Laserfiche WebLink
Long Term Financial Planning and Major Initiatives <br />Chapter 163 Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code Rule 9J-5 requires each local government <br />to have a Comprehensive Land Use Plan. An important part of this plan is the Capital Improvements <br />Program (CIP) which evaluates the need for public facilities in support of the Future Land Use Element, <br />to estimate the costs of improvements for which local government has fiscal responsibility, to analyze <br />the fiscal capacity of the local government to finance and construct improvements, and to adopt financial <br />policies to guide the funding and construction of the improvements. The CIP is updated annually and <br />encompasses a period of five years. Listed below are six major capital projects included in the current <br />CIP along with the source of funding and capital costs: <br />➢ Fire/EMS Station 13 - Construction of an additional station is underway to serve the expanding <br />south county population. The Emergency Services District reserves will provide $530,000 with <br />the remaining $1.6 million being funded by impact fees. The operating expense will be <br />approximately $2.1 million. <br />➢ Osprey Marsh - The County is constructing the second algal turf scrubber (ATS) system called <br />the "Osprey Marsh" for the south relief canal. The ATS will remove dissolved nitrogen and <br />phosphorous from the water and return the treated water back to the Indian River lagoon where it <br />will enhance water quality and thereby support the resurgence of sea grasses in the lagoon. This <br />project is a collaborative effort between the Utilities Department and the Stormwater Division. It <br />is being funded through a combination of capacity charges, one cent sales tax and grants at an <br />estimated cost of $8.6 million. <br />➢ South County Park — Phase III Improvements - The expansion of this park is necessary to <br />provide recreation facilities and programs to the growing population in the southern part of the <br />County. A multi-purpose intergenerational facility will be constructed at a cost of $6.9 million <br />with impact fees and one cent sales tax providing the funding. Ad valorem tax proceeds and user <br />fees as well as partnering agency contributions will fund increased operating costs which are <br />estimated to be about $118,000 per year. <br />➢ 66th Avenue Widening — Construction has begun to widen 66th Avenue from State Road 60 in <br />Vero Beach to 49th Street. Currently, this is one of the few main arterials connecting the north <br />and south county areas and traffic has increased substantially on this road. Estimated <br />construction costs are over $20 million. Funding is from traffic impact fees, gas taxes and <br />grants. In the future, the County plans to expand 66th Avenue from 49th Street to the Sebastian <br />City limits. <br />➢ Oslo Road from 43rd Avenue to 58th Avenue — This phase of Oslo Road widening will increase <br />the road from two to four lanes at a cost of approximately $5.5 million. Funding is derived from <br />traffic impact fees and gas taxes. <br />➢ Crime Scene Unit Building — This is a renovation and expansion of an existing structure next to <br />the Sheriff's Office for additional evidence storage. Funding in the amount of $2.4 million is <br />provided by both optional sales tax and impact fees. <br />iv <br />