REP. CANARIO SEEKING AUDIT OF RITBA FINANCES

Rep. Dennis Canario is seeking a full audit of the finances of the quasi-governmental RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority (link below). RITBA is the agency currently charging the 10-cent toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge, and which is seeking a much higher tolls to fund its operations. All who oppose these destructive tolls should do everything possible to support our local elected Representatives and Senators as they work to convince our State officials of the need for a fair, statewide bridg-maintenance program that doesn't hurt local residents & businesses with tolls.

A full accounting of RITBA's operations & finances needs to be part of any serious effort to create a fair, effective bridge-maintenance program. The simple fact is that over 90% of RITBA's proposed tolls will fund RITBA's budget, not Sakonnet Bridge maintenance. RI taxpayers own the bridge, & are paying for the bonds that built it. 

Our local elected officials are all working to create a fair statewide system without adding destructive tolls. Our State government needs to join them, and put the interests of the people who own the bridge before those of a quasi-governmental agency looking for East Bay residents & businesses to fund their budget.

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

http://tiverton.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/representative-seeks-audit-of-ritba-finances-tiverton

RITBA NOW WILL SEND OUT TOLL-BILLS

Of course they are. Because most of the funds RITBA wants to raise by tolls will go to pay for RITBA's budget, facility, personnel, etc, and NOT maintenance on the Sakonnet Bridge, which would require LESS than a 10-cent toll. This toll is a shell-game that some want to impose on East Bay residents & businesses. We have less than three months to support our local Senators & Reps in getting SRB tolls eliminated in favor of a fair, Statewide system of funding bridge maintenance.

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x1803840193/RIDOT-starting-to-send-out-toll-bills-to-Sakonnet-bridge-frequent-fliers

Brian Medeiros
Tiverton, RI

COMMISSION ON TOLL ALTERNATIVES HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ALL RHODE ISLANDERS

The Commission exploring alternatives to tolls has an opportunity not to just undo a destructive & unfair toll on SR Bridge, but to create a responsible and even-handed means of maintaining bridges across RI. The recommendation of this Commission, and action then taken by the General Assembly, will demonstrate whether our State government is interested in truly solving a problem, or simply in using East Bay residents & businesses as a means to fund the budget of the quasi-government RI Turnpike & Bridge Authority.

http://www.eastbayri.com/news/special-commission-gets-broad-overview-of-states-infrastructure-ills/

Brian Medeiros

Tiverton, RI