Gray Rohrer
Florida commuters who frequently hit tolls will receive a discount at the end of each month, starting Sept. 1.
Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled the SunPass Savings Program at an event in Orlando. He said it would save 400,000 drivers $40 million over the course of the six months it’s in effect.
SunPass and other Florida residents with toll transponders who go through 40 tolls in a month will receive a 20% discount, and those with 80 toll interactions will get a 25% cut in their bill at month’s end. DeSantis said commuters don’t have to sign up for anything, but drivers must have their account in good standing, without any unpaid tolls or fines to receive the discount.
DeSantis said the discounts will be effective on toll roads under the control of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, a unit of the state’s Department of Transportation. It includes the turnpike itself and many other roads throughout Florida, but not on tolls under the control of the Central Florida Expressway or the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.
The toll discounts, though, are an initial taste of a larger tax cut plan DeSantis said is in the works to propose to the Legislature for their next Regular Session, in March 2023. Inflation at levels not seen since the late 1970s has pinched pocketbooks, so he’s aiming to put together a tax cut package next year to mitigate that.
And although DeSantis said Thursday he’s not ready for a formal unveiling of the plan, it will include cuts to tolls in Orlando and Miami, which the Legislature must approve.
DeSantis also mentioned the tax cut package he signed earlier this year, which includes a one-month gas tax cut during October, a moratorium on sales taxes on diapers for one year and sales tax holidays on hurricane preparedness items and back-to-school items.
“This is small but important savings, and when you look at everything else we’re doing, this adds up to give people some breathing room because inflation is costing people thousands of dollars a year,” DeSantis said. “So if we could provide some relief here and there, we’re providing some support for folks.”
8 comments
Charlie Crist
August 25, 2022 at 11:46 am
This and the bonuses for first responders is “political pandering” and “vote buying” as the right wing subhumans say about anything that the Dems to for anyone who isn’t rich.
Bye DuhSantis
August 25, 2022 at 12:31 pm
When democrats do it, it’s entitlement pandering. When Ron does it, he’s brilliant?
Not so fast. Make Ron a 1 term wonder. Vote in November!
PeterH
August 25, 2022 at 12:43 pm
The difference between this political stunt and Biden’s $10 – $20 thousand dollar student government loan relief is the fact that during the height of the pandemic Biden promised this help and he won the support of 8 million more American voters for his policies.
Phil Morton
August 26, 2022 at 5:27 am
This is so unfair to the millions of Floridians who don’t use toll roads. Why should we have to subsidize those who voluntarily chose to use them? See how that works.
rustic
August 26, 2022 at 8:08 am
One wonders by what authority Rhonda can cut tolls. Sure hope the bondholders on the massive Turnpike debt don’t find out and complain. I thought that the Legislature adopted the State budget subject to the Governor to veto line items. Another example of an out of control psycho who thinks he’s King. FUYCSMF Rhonda Satan
Tjb
August 28, 2022 at 8:13 am
This is not fair. I don’t drive on toll roads, so why do drivers of toll roads get a monetary benefit and I don’t?
Stephanie P
August 29, 2022 at 10:03 am
When will he address the NEEDS of Floridians??? He NEEDS to address Home AND Auto Insurance Rates in this state. He keeps MAKING up things to address rather than dealing with the heard of elephants in the room!!! SMH
Michelle S KRUG
September 2, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Why not just reduce the toll rates overall – so anyone that chooses to take toll roads will have the savings, not just businesses that use them the most and can use it as a tax right off?
Comments are closed.