax collections.

· Last but not least. Toll taxes allow elected officials to divert tax dollars to special interest groups that do not promote the general welfare of the taxpayers. This is just plain wrong. Public money should be used for public services. Politicians should not be allowed to give away our tax dollars to major campaign contributors.

· To see first hand the corruption and abuse of toll road authorities, just “Google” the “Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority”. They are the perfect example of Broken Government and how elected and unelected public servants abuse their authority and do not work in the best interest of the people.

Sincerely,
Sally Baptiste
Orange County, FL Citizen, Activist, Voter and Taxpayer