Good Morning, Sunland
It's Friday! We made it to the end of the week and we love that for us!
Programming Reminder: There won't be a newsletter on Monday, so just a heads up. I'm observing the holiday. I've learned in the past that when you have the ability to take a break, you should. That's what I'll be doing. Obviously, I'll still be working on some things in the background, just trying to do what's best and be the best news I can for home!
Also, if you missed yesterday's newsletter, there's a full Labor Day weekend events breakdown with everything happening this weekend.
Also, something I forgot to add in earlier is that there's a rodeo happening this weekend at Overpass Arena in Vero Beach. It's happening today, Friday, and tomorrow, so if you're into that sort of thing, check it out. There's also a rodeo happening at the end of the month if you miss this one.
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.
In today's newsletter:
📊 St. Lucie County set its tentative budget at $971.3 million with Amendment 3 concerns
🏘️ Indian River County approves Attainable Housing Trust
🛍️ Port St. Lucie Entertainment District gaining national interest
🏛️ Indiantown hires former Stuart City Manager Giardino as interim manager
⛈️ Weather Update: Humid with sun and clouds, heavy storms possible this afternoon.
☀️ Day: High of 90°F | Humid with times of sun and clouds, a heavy thunderstorm
🌙 Night: Low of 75°F | Mostly cloudy and humid. 25% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:02 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:39 PM
🌙 Moonrise: -- | 🌚 Moonset: 2:35 PM
🎶 Sounds like: "Let's Stay Together" — Al Green
Ja'Min Devon
Founder & Publisher, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: St. Lucie County set its tentative budget at $971.3 million
St. Lucie County held its first budget hearing Thursday night and while the commissioners unanimously approved a tentative millage rate and budget, the conversation kept coming back to the same thing: what happens if Amendment 3 passes in November 📊.
The tentative numbers 📋:
💰 Total budget: $971.3 million
📉 Aggregate millage rate: 7.8341 mills, a 2.04% decrease from the current rate
🏠 General fund millage reduced to the rollback rate, which commissioners noted is the fifth largest general fund millage reduction since 1995
✅ Approved unanimously 5 to 0
Where the money comes from:
📦 $342 million in carryover funds from prior year
💵 $373 million from property taxes
🔧 $255.6 million from non-advalorem sources including utilities, solid waste, impact fees and infrastructure surtax
Where property tax money goes:
👮 About 36 cents of every dollar goes to the Sheriff
🏛️ About 9 cents to other constitutional officers
🏢 About 30 cents to Board of County Commissioners services
🏙️ The rest to CRAs, Medicaid, judicial agencies and municipal service units
Amendment 3: This is the number that hung over the entire meeting. If Amendment 3 passes in November it would significantly expand the homestead exemption and limit future assessment growth. The potential impact to St. Lucie County is as follows:
📉 Year one estimated loss: $65.8 to $66.7 million
📉 Year two estimated loss: $105 to $112 million
📉 Five year projected loss for all St. Lucie County taxing authorities combined: over $1 billion
📉 Five year projected loss for the Board of County Commissioners alone: $543 million
🗺️ St. Lucie County is projected to be the most impacted county in Florida at over 30% revenue reduction
What the county is already doing: A targeted purchasing freeze and hiring freeze for non-essential personnel began in April in preparation for a potential Amendment 3 outcome.
Also raised at the meeting: One commissioner flagged that Community Transit recently closed and said the county will need to find ways to absorb some of that ridership, particularly for elderly residents. They identified about $83,000 in potential reallocation from existing line items toward transit.
One member of the public showed up to push back on the county airport budget, which is increasing from $8.2 million to $11.6 million in FY27, including $4.7 million for a taxiway project. He questioned why the county is subsidizing an airport he described as primarily serving affluent private aviation users with no commercial flights.
What's next: The final budget public hearing is Thursday September 17th at 6 p.m. in the County Commission chambers. The millage rate can be decreased at that meeting but cannot be increased 📅.
📰 Press Round: Housing, Hospitality & Human Resources
🏘️ Indian River County Approves Attainable Housing Trust
Indian River County Commission voted unanimously to approve an Attainable Housing Trust operating under State Housing Initiatives Partnership guidelines. The trust will acquire surplus county-owned lands and partner with for-profit and nonprofit organizations to support affordable housing development. Funding sources include developer contributions, property sales proceeds, grants and donations. The trust maintains independent accounting with 50-year affordability covenants.
👉 Read more (Hometown News)
🛍️ Port St. Lucie Entertainment District Gaining National Interest
Port St. Lucie's Tradition Entertainment District is gaining momentum with more than 50 companies expressing interest in the 85-acre project along SW Village Parkway. A five-restaurant development will replace the original three-restaurant plan. Three grocery store chains and three movie theater chains are interested. Nearly 40 groups plan site tours in the coming month. Preliminary work expected within four to five months.
👉 Read more (TCPalm subscription may be required)
🏛️ Indiantown Hires Former Stuart City Manager Giardino
Indiantown Village Council voted to fire Village Manager Taryn Kryzda and hired former Stuart City Manager Michael Giardino as interim manager. Newly elected council members Dowling, Hernandez and Miley voted 3-2 for the change. Giardino, a Navy veteran with 26 years of service, was one of 82 candidates in Stuart's national search. The council also hired new Village Attorney Janette Smith.
👉 Read more (SAVE)
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