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Crist Seeks User Fee Increases

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By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: March 13, 2009

Updated: 03/13/2009 08:05 am

TALLAHASSEE - Floridians soon could start paying more for driver's licenses, bottled water and visiting state parks.

Those are some of the fee hikes Gov. Charlie Crist is proposing to help close the estimated $5 billion state budget deficit. Altogether, the governor proposes raising $500 million in new revenue through an array of fee increases.

Crist insists the new and increased charges are not taxes but "user fees."

A wide variety of Floridians would be affected. Some examples:

•Truckers whose loads are heavier than the legal limit would pay 10 cents to 50 cents more per pound than the current 5 cents.

•Small businesses that haul waste to a landfill or incinerator would pay an additional tipping fee of $1.25 a ton. That's on top of the local tipping fees. For instance, the fee at Tampa's McKay Bay Transfer Station is $71 a ton.

•First-time teacher certification exams would increase from $50 to $75.

•Visitors to state parks would pay anywhere from $1 to $3 more, depending on how many people visit the park annually. Camping fees would increase an average of $4 a night.

Perhaps one of the more controversial new charges in the governor's package is a tax on bottled water of 6 cents a gallon. Crist administration analysts estimate the water tax would bring in $55.8 million a year, with some of the money slated for water improvement and supply projects.

Some lawmakers from agricultural counties have expressed concern that the bottled water tax would open the door to charging farmers for water used to irrigate.

Crist repeatedly has said he is opposed to raising taxes to cover the budget shortfall. On Wednesday, the governor explained why he thinks the proposed charge on bottled water is not a tax.

"People who make money off water, which is really owned by our fellow Floridians, there ought to be a reasonable fee attached to it," Crist said. "I think it's only fair and just."

About $143 million of the proposed fee increases are for programs in the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Charges for all types of driver's licenses, registrations and identification cards would increase by several dollars, as would the cost insurance companies and others pay for driver histories.

Members of the state Senate Finance and Tax Committee said Thursday that they would like to see the department fully funded by fees.

"It's always been a long-term goal of mine to make these agencies as self-sufficient as possible," said Sen. Ken Pruitt, a Republican from Port Saint Lucie.

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, agreed, saying user fees are a "fairer way to tax."

"I don't know if I agree with them all," he said, "but I'm thinking we're looking for fairness in taxes, and user fees should always be considered."

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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