Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Baird interjected that if the Board should decide to include the School Board, <br />they could not pass the proposed ordinance today as they would need to have the approval <br />of a majority of the municipalities involved. That has not been contemplated in today's <br />proposal and probably could not be accomplished in time to be included on the November <br />ballot. <br />Mayor Joel Tyson, City of Fellsmere, stated that his city lives on grants and revenue <br />sharing and would not support including the School Board. <br />Bill Glynn, 1802 Barefoot Place, on the Board of Directors of Summerplace <br />Improvement Association, North Beach Civic Association and Save Our Shores, questioned <br />where the funds would come from for the necessary services such as drainage, sewers, roads <br />and the new county administration building, if not from this optional sales tax. Ad valorem <br />taxes would have to be increased. He asked that the Board protect the quality of life for the <br />citizens with strong controls on density. He supported the program completely. <br />School Board Chairman Steve Mohler, 2100 Vero Beach Avenue, representing the <br />Indian River County School District, stated that if the population remains at a reasonable <br />level, the School Board will need 1 high school, 2 middle schools and 4 elementary schools <br />within the next 5 years. It has been proven that small schools provide the best atmosphere <br />for learning and the state has documented unfunded capital requirements for more than <br />4,600 students in that time period. We need to work together to make sure all governmental <br />units are functioning efficiently. The School Board is only asking for their fair share of <br />these funds and there is plenty of time to work out an equitable division of the funds. There <br />should be an open discussion with the taxpayers, including a realistic projection of the <br />JULY 2, 2002 <br />