Subject:
Title
Direction, Re: Funding for Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELs) Program - All Districts
End
Fiscal Impact:
Fiscal impact will depend on Board direction.
Dept/Office:
Parks and Recreation EELs Program
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners provide direction to staff regarding funding for the EELs Program referendum.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
For Fiscal Year 23/24, the combined EEL's debt and operating millage is .0651
The current ad valorem funding for the EELs Program sunsets in September 2024 and the County will no longer be able to levy an operating millage for the maintenance of the existing conservation lands and the operation of the three education centers unless additional bonds are issued for land acquisition and/or public use improvements under the recently approved referendum.
In November 2022, Brevard voters passed a referendum with the following language:
"Environmentally Endangered Land and Water Areas Bond Referendum:
Shall Brevard County issue bonds to extend the Environmentally Endangered Lands program to acquire, improve and maintain wildlife habitat, wetlands, woodlands, and lands that protect Indian River Lagoon and St Johns River, and maintain and improve nature education centers, with citizen oversight, which bonds don't exceed $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount, bear interest not exceeding maximum legal rate, mature twenty years from issuance and are payable from levying annual ad valorem taxes not exceeding 0.1465 mills?"
The EELs Program has historically been funded with ad valorem tax revenue resulting from two separate Countywide millages:
* EELs Operating millage funds operations and maintenance of existing lands and centers and is included in the County's aggregate millage.
* EELs Debt Service millage funds debt payments on the existing bonds for land acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands and centers and is not included in the Coun...
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