Brevard County uses sales tax increase to save ailing Indian River Lagoon

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. — Brevard County started collecting a half-cent in sales tax earlier in the year to raise funds to help save the ailing Indian River Lagoon.

The county has already started using those funds and officials were working Friday to permanently abandon 14 septic tanks near the lagoon on Merritt Island.

The property owners using the septic tanks will be tied into the city’s sewer system, contractor Jim Wiggins said.

Most of the tanks in the area were constructed between 1950 and 1985, and could leak sewage into the lagoon.

The $320,000 plan to abandon the septic tanks should change that, officials said.

Several other projects are in the planning stages, including a dredging plan in Mims near the Jones Road boat ramp, and upgrade for Titusville’s Osprey Wastewater Treatment Plant, and expansion of sewer systems.

Merritt Island resident Dennis Bruno was hopeful that the projects would help clean up the Indian River Lagoon.

“I think it’s going to be a big help,,” he said. “Between that and the dredging of the Indian and Banana rivers, and keeping down on the fertilizer in people’s yards, it’s going to make a great impact.”

The half-cent sales tax increase is expected to raise about $300 million over the next 10 years.

Cox Media Group