Indian River County voters OK tax increase to purchase, protect sensitive environmental land

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The county will borrow $50 million to purchase and preserve environmentally sensitive land, voters decided Tuesday. The loan will be repaid by a property-tax increase.

The ballot issue, initiated by the Indian River Land Trust, asked the county to purchase lands west of Blue Cypress Lake, Interstate 95 and along the Indian River Lagoon. For the owner of a $250,000 home, the tax hike will be about $44 a year for 20 years.

The referendum passed in a landslide with 78% of the vote Tuesday, according to final, unofficial results from the Supervisor of Elections Office.