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can be attributed to an improving economy and lower fuel prices which have led to an increase in fuel <br />consumption. <br />All sixty-seven Florida counties levy the full $0.06 of the original local option fuel tax. <br />Table 6.3 identifies the local fuel taxes levied in Indian River County and in other counties in the <br />region. As shown in Table 6.3, Saint Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach counties all levy <br />the highest allowable fuel taxes at $0.12 per gallon. Those four counties impose both the Ninth Cent <br />Fuel Tax and the One to Five Cent Local Option Fuel Tax. While Indian River County is eligible to <br />levy the Ninth -Cent Fuel Tax and the One to Five Cent Local Option Fuel Tax either by extraordinary <br />vote of the Board of County Commissioners or by voter approval in a countywide referendum, it does <br />not currently levy either tax. At this time, fifty-three of the sixty-seven Florida counties levy the <br />Ninth -Cent Fuel Tax, while thirty-four of the sixty-seven Florida counties impose at least a portion of <br />the One to Five Cent Local Option Fuel Tax. <br />Table 6.3: Local Fuel Tax Rates <br />County <br />One to Six Cent Local <br />Option Fuel Tax <br />One to Five Cent <br />Local Option Fuel Tax <br />Ninth Cent Fuel <br />Tax <br />Total Local Fuel <br />Tax <br />Brevard <br />$0.06 <br />-------- <br />-------- <br />$0.06 <br />Indian River <br />$0.06 <br />-------- <br />-------- <br />$0.06 <br />Martin <br />$0.06 <br />$0.05 <br />$0.01 <br />$0.12 <br />Okeechobee <br />$0.06 <br />$0.05 <br />$0.01 <br />$0.12 <br />Palm Beach <br />$0.06 <br />$0.05 <br />$0.01 <br />$0.12 <br />St. Lucie <br />$0.06 <br />$0.05 <br />$0.01 <br />$0.12 <br />Source: The Florida Legislature's Office of Economic and Demographic Research website: November 2019. <br />Franchise Fee/Tax <br />Counties and municipalities may exercise their home rule authority to impose a fee upon a utility for <br />the grant of a franchise and the privilege of the utility using the local government's rights-of-way to <br />conduct the utility's business. Franchise fees are typically levied through a franchise agreement <br />negotiated between the local government and the utility provider. Indian River County receives <br />franchise revenue from electric, water, sewer, garbage, and cable television franchises. <br />Table 6.1 shows that franchise fee revenue represented 3.46% of all funds collected by Indian River <br />County in FY 2017/18. Figure 6.9 shows that since FY 2012/13 franchise fee revenue collected by <br />Indian River County increased 7.13%. <br />169 <br />