by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Specialty license plates might make an automobile stand out a little more, but for State Sen. Jim King, there’s needed money for the St. Johns River behind one proposed plate that is making the rounds through legislature. The St. Johns River Plate bill, also known as SB 342, won unanimous approval in the Senate’s Transportation Committee Wednesday, one of the needed steps in making such a plate a reality. “We’re very, very lucky to get it heard,” said King Wednesday, “especially with all of the recent opposition from groups like Sons of the Confederate Veterans.”
He noted that with the opposition, and the possible hiatus on new tags — there are more than 100 already established in the state — there was the likelihood the bill could have been shelved. King said it “could have been years” before the river tag would have been able to see the light of day. Thankfully, he said, that hasn’t been a problem.
King said the extra fees associated with the purchase of such a tag — around $25 per year for each purchased — would benefit St. Johns River cleanup and research with funds that aren’t going to be easy to come by in a budget year with looming cuts and the lack of resources to secure consistent funding. “It gives us the potential for up to $300,000 a year (for the St. Johns River),” said King. “In a year when projects that require financial assistance are going to be hard to get through, this is the second best thing we can do.”
In other news from the session that affects Jacksonville:
• With less public fanfare, another of King’s bills, SB 2246, also passed unanimously before the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday. Titled the “Jacksonville Transportation Authority” King sees the legislation as a “housekeeping bill” that will allow the local transportation authority to more easily bring in dollars through flexibility in issuing and floating bonds.
“At this point we’re optimistic about it,” said Mike Miller, JTA spokesperson.
Miller said that the bill would allow JTA to “go back to the future” in policy as when it was the Jacksonville Expressway Authority by allowing the authority to generate bonds based on toll revenue — something that could happen if and/or when public/private partnerships on projects begin on certain road projects.
“I’m confident it will make it through,” said King.
• That’s not the only piece of legislature Miller and JTA are focused on during session.
“A lot of bills we’re keeping an eye on,” said Miller.
He noted a bill introduced by State Rep. Lake Ray, CS/HB 1451, which if passed, would create the Florida Transportation Revenue Study Commission. Such a commission, said Miller, would seek alternative sources of funding for roadway projects instead of relying on the gas tax — a diminishing source of revenue, said Miller. He also noted a Senate bill sponsored by State Sen. Tony Hill, SB 2248, which exempts certain public/private transportation facilities from different taxes as one similar to King’s that could shape the way public-private partnerships occur in the future.
“All of these bills are important as they can help shape the future growth of Northeast Florida,” said Miller.
• State Rep. Mike Weinstein’s bill that would allow the Police and Fire Pension fund to increase its permitted rate of investment into fixed real estate is passing through the needed steps. The bill, which would increase allowable investment from 10 percent to 20 percent, passed through the House’s Economic Development & Community Affairs Council Wednesday and is currently in the House’s Finance & Tax Council.
In an earlier interview with the Daily Record, John Keane, Police and Fire Pension Fund executive director, said the local fund’s cap on investment has been lower than that of those around the state and by relaxing the restriction, it would allow for greater return on investment.
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