Sebastian Election Results: Update 7:20 p.m.

Fellsmere awarded $700K for community development

Fellsmere was one of 48 cities and counties to be awarded state funding toward community development Wednesday, according to the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The $700,000 grant for the city will go toward replacing streets, sidewalks and landscaping from North Broadway Street to South Broadway Street, officials said. "Making investments in our small communities helps build opportunities for generations to come," DeSantis said in a statement. "I am proud to make these awards to 48 communities throughout the state to help them build economic resiliency and strengthen their communities." DeSantis issued more than $35 million to the communities through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant. The funds will be used for economic development, commercial and neighborhood revitalization, ...

County Commission advances Children’s Trust Referendum

Indian River County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to advance a tax referendum aimed at improving children's services in the county.  Commissioners plan to ask voters in November 2022  to approve a ballot measure increasing property taxes to fund the Children's Trust.  But first they want to persuade five cities to go along and draft an ordinance establishing the framework for the new special district that would go to public hearing.   The issue had been scheduled for the November 2020 election ballot, but commissioners decided to hold off for two years amidst the economic crisis wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. County attorney Dylan Reingold will bring a draft ordinance before the commission later this year that's expected to ask voters to ...

Judge: Voters will decide school tax referendum Aug. 18, not Nov. 3

Indian River County’s school tax referendum will be held during the Aug. 18 primary election after the School Board prevailed over the County Commission in a legal battle. County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to direct the Supervisor of Elections to place the school tax referendum on the Aug. 18 primary election ballot as ordered by Wednesday state Judge Janet Croom. The commissioners voted on the resolution without commenting during their emergency special meeting and no one from the public spoke. The meeting lasted about three minutes. Croom ruled state law gives the School Board the authority to direct the County Commission to call an election for a certain date and “the commissioners have no discretion to choose a different date.” ...