WPRO News

State Representative Doreen Costa (R-North Kingstown) is calling for a statewide referendum that would allow the voters to decide the fate of Governor Raimondo’s  controversial bridge tolling plan.

“Taxpayers should vote for whether they want bridge tolls in this state,” said Costa in a statement. “The governor may be technically correct by saying taxpayers won’t be on the hook for revenue bonds. She also said that if toll revenues fall short, higher tolls will be charged. What the governor fails to mention is that taxpayers will end up paying more for good and services that are transported into the state by the companies that are paying the tolls. Taxpayers need the whole story and they should have the final say,” said Costa.

Costa went on to say that “There are too many unknowns like where the gantries will be located and what happens if the tolling numbers come in under projections. Time and again taxpayers want and ask for transparency; this toll project really demands it.”

Costa also told WPRO’s Steve Klamkin that she has not discussed her referendum idea with the Governor.