St. Pete Beach Mayor Suggests Implementing Tourist Tolls at Entry Points

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ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — In an effort to revitalize infrastructure following the destruction caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila has introduced a proposal to implement tolls at the main entry points to the barrier island. This strategy is aimed at generating funds specifically for infrastructure redevelopment.

According to Mayor Petrila, the tolls would apply exclusively to tourists, sparing local business owners, employees, and residents from additional charges.

“The city requires an estimated $200 million to restore its infrastructure to optimal functionality,” Petrila stated during Monday’s city commission meeting.

The toll initiative is part of a broader strategy designed to finance the repair of seawalls, stormwater systems, and sewer pipelines. With approximately 60,000 visits to St. Pete Beach each day, based on figures from the Florida Department of Transportation, the mayor projects that a $1 toll could potentially generate about $11 million annually for the city.

However, business owners along the beach express concerns about potential declines in tourism-driven revenue and increased traffic on the island, as reported to 8 On Your Side.

“It’s just disheartening. It’s just another tax for a mismanaged city. That’s all it is. It’s already a time when business is down from the hurricane, from people already struggling. It’s just one more burden on the common people that just want to enjoy the beach,” said Matt Vario, the owner of the Toasted Monkey Bar and Restaurant.

The proposal did not include information on the price of the toll plazas, nor exactly where they would be placed.

“Something like this toll is really going to put a strain on these businesses. All those tourists and all the visitors that visit these restaurants and small businesses are simply going to go up the beach to Treasure Island. They’re going to go down to Terra Verde, and they’ll take their business elsewhere. I think this proposal is very shortsighted. It’s going to hurt our city,” said Scott Tate, a challenger to Petrila in the March election.

The item, presented by Mayor Petrila, was not on Monday’s city commission agenda. While commissioners did express concerns, the general consensus was to explore the project with a study to determine feasibility. Mayor Petrila did not respond to questions or comment on the proposal for this story.