The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority estimated that it loses $1.7 million a year.

Even though the new flat plates will cost more — at least $2.20 per tag compared to the current cost of $1.72 — Jones insists that the change won’t cost motorists more money. She says savings from less waste and smaller inventories of unused plates will more than make up the difference.

The state currently charges motorists $28 for a tag, but the cost is spread over the 10-year life span of the tag, appearing as a $2.80 fee on each annual motor vehicle registration renewal.

Replacing 15 million tags in a two years will put pressure on county tax collectors, who value customer service.

“We deal with the public every day, and I hate to see them have to suffer,” says Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson.

Nelson says the state could have saved money years ago if it stopped printing tags featuring the county names. She has an unwanted of 25,000 tags with the word “Pinellas” on them that will never sell because people don’t want it.

“They want to be discreet,” Nelson says.

Motorists will have a say in what Florida’s new license plate looks like.

Sometime early next year, Jones says, the state will allow Floridians to choose their favorite license plate design in an online poll.

Three have variations of an orange symbol in the “O” in Florida, and a fourth has an orange in the upper left hand corner.

Jones says it’s all about finding more money for Scott’s stated No. 1 priority: schools.

“The governor has asked the agencies to dig deep. He wants to create savings across the enterprise so we don’t cut education,” Jones says. “I know these savings are to be had.”