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Helene Caseltine, Economic Development Director, Indian River Chamber of Commerce, asked if the solar improvements would apply only in the unincorporated areas of the County, and learned from Commissioner O'Bryan that the County could make the P.A.C.E. District Countywide, if desired. A public speaker attested that the Tax Abatement Program is an enabling tool for business owners. A public speaker wondered how the Federal Government would handle the reduced income tax revenues resulting from the 30% rebates. 7. CITY OF VERO BEA CH — KE VIN SA WNICK, MAYOR Mayor Sawnick reported that the City of Vero Beach would be voting in March 2010 on whether to go forward with a Tax Abatement Program, which if approved, would go to referendum on the November 2010 General Election Ballot. He thanked the City of Sebastian for initiating the Program, and said that if the City's referendum passes, Vero Beach will model their Tax Abatement Ordinance after Sebastian's, so when a business comes to town, the Municipalities would be working as a team, and not competing. He believed that the Tax Abatement would be a valuable building block for any businesses considering locating within the County, or for existing businesses who wish to expand, and also a way to promote interlocal cooperation among the Municipalities and County. Mayor Sawnick recognized Mayor Susan Adams of Fellsmere, and Mayor Richard Gilmore of Sebastian, who have been meeting regularly with the City of Vero Beach, and said that the group would next be evaluating how each Municipality can best promote its unique assets, and to that end, would also be working with the Chambers of Commerce and the County. Concluding his remarks, Mayor Sawnick expressed confidence in the positive results which the County will derive from both the interlocal cooperative efforts and the Tax Abatement Program. 8 February 18, 2010 Economic/Goal Summit II