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		<title>Guest editorial: We made a promise, we need to keep it</title>
		<description>Discuss Guest editorial: We made a promise, we need to keep it</description>
		<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it</link>
		<lastBuildDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:46:13 --500</lastBuildDate>
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			<title>James Wood says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-299</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I just wanted to say that you must have visited a different Boca Grande than I do. I have been visiting there for years and my family and I love it. We are not as fortunate as you to be rich, so we have to save our money and Boca is where we choose to travel every year from NC. The people there have always been polite and helpful over the years. Maybe you should remain in your fancy car and glass bubble of friends and STOP talking about the residents of Boca Grande. Thanks for reading! J. Wood-NC]]></description>
			<dc:creator>James Wood</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:50:06 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-299</guid>
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			<title>Simon Lingenfhelter says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-291</link>
			<description><![CDATA[@Mark- IMHO, Boca Grande Beaches suck! Surf current is way to strong and there is always the chance of being mistaken for a tarpon while swimming. I drive a black Ferrari and I'm rich. I live in Placida. But, you Boca Grande folks take the cake when it comes to being snobby and stuck up. Boca Grande and its inhabitents are some of the most stuck people I have ever met. I'm not just saying this to toot my horn, but I want you to know - I KNOW alot of people and I do everything in my power to discourage people from day-tripping out there.. Maybe you folks out there changed your attitude Hudsons and the rest of the small businesses would see some revenue increases... Simon]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Simon Lingenfhelter</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:38:57 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-291</guid>
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			<title>Tarpon Lady says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-127</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Mark, you correctly note that Virginia statutes aren't relevant to Florida. An opinion of a court isn't a statute, however. An appellate court opinion does offer valuable guidance regardless of jurisdiction. A court in Florida may draw upon, or take judicial notice, of an opinion handed down by a court in another state. Happens all the time. You also correctly note that many of our businesses close during the summer months when our "residents" are residing somewhere else. This is hardly unique to Boca Grande. There are many in our business community that would like to see Boca Grande achieve a 12-month economy. I think we both agree that a double-digit toll isn't going to help make this happen. I'm sure you have a thorough understanding of the demographics at play. These demographics involve a constituency of drive by seasonals who put Boca Grande out of mind as soon as it's out of sight. They don't care what happens here as long as it doesn't happen during the three months they grace us with their presence. On the other side are those of us who live here throughout the year. Our commitment is to Boca Grande. Not Nantucket. Not the Hamptons. Not some other place our lawyer has to remind us we own. The first group salivates over the idea of $10 tolls. I hear them talking. They'll keep the riff-raff out. Our businesses will do just fine, they say. The businesses know otherwise. Just ask. Seasonal spending doesn't keep them afloat. Take away the revenue generated by short-term visitors and they're gone. Add the extra operating expense of increased tolls and they're gone. Is that what you want?]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Tarpon Lady</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 06:48:01 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-127</guid>
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			<title>Mark says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-125</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I have weighed-in on this topic before, but would like to once again: Firstly, Herb is correct in his interpretation of the law. However, I also believe that the island employees/owners should receive a significant discount on tolls. As for the beach day-trippers, they do very little commerce on the island. What little Hudson's looses in beverage, and snack sales will be more than off-set by increased island resident sales as people choose to avoid the tolls on their return from Publix. So, should we now concern ourselves with the viability of the local Publix as well? The beach day-trippers are coming to the beach (and will continue to pay the higher toll), not to dine nor shop. There are simply not any local beaches that compare to BG's. The beach day-tripper traffic increases during the summer months when schools are out. If they did have a significant impact on the island restaurants, and stores, why do these same establishments close, or reduce their hours during these months? The last time I checked, Virginia statutes do not apply in Florida. Finally, and for the record, I have remained an resident/owner since the early 80's, and feel that I have a thorough understanding of the demographics at play.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 12:19:36 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-125</guid>
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			<title>Tarpon Lady says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-118</link>
			<description><![CDATA["Herb" wrote: "The law clearly does not say costs should be paid for through property taxes." What part of "if the authority determines that the bridge tolls being collected may be insufficient to repair, replace, or maintain the bridge and causeway” it may "assess and impose upon lands in the district ad valorem taxes of no greater than 2 mills of assessed value per year" does "Herb" find confusing? I was here during the great bridge debate. I'm guessing our friend "Herb" wasn't. Otherwise "Herb" would know that the property tax provision was a requirement tacked on to the bill by the legislature. The people in Tallahassee knew the "Herbs" would eventually show up and attempt to use the toll plaza to turn our island into their own private little gated community. In fact, they were already here. They were gleefully talking $10, $15 and even $50 tolls once we owned the bridge. We dismissed them as crackpots. But the legislature wasn't taking any chances. The language found in the statute is intentional. Herb, they saw you and your pals coming. As Skip said, there's nothing accidental about "for the benefit of the people of this state and the people of Lee and Charlotte Counties." The words, we were told, had meaning. They still do. They give those "other people" standing. Legal standing. It's your worst nightmare, Herb. But go ahead. Vote down the tax. Then watch as a court rolls back your exclusionary toll increase as being contrary to the intent of the statute. You can figure out the rest. Or maybe not. Here's a hint: It's not good. There are times when I, too, wish the day-trippers would go away. I don't like higher taxes. But I know both are needed if the Boca Grande we know and love is going to have a fighting chance to survive. If the Herbs win, it won't.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Tarpon Lady</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 06:11:46 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-118</guid>
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			<title>al says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-117</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although we were not home owners on the island in 1995 or 2000, we support those who made a commitment to operate, maintain and replace the bridges, and we accept that responsibility, as well. Financing through higher tolls is self-defeating and will also be a disaster for the economy of the island. A small increase in taxes is the only sensible solution.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>al</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 21:47:15 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-117</guid>
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			<title>al says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-116</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although we were not home owners in 1995 or 2000, we fully support those who made a commitment to operate, maintain and replace these bridges, and we accept that responsibility for ourselves, as well. Depending entirely on higher tolls is self-defeating and destructive to the economy of the island. A small increase in property taxes is the only solution that makes any sense.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>al</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 21:39:23 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-116</guid>
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			<title>Tarpon Lady says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-115</link>
			<description><![CDATA[According to Black's, a tax is "any contribution imposed by government [...] whether under the name of toll, tribute, tallage, gabel, impost, duty, custom, excise, subsidy, aid, supply, or other name." A toll is a tax. In 2008, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a proposed toll increase violated that state's constitutional limits on taxes. "We consistently have held that when the primary purpose of an enactment is to raise revenue, the enactment will be considered a tax, regardless of the name attached to the act." A toll is a tax. Those opposed to the small property tax sought by the bridge authority are attempting to dupe Boca Grande residents into paying a much higher bridge tax in the guise of a toll. On top of this doubling this bridge tax (toll), we now have "Herb" coming along telling us we will have to spend even more money to bolster our business community. I'm tired of the tax and spenders like "Herb" who have no problem writing checks with someone else's name on them. Enough is enough. A small one-third of a mill tax keeps our bridge taxes (tolls) affordable, is less expensive in the long run and doesn't put our island businesses at risk. Wishful thinking from "Herb" and his friends isn't the answer.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Tarpon Lady</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 15:08:19 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-115</guid>
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			<title>herb says:</title>
			<link>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-113</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The author is correctly referring readers to the statute. However, the law clearly does not say costs should be paid for through property taxes. IN FACT it acknowledges that Gasparilla residents pay for the bridge via tolls. The author makes broad and sweeping opinions of what his personal interpretations of the law are. That is not correct. The author also is condescending to newer residents as though their opinions are lesser than the esteemed ones of longer time residents. It seems to me people are missing a big point. Yes higher tolls increase the costs to businesses on island. But their costs have been significantly higher for many years (Hudson's vs Publix off island is an example). But the local merchants pass this cost on in higher prices than of island and residents should be willing to pay. I would suggest the real message to island property owners of any editorial on passing the cost of the new bridges on in increased tolls is this - YOU have an obligation to support and buy from local businesses if you want these services. And while your property taxes won't increase your cost of local services will as tolls are passed on. I have full confidence residents will continue to support these businesses despite them charging higher prices and thereby residents will bear the cost of the bridges.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>herb</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 07:03:16 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.bocabeacon.com/news/editorial/4569-guest-editorial-we-made-a-promise-we-need-to-keep-it#comment-113</guid>
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