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Santa Rosa commissioners direct staff to study toll‑by‑plate system as part of long‑range plan for Navarre Beach bridge
Summary
County staff reviewed constraints on using Tourist Development Council dollars and explained that a toll‑by‑plate system would be a revenue tool for bridge maintenance and future construction; commissioners asked staff to return with a task order to design the toll system and agreed initial toll revenue should support the bridge.
Santa Rosa County commissioners directed staff to develop a design task order for a toll‑by‑plate system as part of long‑term planning for the Navarre Beach bridge and its replacement.
At public forum, multiple residents raised concerns about toll levels, pedestrian use and impacts on frequent local users and tourists. "If 1 person goes across that bridge, you're gonna say it's $2.5 — what about our kids?" Shannon O'Connor asked, and Carmen Reynolds urged the board to explore restricted Tourist Development Council (TDC) funds and other grant sources.
County staff summarized constraints and options. The county annually collects roughly $6.5 million in tourist development funds that are statutorily restricted; the staff said Florida law (cited in public comment as Florida Statute 125.0104) allows broader TDC use only when collections exceed a statutory threshold, so those funds are not currently available for bridge construction. Staff also said an initial PD&E (project development and environmental) planning appropriation of $1.5 million had been set aside in a prior budget year and that the total cost of a replacement bridge could range from $150 million to $300 million depending on design.
Staff described tolling options and next steps: an engineering firm would prepare a fee study and design a toll‑by‑plate system that could set distinct prices for county residents, homestead holders and visitors. Staff said a toll system could also be used to fund maintenance of the existing bridge while generating revenue for future construction. "If we had a hundred and fifty [million dollars] for the Navarre Beach bridge today, you're still looking at seven years before somebody's driving over that bridge," a county staffer said, underscoring the long timeline for design and construction.
Commissioners sought safeguards and clear accounting: several said all toll revenue should be earmarked for the bridge and associated improvements and that the first year’s revenue should be directed to PD&E and planning to strengthen grant competitiveness. Commissioners noted federal and state grants are unlikely without a completed PD&E and that tolling alone would not fund a full replacement but would demonstrate local commitment when seeking matches.
Board direction: commissioners signaled consensus for staff to prepare a task order to design a toll‑by‑plate system and to bring the pricing and implementation plan back for consideration on a future agenda. County staff said it will return with a design task order and cost estimate; no change to tolling has been implemented yet.
Why this matters: the bridge is a critical connection for residents, tourists and emergency evacuation; commissioners and residents debated equity, visitor impacts and financing options for a project that would cost far more than local budgets can cover without outside funding and local revenue tools.
Next steps: staff will prepare a design task order for a toll‑by‑plate system and return to the board with the study and draft fee structures for public review and a future decision.
