Opinion ID: 1848369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sanibel Projects

Text: Chapter 418, Florida Statutes, authorizes municipalities and counties to create playgrounds and recreational centers. Under Section 418.07, Florida Statutes, a municipality or county may issue bonds to pay for the establishment of such facilities: The governing body of such municipality or county may, pursuant to law and in conformity with the constitution of this state, provide that the bonds of such municipality or county may be issued in the manner provided by law for the issuance of bonds for other purposes, for the purpose of acquiring lands or buildings for playgrounds, recreation centers and other recreational purposes and for the equipment thereof. [Emphasis added] Appellee contends that Section 418.07, Florida Statutes, combines with the Revenue Bond Act of 1953, Chapter 159, to authorize the issuance of the bonds for the Sanibel recreational projects, and that the bonds need only comply with the technical, procedural requirements of Chapter 159 in order to be valid. Appellants argue, however, that in order for Section 418.07, Florida Statutes, to authorize the issuance of bonds in the manner provided by Chapter 159, the project must satisfy both the substantive and procedural requirements of that chapter. In short, according to appellants the recreational projects must be self-liquidating. We note that a number of the Sanibel Projects are not recreational in nature but road improvements. As we noted earlier in this opinion, inherent in the scheme of Chapter 159 for funding self-liquidating projects is the principle that those who substantially benefit from the project should bear the cost. In the instant case, using a Chapter 159 bridge as a self-liquidating project to pay for improvements requires a finding of benefit to those who use the bridge, and it is therefore necessary for the appellee to demonstrate a sufficient and direct relation between the use of the toll bridge and the use of the Sanibel Projects. If the Sanibel Projects are to be financed through the sale of the bridge improvement bonds, the Sanibel Projects should to a major extent contribute to the generation of tolls by drawing traffic across the bridge and causeway and onto the island or directly and substantially benefit the users of the bridge. No island resident or visitor should be required to pay for mainland road improvements or island recreational facilities unless the projects confer a substantial benefit to the users of the bridge or unless a significant portion of the bridge traffic will come from such improvements. To affirm the validation of the bonds under the record in this case would be to abdicate our responsibility to ensure that the legislative will is followed and would invite abuses in the financing of public projects. The validation of the Lee County, Sanibel Bridge Improvement Bonds is reversed, and this cause is remanded to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion. It is so ordered. ADKINS, BOYD, ENGLAND, SUNDBERG, HATCHETT and DREW (Retired), JJ., concur.