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Comprehensive Plan Capital Improvements Element According to state law, the Local Government Infrastructure Surtax must be enacted by a majority vote of the Board of County Commissioners and approved by voters in a countywide referendum. This surtax, which may be imposed for a maximum period of fifteen years, was initiated by Indian River County in April, 1989, and was renewed by voters in November, 2002. Generally, the proceeds must be expended to finance, plan, and construct infrastructure; to acquire land for public recreation or conservation or protection of natural resources; and to finance the closure of local government-owned solid waste landfills that are already closed or are required to close by order of the Department of Environmental Protection. Table 6.1 shows that local sales surtax revenue represented 5.55% of all funds collected by Indian River County in FY 2008/09. Figure 6.6 displays the Local Discretionary Sales Surtax revenue received by Indian River County over the last six fiscal years. This local revenue source increased by 35% over that period. Distribution of surtax proceeds is based on the specifics of an interlocal agreement or through a formula based on population. In Indian River County, Local Infrastructure Surtax revenue is distributed to county government and municipal governments through a formula based on population. Currently, twenty-one of the sixty-seven Florida counties levy a Local Government Infrastructure Surtax. Within Indian River County's region, Brevard, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties do not levy the surtax, while Martin County levies a 0.5% infrastructure surtax. Okeechobee County is eligible to levy the infrastructure surtax, but instead levies a Small County Surtax of I%, which is another local discretionary sales surtax. Tourist Development Tax Any county in the state may, subject to a vote of the citizenry, impose a Tourist Development Tax. The transient rental trade is the primary base for the levy of the tourist tax. Any lodging agreement for six months or less is subject to the tax. Generally, the tourist tax levy is one or two percent. Counties, however, may set an additional one percent above the original tax through an extraordinary vote of the governing board or by referendum. Currently, Indian River County imposes the original two percent tourist tax as well as an additional one percent Figure 6.7: Tourist Development Tax Revenue $1,800 $1676 $15 i7 $1585 $1,600 $1449 $1,400 $1294 $1,200 $1082 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $- 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 ■ Revenue (in thousands) Community Development Department Source: Indian River County Finance DepaAq&n River County Supplement #_; Adopted November _, 2010, Ordinance 2010-_ 7