05/31/2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

continue to provide safe and meticulous beaches. She presented a synopsis of an informal survey of the County’s, City’s, and tourist usage at the City’s beaches. The survey showed 28% of park and beach users as tourists, 27% as City of Vero Beach residents and 45% as county residents. She also provided a “best-cost estimate” of maintaining and providing lifeguards for the City’s beach parks. Ms. Fromang stated that the City of Vero Beach does not receive tax dollars from the County for its city parks maintenance and operations and it was reasonable to assume that the projected growth within the County would continue to raise the ratio of County residents over City of Vero Beach residents. She informed the Board that the City had prepared a Resolution for the Board to consider should they decide to contribute to the City of Vero Beach Guard and Maintenance program. In response to Chairman Neuberger, Ms. Fromang advised of the basis for figures she provided. Administrator Baird advised that the City does its park maintenance and the County does its own. He thinks they are looking at the tax value of the City and looking at what percentage it is of the overall County’s value and multiplying that by the Park’s budget. Chairman Neuberger asked the City what they were doing. Rob Slezak City’s Recreation Director explained that their Finance Department came up with a best-guessed estimate of 10.88% of the ad valorem for the overall parks cost for Indian River County. That is what City of Vero Beach taxpayers are paying the County to maintain and operate our parks. Commissioner Wheeler did not understand how they came up with that number. He commented that the County has a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) and a General Fund. The General Fund, for instance, would include the court services, the jail, and various things. He asked whether that money goes into our parks. May 31, 2006 3