Brevard commissioners decide not to send Indian River Lagoon half-cent sales tax to a vote this year citing election timing

The Brevard County Commission Tuesday voted against putting an 10-year extension to the half-cent sales tax for the Indian River Lagoon on November's ballot for voter approval.

Although the sales tax won't expire until 2026, advocates were pushing for the ten-year extension now to ensure there would be no interruption of funding for ongoing cleanup efforts.

Tuesday's vote will not definitively end the lagoon tax and will leave it up to a future county commission after this year's elections to decide whether the issue should go before voters.

Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday against putting the question on the Nov. 5 ballot, while adding that it should be voted on closer to its expiration date in 2026.

The half-cent sales tax funds the "Save Our Lagoon Project Plan," created by Brevard County's Natural Resources Management Department and consultants. It raises more than $54 million per year for lagoon cleanups that include organic muck removal from the lagoon bottom; upgrades to stormwater, sewer plant and septic systems; improved fertilizer management; oyster reef restoration; public education and more.

A "Yes" vote would renew the tax for another decade. The proposed ballot language is slightly different than on the 2016 tax that voters approved and is now being dubbed the "Save Our Indian River Lagoon Infrastructure Sales Surtax."

That vote was largely based on the fact that it is an election year that will bring turnover to the Board. Commissioners like District 4's Rob Feltner felt that the newly elected Board after November should choose whether to move forward with the sales tax renewal.

"I don't disagree with putting this before the voters. I disagree with putting this before the voters in 2024. Putting this before the voters just two weeks before the new commission starts would be a mistake," Feltner said.

Commissioner Rita Pritchett said she was supportive of the lagoon sales tax but that the timing should be adjusted.

"I'm pro-lagoon. I don't disagree that it's a little bit premature," Pritchett said, adding that she would support putting it on the ballot in 2026.

District 2 commissioner Tom Goodson was supportive of the measure. Commission Chair Jason Steele seconded his motion to approve the measure but it failed in a 3-2 vote.

Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Indian River Lagoon half-cent sales tax to a vote this year citing election timing