INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Since 1989, shoppers in Indian River County have paid an extra one cent is sales tax, which has been used to fund various projects throughout the county. In 2016, voters will be asked to continue paying that extra 1 percent sales tax.
The last time voters took up the issue of the optional sales tax was 2002.
Commissioner Bob Solari voiced his support with taking the question to the voters, saying he believes this Board of County Commissioners over the last seven years has done right by the taxpayers.
“We haven’t allowed ourselves to get fat in any way,” Solari said of the County budget. Instead, Commissioners cut the property tax rate as low as they felt they could for as long as they could during the recession.
Solari cautioned the Board, though, noting that if voters do not approve extending the optional sales tax, the property tax rate (known as millage) might have to be increased to compensate for the lack of funding to continue covering necessary projects.
Commission Chair Wesley Davis told the Board that if it wanted to take the question to the voters, first the Board should adopt a resolution in support of the optional sales tax extension.
“This is our initiative,” he said, explaining that before going to the five local municipalities to get their support, they need to show their own support.
A resolution will be drafted and brought back at a later date for the Board of County Commissioners to vote on. As part of the resolution package, County staff has been tasked with creating a document that explains what the extra penny in sales tax has been spent on over the years.
If Commissioners approve the resolution, staff will take the resolution and package to the municipalities, seeking each council’s support.
With their support in hand, staff would then craft an ordinance that would go through a public hearing process, which, if Commissioners then approve, will send ballot language on to the Supervisor of Elections to be placed on the November 2016 ballot.
The language must be submitted and approved by the Supervisor of Elections no later than Aug. 31 to make it onto the ballot.
