[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6297722,"mediaKeyId","2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3","parentId",2507797,"title","Resident proposes countywide 'Brevard EMS 1' funded by 1¢ sales tax","audioSeconds",476,"startMs",1017000,"endMs",1493000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3&start=1017&end=1493","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3/thumbnail_1017000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297722/Brevard-County/Florida/Resident-proposes-countywide-Brevard-EMS-1-funded-by-1-sales-tax","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297722-3856bf1dab2a50722ed7f5b9f4b2e532/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026961&Signature=ZYMxhc-tQmj6O70TBDAu2q1F-2gYKh4ng55hmCZu9X6FkPpCQc6PVqxwroxhI-1f-ZJtm7Ro~u9Td7LnVddpxwxRika3LjK3Qod~gWKyYJlqAyJaqJdKhHWkQDvbv8EVo~kO-5QHg5f1dM~3VwMFsKOa~aClS5HqZZjxKn7OcSlFS9-HhwfFNFk-nMdut5Lof5ocrttEgIPIc94oVK58tjpsN2zjAFaL-yQegr0WqJShiEtS9U8TR~tj9oYybgUMsiKbV4DXbuPcpiJRi8oCxfSPnwfZFiBDTwW~haff27j4O-isd33iEjWdy~QkcFxZ~fvW4WGvoOi7GDJhXrDVgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brevard County, FL","date","2025-03-04T13:27:40Z","article","A resident presenter proposed creation of “Brevard EMS 1,” a countywide emergency medical services system funded by a voter‑approved 1¢ sales tax and governed by a new county board.

John Dacko, who identified himself as a Brevard resident, described a model he said is “inspired by the nationally recognized King County Medic One program” and would coordinate ALS ambulances and standardized protocols countywide. “This system would be funded by a 1¢ sales tax, ensuring that paramedic training, salaries, equipment, and operations are fully supported without burdening local budgets,” Dacko said.

Dacko proposed a governing board to allocate revenues and said the model could preserve local hiring and fire‑department staffing while centralizing dispatch, training and transport services. He suggested partnerships for paramedic training with the Florida Institute of Technology.

Commissioners and county counsel discussed statutory constraints. County counsel said a voter‑approved sales tax can be used for fire and EMS but that state law requires the new sales tax revenue to replace other local funding sources (assessments, general fund) rather than simply add net new revenue. Staff noted an existing statutory formula for distributing county sales tax revenue and stressed the need for interlocal agreements with cities or statutory allocation rules.

Commissioners expressed interest in exploring the concept; some noted past models (Seminole County, King County) and advised that any ballot measure and local agreements must comply with state statute and voter‑approval timing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/03/2025 - Brevard County Commission Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","A resident proposed a countywide EMS consolidation modeled on King County Medic One, to be funded by a 1¢ sales tax and overseen by a new governing board; commissioners and staff discussed statutory limits and revenue replacement rules.","taxTitle","Brevard County, Florida","taxId",2873,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297727,"Viera East residents press county for coordinated stormwater education, buffer maintenance",141,669000,810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3&start=669&end=810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3/thumbnail_669000.jpg","/articles/6297727/Brevard-County/Florida/Viera-East-residents-press-county-for-coordinated-stormwater-education-buffer-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297727-61c9d30434597773cd96986e72ccd091/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026961&Signature=M72DAxGCzBDu6KBu73kRH7UYb5kStzqgTB-UykAb~x9brcK2rU83VMsCO~M6E0lH098yGYsT0qTmqNfUGncaO7jKpnqqSAy63L66QCsyCxvHpr~DalMXPKF46W5RvgUIZjuF2zYcNDPWttiW1vctQdAzWQCBIn7~puygobsXkVcp5QJxTCanio-~Eiz1hxIDekT3k4f9BkDB3X~4WJI7Nas2AuhPdOacV9kL8UUE0T8eUMh6TwUTocmp2i~qj0R0ovRHgQ3dPfvLbbl1BfzJsMLgkc2SjRSEnjMGxWgZ5gUj-18ygbzGr-p9YBQx2u8jnYHaapM6TIL2u5DbVvXx~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of Viera East described severe erosion and algae problems in neighborhood detention ponds and asked the county to coordinate a stormwater education program with multiple agencies.

Terry Mott, a Viera East resident and Florida Master Naturalist, told the commission that changes in vegetation management around detention ponds led to an algae bloom and ongoing erosion at her property. “We have 84 detention ponds and none of them are maintained by the recommended standards of best management practices of Brevard County,” she said.

Mott described safety incidents she said occurred elsewhere when pond banks failed and said she has discussed the issue with the Viera East Community Development District, St. Johns River Water Management District, Brevard Natural Resources, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and the Viera East Community Association. She said Brevard Natural Resources had pursued a Florida DEP grant of $50,000 for education but that the grant remained on hold.

Mott recommended a joint education program that could deliver digital materials and community outreach on best management practices for buffers, native plantings and pond maintenance. She volunteered to assist as a trained master naturalist.

County staff suggested follow‑up meetings with Natural Resources and the applicable CDD and indicated the county can help refer grant opportunities; Commissioners asked staff to coordinate interested agencies and report back to the board.","Viera East residents urged Brevard County to convene agencies and local groups to create a stormwater education program after years of erosion and algal blooms in neighborhood detention ponds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297730,"Residents urge county to restore targeted grants for homelessness services",216,391000,607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3&start=391&end=607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507797-74ba52a3d6be6f5804a7e81915a781b3/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6297730/Brevard-County/Florida/Residents-urge-county-to-restore-targeted-grants-for-homelessness-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297730-dd08f3ea750c470b8029d4e5ac985bdf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026961&Signature=O4bg~oo6phjmPp~H2R72s0Kb0sjtQl~iKmil9srjuHqsqUsxJBGE4qvPXVgBDfdXQFctCQfiTB6dB00vaxj9Rpjvd6k0NXAhrIgqBP2KB7jx9fl0j0cnyPwjnyr~7yDAochyt7oqmw747g280jI2oBUnwPEp7WXGcxfLrmlnMA9rVpeJ19wFCq8aZSd-4p4cleO2t1OKs5E3koGqSx43n8QWAzf01N4DTUMJBsiv619Nv3QGh0nbv9YqOj19e25bNNR45z-tASqflGrLJtymWcFa6mn~2YH3M-bPF-kzwgELPX8gl1lsOYHPBPha8NoVQp7IScw6GNy7YMLiGlUQkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents at a Brevard County Speak Up Brevard workshop urged the county commission to restore targeted grant funding for nonprofits that provide emergency shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness.

Heather Elko, a 45‑year Brevard resident, told commissioners she wants the county to “provide grant funding specifically to nonprofits that serve unsheltered and inadequately sheltered residents.” She described needs such as temporary shelter, emergency utility and food assistance, mental health counseling and transportation to care.

Elko said nonprofits “are buckling under the demands of a burgeoning low income population” and that funding could be time‑limited and structured to the commission’s priorities. She characterized the proposal as “a restoration of grant funding with a more targeted focus that had been in place for decades.”

Commissioners did not take formal action during the workshop. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the topic’s overlap with city efforts and countywide systems, and participants said the proposal could complement existing affordable‑housing work by expanding short‑term shelter and service capacity.

Elko also requested the county develop a way to acknowledge public speakers after meetings to let citizens know their remarks were received.

The county will consider the Speak Up Brevard submissions during its review period and place staff recommendations before the full commission at a later meeting where proponents may speak again.","Speakers at a Brevard County Speak Up Brevard workshop urged the commission to restore county grant funding aimed at nonprofit emergency shelters and targeted services for unsheltered residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident proposes countywide 'Brevard EMS 1' funded by 1¢ sales tax

Viera East residents press county for coordinated stormwater education, buffer maintenance

Residents urge county to restore targeted grants for homelessness services