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210.01(b) and (c) of this chapter may be pledged to secure and liquidate revenue bonds issued by <br />the county for the purposes set forth in section (a)(1). <br />Per Indian River County Code 210.01, the first two cents do not have a specific use limitation, <br />however the third cent can only be used as set forth in Indian River County Code 210.03(a)(4) <br />and the fourth cent can only be used as set forth in Indian River Code 210.03(a)(2) and (a)(6). <br />Tourist Tax Cents — Indian River County Code <br />Code Subsection 1St Penny <br />(1)(Sports stadium) x <br />(2)(Promote tourism) x <br />(3)(Tourist bureau) x <br />(4)(Beaches) x <br />(5)(Museum/Zoo) x <br />(6)(Debt service x <br />Spring training facility) <br />2nd Penny 3rd Penny 4th Penny <br />x <br />x x <br />x <br />x x <br />X <br />x x <br />Per Florida Statute 125.0104, the first three cents of Tourist Tax collected can be used towards <br />any of the allowable expenses within the statute which includes convention centers, sports <br />stadiums, auditoriums, aquariums, zoos, tourism promotion, beach restoration, lagoon <br />improvements, shoreline protection, enhancement and cleanup or infrastructure improvements. <br />The fourth cent may only be used towards funding the debt service for professional sports <br />franchise facilities, retained spring training franchise facilities, convention centers, the operation <br />and maintenance of a convention center or tourism promotion. <br />Staff is recommending the half cent of Tourist Tax revenue be split with two-thirds (2/3) of the <br />amount -dedicated for Beach Restoration and one-third (1/3) dedicated for Tourism Promotion <br />beginning in FY 21/22. As mentioned above, this one-half cent is estimated to generate <br />approximately $315,000 in revenue each fiscal year which would provide $210,000 in additional <br />revenue for the Beach Restoration Fund and $105,000 in additional revenue for the Tourism <br />Promotion Fund. <br />Due to the rising cost of beach restoration projects, as well as the need to nourish County <br />beaches more frequently, additional funding is needed in the Beach Restoration fund. This <br />expense is detailed as being eligible per County Code 210.03 as referenced above in the fourth <br />bullet point. As an example of this, the estimated cost of Sector 3 beach restoration in the current <br />fiscal year is $15.5M. Due to the initial high bids for Sector 3 in late 2020, the County had to re- <br />bid this project in two parts with the first portion (-60%) scheduled for this season (2020-21) and <br />the remainder set for construction next year. The total estimated cost for the entire Sector 3 <br />portion of the beach is now $25.7M, compared to a cost of $12.9M the last time Sector 3 was <br />renourished in 2012. The County's beaches were impacted by hurricanes in 2016 (Matthew), <br />2017 (Irma), and 2019 (Dorian) causing significant beach erosion estimated at a total cost of <br />$10.9M. While FEMA has provided funding for this erosion in the past, it is not necessarily <br />guaranteed going forward. Furthermore, these funds must be matched (typically 25%) with local <br />funding (typically 12.5% is provided by the State). Regardless of hurricane impacts, these <br />renourishment projects have been needed with increased frequency over the last several years, <br />which is a trend that will likely continue into the future. <br />181 <br />