Preserve Brevard

Preserve Brevard

By Susan Bird

“Preserve Brevard” is a citizen’s group that has been formed to promote a referendum for the November 2004 ballot. The referendum will provide additional funding to the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. This funding will help complete important land conservation goals throughout Brevard County. The referendum will allow for the acquisition and preservation of critical linkages between already conserved lands, while helping to preserve valuable water recharge areas, species and habitats.

Passage of the Preserve Brevard referendum will provide continued funding of the very successful Environmental Endangered Lands (EEL) Programs that was approved by voters in 1990. This programs responsible for the purchase of the Enchanted Forest, the Cruickshank Sanctuary in Rockledge and other properties in Brevard. To complete the projects selected by the EEL program and provide for long-term maintenance of the properties, we need to assure funding now. You only need to look around you to know that in a short time unspoiled natural property will be unavailable and unaffordable.

The referendum will fund the EEL program through the collection of a property tax of .2085 mills, which equates to approximately 20 cents on every $1000 of taxable property value. As an example, you would pay about $17 per year for a homestead property assessed at $107,850. The start of the Preserve Brevard millage will coincide with the end of the Beach and River front program. The net result is there should be no increase in your tax to continue the support of land acquisition in Brevard.

For Preserve Brevard to be successful your support is needed. Your contribution of time and or money is needed to educate the public about this opportunity. Donations may be sent to Preserve Brevard, 3726 Prescot St., Titusville, Fl 32796. You can also visit the Preserve Brevard Web site, http://www.preservebrevard.org or call me (321-631-1746) with questions or to volunteer some time. Thank you.