A little bird (better known as our colleague Susan Cover) had a story in the newspaper not too long ago about the Maine Turnpike Authority raising the tolls next year. Rising construction project costs and fewer people taking the turnpike to travel through southern and central Maine has caused the authority (MTA) to seek $20 million to cover operational costs, spokesman Dan Paradee told us prior to the approval, which happened the next day.

Tolls are expected to increase for drivers by 23 percent, though Paradee emphasized the specific cost per toll will not be approved until December. We can expect the toll costs to go up starting Feb. 1, 2009.

What we know for sure is that we're going to start overturning our couch cushions looking for extra change to feed the tolls.

You loyal readers are divided when it comes to giving an opinion about toll increases. One commenter on www.kjonline.com expressed clear optimism.

"I think it's great!" they said. "Maine has some of the best-kept roads on the highway in all of New England. More satisfied tourists, more monies for the state of Maine."

We're impressed. It's pretty hard to get excited about something that is going to cost you more money.

Plenty more folks, however, grumbled about the increase, especially because the last time the economy looked this bad, Prohibition was the law.

"Well, it doesn't surprise me that Maine is gonna cost the residents more money by jacking up tolls," another reader posted on a Kennebec Journal blog. "The state is so unfriendly to outside industry and the citizens of the state end up paying for every one of the state's shortfalls."

Hey, we admit it, we're grumbling right along with you. But there are two sides to every story. Paradee said if the MTA had had their way, the increase would not have happened in the first place.

"No one, least of all us, wanted to advance the scheduled 2010 toll increase to 2009," he said. "But it was simply a matter of necessity."

With revenue that has only grown by 21/2 percent in three years and construction and maintenance costs by 80 percent, Paradee said MTA officials felt they had little choice but implement the increase sooner than anticipated. The last toll increase by the authority was Feb. 1, 2005, according to Paradee.

"At the time, based on very reasonable cost and revenue projections, we estimated that the 2005 toll increase would adequately fund our capital and maintenance program through 2010, when another increase would be needed," Paradee said.

Though the toll spike might sting drivers' pockets, Paradee said without the approval to raise tolls, the turnpike might become unsafe.

"No bridges would be repaired," Paradee said. "No paving projects would be conducted."

And once a bridge or road deteriorates to a certain point, he added, "it can cost three to five times as much to repair. Once you fall behind, you never catch up."

Paradee did try to offer a silver lining, however. By advancing the increase, MTA will be able to keep up necessary repairs on Maine's highways and bridges next year.

"It is the fiscally responsible thing to do in the long run," he said.

"We don't do anyone any favors by allowing it to deteriorate and become unsafe."

Start digging between the couch cushions now.

Follow Meghan Malloy's commuter blog and track the cheapest gasoline prices in town daily at www.kjonline.com.