City Manager's Annual Report Annual Report 2018 | A Year In Review | Page 13

This half-cent sales tax increase will expire
in 10 years and is estimated to generate
$18.6 million annually with 15 to 20 percent
of the revenue generated by visitors from
outside of St. Lucie County.
Every dollar will be spent on projects in St.
Lucie County, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and
St. Lucie Village. The City’s project list was
created in response to community input and
validated by a scientific poll completed by
our citizens. Port St. Lucie is expected to
receive $88 million over the 10-year period.
The City’s project list includes completing
its entire sidewalk master plan, improving
intersections on St. Lucie West Boulevard,
funding the City’s road repaving program
and completing major improvements to
Floresta Drive and California Blvd. (Please
see the full project list graphic.)
2018 HALF-CENT
SALES TAX VOTING STATS
118,958 votes cast on Ballot Question #14
in Nov 2018 (half-cent sales tax increase).
66,365 votes in favor to approve = 56%
Of the 31 precincts in the City of Port St. Lucie,
30 approved the sales tax. The one
precinct where it lost, it only came up short
by 11 votes (52 votes for, 63 votes against).
The half-cent sales tax will bring the total
sales tax rate to 7 percent – the same as
Indian River and Palm Beach Counties. It
will not apply to purchases of gas, groceries,
or medicine. For large expenses, such as
automobile or boat purchases, the tax
would only be applied to the first $5,000 of
the purchase.
Shortly after voters approved the sales tax,
the Port St. Lucie City Council approved
the creation of a seven-member Citizens
Oversight Committee that will ensure this
revenue is spent and allocated according
to the approved project list.
Inside City Hall, a Sales Tax Action Team
(STAT) immediately began preparing for
the approved projects and is committed to
the successful completion of the projects
on time, within budget, and to regularly
communicate to the public about the
progress through multiple platforms
including a dedicated webpage.
Port St. Lucie thanks voters for making this
investment in our future. To read monthly
accountability reports visit www.cityofpsl.
com/salestax
CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
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