Melbourne Beach adopts 4.6‑mill rate and $5,000,002.93 final budget after 4–1 votes; commissioners debate staffing and severance

The Town Commission of Melbourne Beach adopted a final operating millage rate of 4.6 mills and approved a final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 totaling $5,000,002.93 on Sept. 25, each measure passing on 4–1 roll-call votes (Commissioner Tim Reed opposed). Mayor Allison Dennington presided over the special meeting and called for both votes after a brief recess earlier in the evening.

The measures fund the town’s operations for the 2025–26 fiscal year and follow weeks of budget deliberations that included proposals to shift staffing and to increase funding for the fire department. The meeting also included discussion of an employee request for severance pay and plans to hire a private contract building official.

Commissioners voted first on resolution 2025‑14 to set the final operating millage at 4.6 mills (above the rollback rate of 4.2574) and to set the final debt service millage at 0.091 mills. The motion passed on a roll-call vote of Mayor Allison Dennington, Vice Mayor Don Barlow, Commissioner Robert Baldwin and Commissioner Anna Butler in favor; Commissioner Tim Reed voted no. The commission then approved resolution 2025‑15, the appropriations and revenue estimate for the final budget, by the same 4–1 vote.

Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro explained that a staff member had requested severance and clarified how any severance payment would be funded: "it's not the severance, if you choose to do that, would not be paid out of the upcoming budget because her position is being eliminated in this fiscal year. So it would come out of the current budget," Mascaro said. The manager said the request listed six weeks as the amount sought and that providing severance would be at the commission’s discretion.

Much of the discussion before the votes focused on recent position changes: the commission eliminated the finance clerk position and retained a building clerk role rather than creating a single, general clerk. Commissioners and staff debated whether the retained title should remain in the building department now that the town plans to contract with a private building official. Mascaro said the building clerk currently performs accounts payable and payroll duties and could take on broader administrative tasks if the town’s contracting arrangements reduce the need for on-site building support: "The building department's position requires much more knowledge than the finance position does...she could easily slide into that position," Mascaro said.

The manager and commissioners discussed how permit fees and contract arrangements affect the building fund. Mascaro warned that permit fees are a one‑time charge and may not cover the cost of multiple inspections or the on-site time a private provider charges; she recommended reviewing the fee structure if costs differ from expectations. Commissioners noted that building department funds are subject to statutory accounting requirements that can restrict how leftover fees are used.

Commissioner Tim Reed asked procedural and financial questions during the discussion and ultimately cast the lone no vote on both the millage and the budget. Mayor Dennington thanked commissioners and staff for compromises made during the budget process, saying the commission had "come together and giving up some things" to reach the final package.

No members of the public spoke during the general public-comment or budget hearing portions of the meeting. The commission adjourned after voting and indicated it would start the next meeting shortly.

Votes at a glance: The commission adopted resolution 2025‑14 (final millage) — motion passed 4–1 (Dennington, Barlow, Baldwin, Butler: Aye; Reed: Nay). The commission adopted resolution 2025‑15 (final budget, listed in the meeting as $5,000,002.93) — motion passed 4–1 (Dennington, Barlow, Baldwin, Butler: Aye; Reed: Nay).