ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Voters here will be asked in November if they support a 10-year extension of a sales tax that has generated $56 million for local roads and bridge projects.
The County Commission initially was deadlocked July 21, voting 2-2 on whether to put extension of the half-percent sales tax before voters. But Commissioner Larry Leet was absent. The commission voted again Aug. 4 and approved placing it on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. The tax is set to expire in 2028.
The sales tax is estimated to generate an additional $45 million countywide in the next 10 years, according to estimates.
Florida sales tax split between tourists and residents
The deadline to submit final ballot language to the Supervisor of Elections is Aug. 5, according to the city.
“This is one of the few tools in our toolbox to diversify our revenue,” Port St. Lucie City Council Member Jolien Caraballo said at the city’s last meeting. “It’s a very important tool.”
At the last County Commission meeting, commissioners Cathy Townsend and Jamie Fowler were in favor of going back to the voters this year, but James Clasby and Erin Lowry were opposed, citing concerns about the impact of state Amendment 3, the property-tax reform ballot initiative. Leet broke the tie Aug. 3, voting in favor of placing it on the ballot.
The sales tax was used to create 13 miles of new sidewalks, improved drainage system upgrades and 104 miles of road resurfacing in Port St. Lucie, Port St. Lucie Public Works Director Colt Schwerdt said.
Sales tax provides a stable “funding source that allows residents, businesses and visitors alike to share in the cost of these improvements while reducing the reliance on property taxes alone,” St. Lucie County Infrastructure Citizens Oversight Committee Chair Ken Kroll wrote in support.
Florida counties need sales tax for critical projects
Voters in 2018 approved the half-percent sales tax for 10 years by 56%. The $56 million generated was leveraged to receive more than $5 million in state and federal grants. The funding helps the county and the cities invest in public roads, reduce traffic congestion, reduce neighborhood flooding and improve local water quality, according to county spokesman Erick Gill.
In 2016, a half-percent additional sales tax measure failed, receiving 46.85% of the vote. Now the county is putting it on the ballot two years early in order to play it safe, giving it another chance to pass something in 2028 in the event it fails in 2026.
The tax has been used to build bridges over Taylor Creek and Ten Mile Creek. The tax money also contributed to improvements such as the resurfacing of Shinn Road, Glades Cut Off Road, Prima Vista Boulevard and portions of Midway Road.
The sales-tax extension could benefit a number of county roads that are identified for resurfacing, among them St. James Boulevard, Angle Road, East Midway Road and Walton Road. Funding also could support bridge repairs, guardrail repairs and replacement and rejuvenation of chip seal and millings roads, Gill said.
Tim O’Hara is TCPalm’s St. Lucie watchdog, environment and fisheries reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Voters in Florida county to vote on tax that generated $56 million
Reporting by Timothy O’Hara, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Timothy O'Hara, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
