Prepared by The St. Petersburg Times 1960

SUNSHINE SKYHKY FACT SHEET

The Sunshine Skyway, lS-mile toll bridge connecting Pinellas
and Manatee Counties over lover Tampa Bay, was built in l9SO-Sh
after an agreement between the Port Authority of St. Petersburg
and the State Improvement Commission (now Florida Development
Commission).

This agreement provided:

The St. Petersburg Port Authority--sn arm of the government
of the City of St. Petersburg--would turn its assets over to the
state. These assets included ferry boats, valuable land, bridge
franchise, right-of-uay, ferry boat equipment and cash on hand.
Total assets were valued at more than $1,000,000.

The Improvement Omission in exchange for the assets agreed
to finance and build the Skyway and did finance and build it and
made this further pledge. ratified by the state Road Board:

"Be it further resolved that this commission a rose

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o operate as a ree r go.

When the present road board attempted to ignore and abrogste
this pledge and refinance the bonds, perpetuating the tolls, h0,000
Pinellas County citizens signed petitions against such refinancing
and asked the state to honor its legally and morally binding
commitment. Governor Collins called off the refinancing.

Detailed fact sheet is attached.

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