Vero Beach, Fla. - The Taxpayers Association of Indian River County has submitted its budget recommendations for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to Indian River County, the School District, Sebastian, and Vero Beach. The recommendations support essential services while urging disciplined use of public dollars. The Taxpayers Association encourages all interested members of the public to read the full TPA Budget Statements since they contain considerably more detail and analyses than can be covered in a press release. All 2026-2027 TPA Budget Statements can be found on the Association’s website listed here. Indian River County: The Association recommends approval of the $614.8 million proposed budget and unchanged principal operating millage rates. It commends below-inflation growth, limited Commission spending and stable public-safety agreements, while urging infrastructure readiness, predictable permitting, measurable economic-development investments and timely wastewater action under the 2030 septic-to-sewer mandate. School District: The Association recommends adopting the $436.2 million tentative budget as final, including the reduced 5.674-mill rate. It applauds the District's fourth consecutive A grade but warns that funding is not keeping pace with inflation and major costs. Priorities include protecting classrooms, measuring consolidation savings, sustaining workforce development, recruiting a strong successor to Superintendent David Moore, and advocating for choice funding that recognizes unavoidable public-school obligations. Sebastian: The Association supports the City's service and capital priorities but opposes using reserves to finance recurring operations after adopting the 3.3318-mill rollback rate. The Council should either identify equivalent recurring spending reductions or restore sufficient recurring revenue, preserving reserves for emergencies, one-time capital needs and potential property-tax changes. Vero Beach: The Association recommends adopting the proposed budget and maintaining the 2.9816-mill rate. It supports public safety, infrastructure, beautification, staffing and the new financial system correcting weaknesses exposed by the audit crisis. The Water and Sewer transfer should remain at 6%; an 8% transfer should be only a last resort and should not drive utility rates above those already proposed. Across all four statements, the Taxpayers Association's standard is consistent: fund competent government at the lowest reasonable cost, avoid short-term choices that create future liabilities, and keep spending transparent, measurable and focused on core public responsibilities.