RELOCATION INFORMATION
Driver's License and Motor Vehicle
Florida Taxes
Supervisor of Elections
Demographic Information
Driver's License and Motor Vehicle Information
Seat Belt Laws:
All children under age 6 must be buckled up whenever they travel in a vehicle. Children up to age 3 must be secured in a federally-approved child restraint seat. Children 4-5 must be restrained by a federally-approved restraint seat or safety belt. Florida law requires anyone who rides in the front seat to be buckled up. Drivers are responsible to ensure their passengers comply with the law.
Driver's License:
Although tourists are welcomed with an out-of-state license, when you become a resident, take a job here, or place a child in school, you must obtain a Florida driver's license within 30 days.
With a valid out-of-state driver's license, you only need to pass a vision test to obtain a Florida driver's license.
Contact (772) 778-5087 for information.
Contact (772 778-5090 for appointments.
Registration:
To register your vehicle, call 567-8000, Ext 338.
Auto Title:
You must obtain a Florida Title and register your vehicle in Florida when you become a resident, get a job, or place a child in school.
Auto Insurance:
All vehicles that remain in Florida for more than 90 days must obtain property damage liability and personal injury protection insurance.
Florida Taxes
Income Tax:
Florida residents pay NO personal state income tax, but do pay real estate tax, personal property taxes, sales taxes, and corporate taxes. Residents in only 5 U.S. states pay lower taxes than Florida. (Refer to article below)
Real Estate Tax:
Based on the tax appraised value of a home, Florida residents pay a combined assessement for city, county, and school taxes. Residents who declare Florida their permanent home (must reside here 6 months and 1 day minimum) may qualify for a $25,000 exemption. Smaller exemptions are also available based on other criteria.
Personal Property Tax:
Personal property such as bonds, stocks, accounts receivable and certain other investments are taxed at $1 per $1,000 up to $200,000 in value and $1.50 per $1,000 over $200,000. Accounts receivable, mortgages outside Florida, and annuities are taxed at $2 per $1,000. For more information, call the Florida Department of Revenue at 800-352-3671.
Sales Tax:
Florida has a basic 6% sales tax except on food, medicine, and professional services. Indian River County has added the optional increase for a total 7% sales tax.
Census Bureau Report:
Florida Taxes Residents Less Than Most States
WASHINGTON -- May 6, 2002 -- This is one survey where it pays to be toward the bottom of the list. In a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida ranked No. 44 in the nation in terms of per capita taxes.
The average Floridian pays $1,520.98 a year in taxes. At No. 50, South Dakotans pay $1,291.92 per capita per year, or 15 percent less than Floridians. The other states with a lower tax per person than Florida are Tennessee ($1,362.71), Texas ($1,379.74), New Hampshire ($1,410.29) and South Carolina ($1,513.06).
At the top of the list, Connecticut residents pay $3,091.99, or 103 percent more in taxes than the average Floridian, though Connecticut residents also pay 7.3 percent more than the second place state, Hawaii ($2,864.89). Delaware ($2,371.14), Minnesota ($2,722.00) and Massachusetts ($2,700.18) round out the top five top tax-paying states.
Overall, Floridians pay 29 percent less than most Americans -- the national average is $1,967.54.
Indian River Supervisor of Elections
http://www.voteindianriver.com
Demographic Information
Population (Census year 2000)
Indian River County : 112,947
Vero Beach: 17,705
Males: 8,522 (48.1%), Females: 9,183 (51.9%)
Elevation: 22 feet
Land area: 11.1 square miles
Median resident age: 47.7 years
Median household income: $38,427 (year 2000)
Median house value: $144,800 (year 2000)
Population:
White Non-Hispanic (88.6%)
Hispanic (5.8%)
Black (3.4%)
Other race (1.4%)
Two or more races (1.0%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: Irish (18.1%), German (16.5%), English (16.3%), Italian (8.8%), United States (6.6%), Polish (3.9%).
Education level:
High school or higher: 85.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 32.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.7%
Unemployed: 3.5%
Mean travel time to work: 17.7 minutes
Single-family new house construction building permits:
1996: 79 buildings, average cost: $141,300
1997: 20 buildings, average cost: $196,500
1998: 28 buildings, average cost: $194,300
1999: 26 buildings, average cost: $289,800
2000: 24 buildings, average cost: $267,200
2001: 25 buildings, average cost: $257,500
2002: 22 buildings, average cost: $325,500
Crime in Vero Beach (2001):
0 murders (0.0 per 100,000)
5 rapes (28.2 per 100,000)
18 robberies (101.7 per 100,000)
53 assaults (299.4 per 100,000)
160 burglaries (903.7 per 100,000)
591 larceny counts (3338.0 per 100,000)
27 auto thefts (152.5 per 100,000)
City-data.com crime index = 310.6 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)
Hospitals/medical centers in Vero Beach:
HEALTHSOUTH TREASURE COAST REHAB HOSP (1600 37TH ST)
INDIAN RIVER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (1000 36TH ST)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Vero Beach:
SEBASTIAN RIVER MEDICAL CENTER (12 miles; SEBASTIAN, FL)
LAWNWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (14 miles; FORT PIERCE, FL)
SAINT LUCIE MEDICAL CENTER (25 miles; PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL)
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Vero Beach:
VERO BEACH MUNI (2 miles; VERO BEACH, FL; ID: VRB)
MELBOURNE INTL (36 miles; MELBOURNE, FL; ID: MLB)
PATRICK AFB (44 miles; COCOA BEACH, FL; ID: COF)
Other public-use airports nearest to Vero Beach:
NEW HIBISCUS AIRPARK (9 miles; VERO BEACH, FL; ID: X52)
ST LUCIE COUNTY INTL (12 miles; FORT PIERCE, FL; ID: FPR)
SEBASTIAN MUNI (13 miles; SEBASTIAN, FL; ID: X26)
Colleges/Universities in Vero Beach:
FLIGHT SAFETY INTERNATIONAL (Full-time enrollment: 255; Location: 2805 AIRPORT DR; Private, for-profit; Website: www.flightsafety.com)
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF HAIRSTYLING (Location: 1599 10TH AVE; Private, for-profit)
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Vero Beach:
INDIAN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE (17 miles; FT PIERCE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 6,149)
FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-MELBOURNE (34 miles; MELBOURNE, FL; FT enrollment: 3,055)
BREVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE-COCOA CAMPUS (56 miles; COCOA, FL; FT enrollment: 7,277)
PALM BEACH ATLANTIC COLLEGE-WEST PALM BEACH (71 miles; WEST PALM BEACH, FL; FT enrollment: 2,109)
PALM BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE (74 miles; LAKE WORTH, FL; FT enrollment: 8,390)
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (88 miles; ORLANDO, FL; FT enrollment: 26,717)
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY-BOCA RATON (89 miles; BOCA RATON, FL; FT enrollment: 14,311)
Public high schools in Vero Beach:
VERO BEACH HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 2,668; Grades: 07 - 12)
INDIAN RIVER CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 268; Grades: 09 - 12)
Private high schools in Vero Beach:
ST EDWARDS SCHOOL (Students: 882; Location: 1895 SAINT EDWARDS DRIVE; Grades: KG - 12)
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHRISTIAN S (Students: 107; Location: 51 S. OLD DIXIE HIGHWAY; Grades: KG - 12)
EXCELSIOR ACADEMY (Students: 9; Location: 955 82ND COURT; Grades: 7 - 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Vero Beach:
OSLO MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,194; Grades: 06 - 08)
GIFFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,126; Grades: 06 - 08)
DODGERTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 627; Grades: PK - 05)
GLENDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 587; Grades: PK - 05)
CITRUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 581; Grades: KG - 05)
OSCEOLA MAGNET SCHOOL (Students: 580; Grades: PK - 05)
VERO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 550; Grades: PK - 05)
ROSEWOOD MAGNET SCHOOL (FORMERLY ROSEWOO (Students: 550; Grades: PK - 05)
HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 468; Grades: PK - 05)
BEACHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 429; Grades: PK - 05)
Private primary/middle schools in Vero Beach:
ST HELEN CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 295; Location: 2050 VERO BEACH AVENUE; Grades: KG - 8)
GLENDALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 108; Location: 790 27TH AVE; Grades: PK - 5)
INDIAN RIVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 103; Location: 6767 20TH STREET; Grades: PK - 7)
SUNCOAST PRIMARY SCHOOL (Students: 80; Location: 3050 43RD AVE; Grades: PK - 8)
NEW HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 46; Location: 4425 71ST; Grades: PK - 11)
TREASURE COAST MONTESSORI SCH (Students: 31; Location: 941 18THH STE.; Grades: PK - KG)
MASTER'S ACADEMY (Students: 31; Location: 1105 58 Avenue; Grades: KG - 1)
Library in Vero Beach:
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $3,898,005; Location: 1600 21ST ST.; 308,337 books; 15,497 audio materials; 17,752 video materials; 1,675 serial subscriptions)