THIS INFORMATION IS FROM THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE:
PORT ST. LUCIE – Residents who want to help monitor the City’s spending of the new half-cent sales tax now have an opportunity to apply to serve on a citizen oversight committee.
The City Council is seeking applicants for the Infrastructure Surtax Citizens’ Oversight Committee, also known as the One-Half Cent Sales Tax Citizen Oversight Committee. This committee of seven residents will help ensure that the half-cent sales tax proceeds are spent consistent with the City’s approved project list.
The City is accepting applications for seven members and two alternates. Applicants must be residents of the City of Port St. Lucie for a continuous period beginning one year prior to the appointment. Consideration will be given to applicants with a background in engineering, planning, or finance. Prospective members and alternate members must submit an application and resume to the City Clerk.
All applications must be submitted prior to January 11, 2019 to Jeannette Baechle, Deputy Clerk, City Clerk’s Office at JBaechle@cityofpsl.com. Applications are available online at www.cityofpsl.com or by calling the Clerk’s Office at 871-5157.
Voters on November 6 approved the new half-cent sales tax, which will fund road, sidewalk and water quality projects in the City of Port St. Lucie, the City of Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County. The City of Port St. Lucie is expected to receive about $88 million in sales tax revenue over the next 10 years.
Prior to the vote, the City Council used feedback from a statistically valid Citizens Survey to develop a list of approved projects that the sales tax revenue can be used for during the next decade. The full list can be found at www.cityofpsl.com/salestax.
The Committee will act solely in an oversight and advisory capacity to the City Council. The Committee will not be responsible for identifying projects or determining the priority of a proposed project on the approved projects list. Project priorities are determined by the City Council based upon many factors, including, but not limited to, availability of surtax revenues along with the status of project design and permitting. The Committee shall have the following responsibilities and duties:
Prepare an annual report to the City Council regarding:
- Whether City’s expenditure of Surtax proceeds for the fiscal year was consistent with the requirements of Section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, and the ballot language approved by the voters.
- Whether the City’s expenditure of Surtax proceeds for the fiscal year was consistent with City Ordinance 18-50.
Review documents and projects:
- The Committee will be presented with appropriate documents, plans, budgets, designs, permits (or permit applications), reports, photographs, presentations or other materials to sufficiently determine the status of each project.
- Review and comment upon any changes or additions to the Projects List that may occur as a result of emergencies, hurricanes or other acts of God that might necessitate altering the Projects List. In the case of an emergency, the Committee may be consulted after-the-fact.
