The Town Council has been requested to adopt a resolution granting the inclusion of the Town of Orchid in a proposed special taxing district and will hold a special meeting on February 15, 2022, to consider that resolution.
The taxing district is known as the Children’s Trust of Indian River County and would be established if approved by voters in a county referendum proposed to be placed on the election ballot in November 2022.
This proposed new special taxing district would encompass all unincorporated areas of the county, as well as each municipality within the county that adopts a resolution approving inclusion of such municipality as a part of the proposed district.
Currently, a millage rate up to 0.125 is levied by Indian River County and is available for allocation to agencies providing specifically approved children’s services and programs. This millage rate is part of the county’s general fund, and the actual allocation for children’s services may fluctuate.
The annual property tax rate the Children’s Trust would levy would be predetermined for twelve years. For the first 4 years, it would be a millage rate of 0.25, and for the subsequent 8 years it would be 0.375. The continuation of the Children’s Trust beyond 12 years would require voter approval again. The taxes collected for the Children’s Trust district would be by dedicated millage, which means that the taxes must be used specifically as intended and cannot be reappropriated to other purposes. The Children’s Trust is proposed to be a replacement for the aforementioned existing system.
To calculate tax impact, take a property's assessed value and divide it by 1000, then multiply it by the millage rate.
The City Councils of Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere have each adopted a resolution granting their inclusion in the special district. The Town Council of Indian River Shores voted not to do so. As a result, registered voters of Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Fellsmere will be included in the vote on the county referendum and, if the referendum is approved, those cities will be included in the Children Trust special district. As a result of the decision of the Indian River Shores Town Council, registered voters of that town will not be included in the county vote on the referendum, and the Town of Indian River Shores will not be included in the special district.
If the Orchid Town Council adopts a resolution to include Orchid in the proposed special taxing district, Orchid residents who are registered to vote in Indian River County will be entitled to participate in the county vote on the referendum in November 2022 and, if the referendum is approved at the county ballot, the Town of Orchid will be included in the Children’s Trust district and all of Orchid’s property owners will be subject to the district’s tax.
If the Town Council does not adopt the resolution, then Orchid voters will not participate in the county ballot, the Town of Orchid will not be included in the special district, and Orchid property owners will not be subject to ad valorem taxes levied by such district, even if the referendum is approved at the county ballot.
Below are materials received from the Children’s Trust organizing committee that provide a more detailed overview of the proposed district, as well as a position piece from the Taxpayers Association of Indian River County.
The Town Council is eager for input from all of Orchid’s interested residents, who are encouraged to attend the special meeting on February 15, at which the Town Council will consider the aforementioned resolution.