Brevard voters approve environmental lands bond

On Tuesday, voters in Brevard County approved an environmentally endangered land program known as the EEL. This decision could double the approximately 28,000 acres of protected land managed under the program.

Of the 171 out of 171 districts reporting, 171,291 (70.3%) voted “yes” and 72,393 (29.7)% “against” the bonds.

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The measure will raise up to $50 million in 20-year bonds at an annual property tax rate not exceeding 14.65 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property. At that top rate, a Brevard single-family home owner with a taxable property value of $200,000 would pay $29.30 annually.

EEL plans to purchase an additional 5,947 parcels of land for a total of approximately 27,000 acres. If all its assets were acquired, the square footage of the program would double. However, 5,000 of these parcels are 1.4-acre parcels in three “mega parcel areas,” and many parcels historically proposed for acquisition are no longer a priority.

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The EEL program currently employs 29 people, 7 of whom are part-time.

fill the green space gap

About 61% in 1990 of Brevard voters approved the EEL program, allowing up to $55 million in bonds to purchase and maintain land and develop recreational and environmental education centers.

During the housing boom of the early 2000s, EEL officials said they needed more cash on hand to buy the most important habitats before development overwhelmed them. So in 2004 he had a 69% majority, Voters authorized EEL to borrow an additional $60 million over 20 years.

now, More than 30 years after the eel tax, proponents calling for approval for a third time said Brevard voters should seek to fill gaps in reserves that connect key habitats and prevent genetic bottlenecks for scrubjays and other creatures. , said it would need to be approved for another 20 years. Endangered wildlife due to fragmented ecosystems.

The current annual operating budget is about $2.5 million, but program proponents say more is needed to meet the program’s conservation goals.

The EEL tax re-vote on August 2nd came after Commissioner John Tobia gave a lengthy slide presentation on why he doesn’t support the tax update.

Tobia cited the 2,568-acre Fox Lake Sanctuary north of Brevard as an example of lost tax revenue. The sanctuary contains 1,041 acres of developable land. Using perimeter zoning and subtracting space for infrastructure, Tobia said the land could support his 292 homes. This equates to his one-time loss of $2.8 million in impact fees.

But one of the voting initiative’s main supporters, Vince Lam of South Merritt Island, sees EEL as a quality of life issue.

He also defends the benefits of EEL’s lagoons.

“It just shows the level of community support for the EEL program,” Lam said, adding that the high profit margin sends a strong message to county commissioners that voters want green spaces preserved. I added that I am sending it.

As evidence of EEL’s ecological benefits, county officials point to land where the program has helped bring the endangered scrub jay back to life.

When EEL began restoring Helen and Alan Cruickshank Sanctuary at Rockledge, it was free of scrub jays. Four years after the restoration, where he was home to about 30 jays that made up six family groups, the numbers have remained relatively stable, and most recently he had over 50. Jay and he have grown to seven family groups.