Letter to the Editor: Questions arise after GIBA board votes on continuing with referendum

To the Editor:

As a Boca Grande property owner and voting Florida resident, I was taken aback by the level of frustration evinced during the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority quarterly board meeting held Wednesday afternoon, April 25.

With the exception of only a few, almost everyone in attendance at the Boca Grande Community Center auditorium was against instituting an ad valorem tax to partially fund the new bridge construction.

The notable dissatisfaction seemed to evolve from primarily two issues. First the acknowledgement by attendees, including the GIBA board members, that the recent survey sent to Boca Grande voters was flawed and unclear.

The second issue involved the survey results which showed a majority of respondents rejecting any form of ad valorem tax, clearly indicating a desire for a “pay as you go” approach funded solely through increased tolls.

Nevertheless, in a 3-2 vote the GIBA board decided to pursue a referendum on this matter. Baffled residents are now wondering why they need to vote again on essentially the same issue on the national election ballot in November.

Jim Ardrey
Boca Grande