At a ceremony in New Castle, Del., on Feb. 19, Florio and Castle had celebrated approval of a pact that expanded the DRBA's authority so it could fund such projects with surplus revenues. Florio promised that the pact, which required approval of Congress and both state legislatures, would mean "jobs and a sense of hope and new direction for South Jersey."
But after the ceremony, the DRBA board unanimously approved a $45 million capital-improvement plan that members said likely would commit all surplus tolls for years.
In letters to the authority, Florio and Castle questioned whether the capital projects were necessary. They also said the agency should consider floating bonds to finance capital spending rather than continuing the current ''pay as you go" practice, a move that could free surplus toll revenue for economic development.
Florio also criticized the authority for not controlling its costs. "Costs at the DRBA have risen by 25 percent in each of the last two years and they are expected to double between 1990 and 1995," Florio said in a statement. ''That's not something I can support."
The capital budget, which members said was tentative, includes a new administration building in Cape May, double-decking of three ferries and the addition of eight toll booths at the bridge.
The authority had a $10.5 million operating surplus in 1989 and expects a $5 million to $10 million surplus for 1990 when the figures come in, according to DRBA executive director William J. Miller Jr.
Miller, authority chairman William J. DiMondi and finance chairman Tom Draper did not return phone calls yesterday.
The authority had voted a $2 increase in ferry tolls, to $18 for a car and driver, effective April 1. But members said that would only bring the ferry, now subsidized by the bridge, to a break-even point. Bridge tolls have not been raised since 1986.
Without a toll increase, authority members said, rising costs were likely to consume the surplus altogether within several years.
