Brevard County VAB raises petitioner filing fee to $45 for next tax cycle

The Brevard County Value Adjustment Board voted unanimously to raise the petitioner filing fee for property-value appeals to $45, to take effect for the next VAB/tax cycle.

Board members met on an agenda item to “determine the amount of the petitioners filing fee for the 2026 tax cycle and all other property matters brought before the VAB.” County counsel told the board the fee range could be “anywhere from 0 to $50 per petition” and recommended against setting the fee at zero because “it's been $15 for about 40 years.” After discussion, a board member moved to set the fee at $45 and another member seconded; the chair put the motion to voice vote and it passed with no opposition.

The change follows a trend among neighboring value adjustment boards: counsel told the board most VABs that have acted recently set fees at $50; Volusia and St. Lucie were cited as having used $30 this year, with Volusia set at 30 for the current year and several boards moving to $50 next year. Broward County was mentioned as having a $0 fee. Board members noted that $15 has not changed in roughly four decades.

Board members asked for more detailed cost information before future changes. One member asked what percentage of VAB expenses the present $15 covers; counsel said filing fees cover a “tiny” share—“10 or 20%” was offered as an estimate—and that the remainder of VAB costs are paid by the county and the school board per statute. Counsel told the board that any shortfall is paid three-fifths by the county and two-fifths by the school board. Members asked staff to analyze per-filing and per-hearing county out-of-pocket costs, including how “no-shows” affect total expenses, so the board can assess whether increases deter no-shows and how much additional revenue would offset taxpayer subsidies.

Board members also discussed the effective date. County counsel requested the increase take effect with the next VAB cycle to avoid interfering with filings or pending good-cause requests; the motion and subsequent comments confirmed the fee would apply beginning with the next tax cycle.

The board discussed, but did not adopt, any policy to refund fees when petitioners prevail. One member recalled that a reimbursement practice might have existed decades ago but confirmed no current reimbursement policy was established.

The board asked staff or the clerk’s office to prepare a cost-analysis showing total VAB costs, the portion covered by filing fees, the per-filing and per-hearing costs, and historical no-show rates. The chair and other members said that information would inform whether future increases should be incremental or a single step.

The vote and the motion to adopt $45 per petition were announced at the meeting; members present signaled approval and the chair declared the motion passed unanimously.

The decision will be reflected in VAB procedures for the next tax cycle, and staff will return with the requested financial breakdown and recommended implementation details.