As Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares proposals for the 2024 legislative session, continuing to give financial breaks to frequent users of toll roads could be on the table.
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez hinted at the issue Saturday as she spoke during the Republican Party of Florida’s “Freedom Summit” in Kissimmee. A year-long program of providing credits to motorists who frequently use toll roads is scheduled to expire Dec. 31.
“Our administration is committed to relieving some of that financial burden, relieving some of that stress,” Nunez said during the event at the Gaylord Palms Resort. “And we’re going to continue to do so by providing tax relief and toll relief.”
The event focused on the 2024 presidential race, with speakers including DeSantis, former President Donald Trump and other candidates. State leaders also touted actions they have taken, as the GOP has complete control of Florida government.
DeSantis, who is expected in the coming weeks to outline a proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, discussed measures that have expanded gun rights, targeted the Chinese Communist Party by restricting land purchases by people from China and removed such things as “diversity, equity and Inclusion” programs from schools and businesses.
During her comments, Nunez pointed to a package of tax breaks that passed for the current fiscal year, and she included the toll-credit program as a way “to reduce the burden caused by the Biden administration.”
The toll program went into effect on January 1. It provides 50 percent credits to people who use SunPass or other Florida transponders and make 35 or more toll-road trips a month.
At the time, Moody’s Investors Service warned that Florida lawmakers should anticipate some “political and social” pressure when the program ends.
The financial rating agency said the program would “buoy” toll-road demand without reducing revenues because the state is offsetting lost toll dollars. But the agency also questioned what could occur when the temporary program expires.
“If individual toll roads decide to continue this program beyond its expiration or implement other major discounts without any offsetting mechanisms from the state, toll revenue will decline despite the induced demand,” Moody’s said in a report. “If roads decide to revert to full toll rates in 2024, they will face political and social pressure from drivers when the discounts expire.”
The program, approved by the Legislature during a December 2022 special session, expanded on a similar credit program that touched fewer toll roads.
Through September, the state had issued $343.4 million in credits through the current program.
