Two ballot questions in November will address St. Lucie County’s infrastructure needs and mosquito control services, potentially impacting taxes for some residents
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. —
St. Lucie County voters will decide in November on two ballot questions aimed at addressing the county’s growing population and its impact on infrastructure and services.
The first question asks voters to renew the half-cent sales tax, originally approved in 2018, which is set to expire in two years. County leaders are seeking to extend the tax for another decade. This is not a new tax but would keep the total sales tax rate at 7%, with the half-cent portion funding infrastructure projects such as road improvements, sidewalks, stormwater drainage, and major projects like widening St. Lucie West Boulevard.
“Now we’re seeing that impact, you know, the delayed maintenance and the increased growth we’ve seen picked up, we’re starting to have to play catch-up with those infrastructure projects and the needs are still there,” said Erick Gill, communications director for St. Lucie County.
The second question focuses on expanding the mosquito control district to include the Tradition and southwestern areas of the county, which have grown beyond the current service boundaries. Currently, mosquito control services cover about half of the county’s 600 square miles. If voters approve the expansion, affected property owners would pay about $28 more annually in taxes to fund fogging, spraying, and mosquito surveillance.
Both measures will appear on the November ballot, addressing different needs as St. Lucie County continues to grow. Voters are encouraged to review their sample ballots to determine which questions apply to them before voting on Nov. 3.
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