On this episode of The Current by TreasureCoast.com, we talk with Commissioner Sean Reed of the City of Stuart. Reed, elected in 2024 to represent Group IV, makes his second appearance with us and brings an unfiltered look at the city’s current challenges, from stormwater management and traffic safety to zoning and small business issues.
How the Half Cent Sales Tax Helps Stuart
The conversation opens with a discussion of the half-cent sales tax and how funds are being distributed. Reed notes that the city receives between $130,000 and $180,000 per month from the county’s half-cent sales tax. These funds, intended for infrastructure improvements, are not limited to specific zones like the CRA. As a result, Reed and other city leaders face tough decisions about where to prioritize spending, from muck removal in Poppleton and Frazier Creeks to stormwater retention in residential areas.
Stormwater issues are also a recurring theme. Reed outlines resident concerns about flooding and outdated infrastructure, questioning whether current solutions like baffle boxes are capable of handling increasingly severe rainfall. Projects to address these concerns can run into the millions, and the costs often fall outside CRA-eligible areas…