VIDEO: Brevard Commission Adds Indian River Lagoon Tax Hike Proposal To Nov. 8 Ballot

By  //  August 24, 2016

FORGIVES $770,000 FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

BREVARD-COUNTY-COMMISSION-580-33S
CLICK HERE TO WATCH: The Brevard County Commission voted unanimously to add the half-cent sales tax increase proposal to benefit the Indian River Lagoon on the November 8 General Election ballot.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Commission voted unanimously to add the half-cent sales tax increase proposal to benefit the Indian River Lagoon on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot.

CLICK HERE to watch the entire meeting.  

CLICK HERE to see the agenda.

During their last meeting, Commissioners heard public comment from more than 50 speakers and watched a presentation by Brevard County staff on the Save Our Lagoon Project Plan before making their decision.

The plan is projected to generate more than $300 million for the Save Our Lagoon Project Plan, with about $200 million earmarked to remove muck from the bottom of the lagoon.

About $100 million would be used to reduce fertilizer and storm water runoff, and to increase the amount of oysters in the lagoon to help filter the water.

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If the county doesn’t take immediate action to improve the condition of the lagoon, experts estimate that there could be $4 billion negative impact to the local economy.

For the tax to be enacted, Brevard County voters will have to approve it in the Nov. 8 referendum.

COMMISSION VOTES TO ABSOLVE $770,000 AGREEMENT FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

On another agenda item, Commissioner Jim Barfield cast the sole dissenting vote against Commissioner Robin Fisher’s proposal for the county to pay $770,000 of roadwork that the Cocoa Expo is required to pay as part of an agreement owner Jeff Unnerstall signed with the county in 2011.

Fisher, who said his proposal was “unusual,” was tasked to meet with the Cocoa Expo to come up with solutions to alleviate the Cocoa Expo’s financial problems.

Barfield voted no to the proposal because he believes Unnerstall needs to pay for at least half the cost of the road upgrades to State Road 520, Friday Road and State Road 524.

County Attorney Scott Knox said that as this will be a recorded document, that all the appropriate parties would have to sign off on the revised binding development plan.

“Who would that be?” asked Fisher. “The bank examiner,” replied Knox.

Commissioner Curt Smith summed up the situation by saying to Unnerstall, “I think you’re a terrible businessman.”

CLICK HERE to watch the entire meeting.

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