Vote YES on Transportation Bond

I'm voting YES on the August 18 transportation bond because it's about responsibly paying for infrastructure we already know we need.

The Caxambas Bridge has the lowest sufficiency rating among 370 bridges in Collier County, and the Goldenrod Bridge is classified by FDOT as "scour critical." These projects don't disappear if the referendum fails. The question isn't whether we'll pay for them - it's how.

A bond spreads the cost of long-lasting infrastructure over many years, allowing future residents who benefit from these bridges and roads to help pay for them. It also enables the City to leverage more than $11 million in FDOT grants, significantly reducing the local cost of replacing both bridges.

If the bond fails, the City will still have to fund these essential projects. That means less money available for other priorities including canal and waterway maintenance, parks, trees and shade, stormwater improvements, public safety equipment, and hurricane reserves. After eight years of reduced millage rates, Marco Island is already far behind on deferred infrastructure needs.

This isn't about spending for the sake of spending. It's about replacing aging infrastructure before it becomes more expensive or poses greater risks. And even if the bond passes, every project and expenditure must still be approved by City Council in a public meeting.

To me, voting YES is the fiscally responsible way to preserve the quality of life we value, while paying for essential infrastructure fairly and prudently, and not taking funding away from other priorities.