Our State is facing one of the most difficult financial situations it has ever seen. Over and over I’ve seen decisions passed where no obvious full cost accounting was considered. As a proven fiscal conservative, I can no longer stand by and watch as some of our elected officials spend our tax dollars with no consideration as to real long-term costs of projects and how they impact our economy
As a businessman, I am having a difficult time figuring how Sun Rail is a sound financial investment. As a government efficiency expert, I certainly do not believe taxpayers should fund such a project. I have not been able to find one publicly owned rail system in the United States that isn’t subsidized at the cost of the taxpayers. Yet, we in Central Florida are watching our elected officials ignore the legal details and financial risks that threaten to destroy our already weakened economy, and expose us all to enormous insurance liabilities.
True, there is some money coming from the Federal government with commensurate funds from the State. And, for the first seven years, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will finance and operate the project, however, it is imperative to point out that these funds are generated by the taxes of all 18.8 million Floridians – mostly those Floridians who have never even heard of Sun Rail, and will certainly never use it.
After seven years, the local municipalities and counties with local stops will have to pick up the cost. I firmly believe projections that user fees will not suffice in covering the costs for Sun Rail. Anyone who comes from the Miami-area understands all too well the burden of Metro-“Fail” and Tri-“Fail”, the latter of which we just subsidized with another $35 million. Whether alternate funding comes from FDOT, the US Government, added tolls, the counties, ad-valorem tax……a tax is a tax is a tax, which always takes money from your pocket.
We have already seen that FDOT intends to utilize local and regional dedicated roadway funds to cover their costs, meaning less cost shared revenue for roadway repairs throughout the State. Moreover, there is already discussion about adding tolls on Interstate 4, as well as, privatizing bridges and other public infrastructure, in order to cover funding deficiencies.
While Sun Rail will only benefit those residents who are able to access it along this thin corridor, everyone in the State of Florida will pay for Sun Rail for the next 99 years.
It’s time to elect public servants who will fight to protect Florida residents from any further tax increases, “fees disguised as taxes”, and further financial burden in general.
