| 2/13/2013 |
Felag, Edwards: $10M proposed as Municipal Incentive Aid would be better used to eliminate bridge toll
STATE HOUSE – When Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. and Rep. John G. Edwards announced legislation to fight plans for tolls on the new Sakonnet River Bridge, some expressed concern about how they could make up for the $10 million the tolls would generate to be used for bridge maintenance.
Senator Felag (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) and Representative Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) have an answer – reject Article 11 of the FY 2014 state budget proposed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee that calls for $10 million for a Municipal Incentive Aid program and divert that money to repairs and maintenance of the state’s four major bridges.
In calling for the elimination of the toll on the state’s newest span, Senator Felag said: “If the governor and the General Assembly truly want economic development, they must rescind this toll so that businesses can prosper. A toll is a barrier stating ‘Stay away’.”
“Putting a toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge,” said Representative Edwards, “will devastate the small businesses in my district and Newport County, and will be another tax on the residents of this area and a short-sighted one, at that.”
Bills already introduced by Senator Felag, Representative Edwards and other East Bay legislators this session would scuttle plans for bridge tolls by repealing Article 20 of the current state budget, which transfers from the Department of Transportation to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority control over the Sakonnet and Jamestown Verrazzano bridges, and also gives the RITBA the right to implement a toll on the new bridge.
The two legislators, who have waged a battle against the Sakonnet River Bridge toll since the idea was first floated some years ago, believe their current proposal may finally get the job done, with RITBA responsible for bridge maintenance and repair.
“In opposing tolls on the new bridge, we have always been presented with the question of how to make up revenue that would be lost if there are no tolls,” said Senator Felag. “While we believe that the Municipal Incentive Aid program proposed by the governor has merit, we believe using the $10 million to eliminate the toll makes much more sense – for every resident and business facing added costs for getting from one part of the state to another. Taking in the tolls may be a quick revenue stream for the Bridge Authority, but it is a potential economic growth killer for this part of the state. A thorough economic study on businesses was never done.”
“This toll could have a massive negative effect on not only the residents of Aquidneck Island but on the business community as well,” said Representative Edwards. “With economic development our number one priority in the General Assembly, we cannot afford to allow a measure like this bridge toll to stifle our efforts, especially if there is $10 million available for a brand new program.”
The Municipal Incentive Aid program proposed by the governor in the FY 2014 budget he submitted would be used to encourage municipalities to improve the sustainability of their retirement plans and to reduce unfunded liabilities by providing additional state aid to those municipalities that comply with the requirements set forth in the program proposal.
The two legislators said that as state revenues exceed expectations, possibly when the May, 2013, Revenue Estimating Conference convenes, Rhode Island should be able to not only eliminate the Sakonnet tolls but also fund the Municipal Incentive Aid program.
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457 |
LEGISLATIVE INFO
