Anyone that has enjoyed the natural beauty, convenience, and the amazing quality of life enhancement that we are blessed with across our $1 Toll Bridge, needs to be alarmed over what our Escambia County Commissioners and SRIA officials are getting ready to approve. The $47 million Pensacola Beach Master Plan that was originally almost forced upon us several months ago is back. This will end up mortgaging our kids’ and grandkids’ future for many decades to come.

The new multi-million dollar Master Plan includes Plan A estimated at $18 million or Plan B estimated at $25:

1) Plan A includes a major pedestrian elevated walkover that starts by Casino Beach businesses and gently rises across Via DeLuna and ends at Quietwater Beach/Portofino Boardwalk. With artistic imagination, it could become a signature or Pensacola Beach Logo, especially some of the unique structural designs that are available and were offered.

2) Plan B includes an elevated DOT highway expressway that gradually inclines high enough be above the water table and allow pedestrian traffic to circulate under the highway with very little danger from Gulf to Sound.

The history and the problems

The original proponents of the elevated expressway complete with three Round-ABouts were told by several of us, including our elected SRIA Board member, that it will never fit or work. They were determined to bring shoppers over to Portofino Boardwalk and also provide extra parking for the boardwalk. It was and still is being sold under the guise of making Pensacola Beach a "World Class Beach". Most of us would agree that we already have a "World Class Beach" that brings record numbers of tourists and surrounding county visitors to our area year-round, as evidenced by the record number of vehicles that crossed thru our $1 toll station this past year.

The real irony is that there will be fewer parking spaces with both plans, although they will contain very attractive landscaping areas surrounding the parking areas. It became even more obvious to me at the presentation of the revised Master Plan that, just like every project, including the Maritime Park, that this project would probably run over budget. The designers always say that they have contingencies built into the estimates but, they never seem to be enough. Once the project is started, it's too late to turn back and guess who gets saddled with the extra burden- THE TAXPAYERS PAY!

At the two-hour presentation meeting, it was brought to light that the Visitors Information Center needed to be relocated.

The bonding issue, stair-stepped toll increases and the budget

It is always amazing how much money is made off commissions and referrals when it comes to new projects and the bonding that goes along with the funding. I would like to see the particulars on the bonding issue when it goes to market and the numbers associated with the amortization schedule on retiring this massive debt load that we are passing along to our future beach residents, Escambia County citizens and beach goers. There should be full disclosure on bonding participants and advance monies spent dreaming up this Master Plan. I would like to see revenue projections on just how many additional dollars this will bring as a return on investment.

Future increases in the toll fees

The original Master Plan suggested a debt financing plan that included three incremental increases in the toll up to $3.50 above and beyond what is being “soft sold” to us with the proposed $1 increase. The new budget is being presented as being totally financed by a $1 increase in tolls to amortize the $25 million debt on the Bond issue. It sounds a little bit like “fuzzy math” because one Board Member even stated her desire to see the toll increased an additional $1a year later and an additional $.50 cents a few years later, bringing the toll to a $3.50 per car toll. Isn't that why Garcon Point Bridge is about to be foreclosed upon by the investors or a proposed “Bail Out” by the State of Florida. They priced themselves out of the market for average citizens on household budgets.

In order to prevent a mass protest by the island residents and to make the deal more sellable, Commissioner Grover Robinson suggested that he has insisted that the residents' transponder fees be frozen at $50 for a five-year period.

Promises do not survive future administrations and time.

The final point

In my not so humble opinion, this is just more reckless spending that is running rampant throughout many governmental bodies. I commend Commissioner Robinson on his attention and willingness to be totally involved in trying to work out solutions to our concerns and please everyone. He will be the first to tell you that there are no guarantees in the future and every administration inherits the problems and debts of the past decision makers. I have been to many beaches throughout the country with and without pedestrian walkovers that are a perfectly acceptable feature. It would offer a panoramic view of our already "World Class" beach and serve as a landmark or photo backdrop that just like or "Sailfish" does at the entrance to the Toll Bridge. Our beach goers already have a panoramic view coming over the existing bridges and certainly don't need the dangerous distraction of or beach view and roof tops complete with air conditioner compressors while driving.

I urge you to get involved and tell every Escambia County Commissioner your views about this project. The Commissioners work for us and are supposed to make their decision based upon our input. If you don't have an opinion, do not complain when you have to budget additional money for this spending extravaganza. Remember: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck – IT’S A TAX."

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Charlie Rotenberry is a resident of Pensacola Beach.