VIERA, Fla. – Brevard County is once more turning to its residents to decide on funding for the restoration of the picturesque yet notoriously contaminated Indian River Lagoon.
On Tuesday, county commissioners greenlit the proposal to place a renewal of the ten-year half-penny sales tax on the November ballot.
Among those advocating for a ‘yes’ vote is Captain Blair Wiggins, a local fishing guide and television show host, as reported by Viera Community Correspondent James Sparvero.
Over the past decade, Wiggins has spearheaded efforts to plant tens of millions of clams, a project the county credits with enhancing the lagoon’s clarity. Alongside over 130 cleanup initiatives, these efforts have helped reduce algae blooms and fish fatalities.
“Imagine if the water had remained as it was in 2015,” Wiggins remarked. “It was literally black for two years.”
Despite the positive impacts, some critics point out that while the county has invested over $100 million in these projects, the total amount collected from the tax is significantly higher, possibly four or five times more.
“We have about $500 million worth of projects that are underway,” natural resources director Virginia Barker explained. “They’re either in design, permitting, construction. Those projects are moving along.”
Almost two/thirds of voters overwhelmingly approved the tax in 2016, and the county said it’s cost the average person about $400 a year.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
