Brevard County adopts $2.51 billion budget, approves final millages after public comment and board debate

The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners adopted a $2,509,876,505 operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and approved final millages after public comment and deliberation.

The board adopted a recomputed aggregate millage rate of 4.5053 mills, a 5.25% increase from the aggregate rollback rate of 4.2806 mills, and completed roll-call votes on dozens of dependent and independent taxing levies used to fund county services, special districts and debt service. The millages fund priorities the county identified for the coming year, including a fire rescue wage package, higher constitutional officer budgets and a larger mandatory Medicaid contribution to the state.

Why it matters: The final budget and millages determine property-tax levies that pay for core county operations, voter-approved special districts and services such as law enforcement, libraries, mosquito control and recreation districts. The changes approved Wednesday increase ad valorem revenue for multiple taxing authorities and set the county’s operating plan for the year beginning Oct. 1, 2025.

Public comment and board debate Resident Mark Wilhem of Cocoa told the board he opposes a 4% across‑the‑board raise included in the proposed budget for higher-paid county employees. “The employees at the lower part of the pay scale may deserve and probably need a 4% raise,” Wilhem said. “But somebody making $250,000 or above, a pay freeze is not unreasonable.”

During debate, Commissioner Katie Delaney proposed an amendment to limit raises for the highest-paid employees: a 2% raise for salaries between $120,000 and $250,000 and a 0% increase for salaries above $250,000. Delaney described the $120,000 threshold as chosen because “120 encompassed most of our director level and above,” and said the proposal would reduce the largest dollar increases while still providing some raises to mid‑level managers.

The clerk’s record does not show a separate roll-call vote on Delaney’s amendment; the board proceeded to consider and adopt the final millages and the budget resolution as presented.

Budget and millage numbers The budget office read the tentative and final numbers into the record during the hearing. Key figures included: - Tentative aggregate millage read at 4.5129 mills; after later adjustments the recomputed aggregate millage was announced as 4.5053 mills (a 5.25% increase over the aggregate rollback rate). - The county’s operating and capital budget adopted for FY 2025–26: $2,509,876,505 (adopted amount announced during the resolution reading). - The budget represents an increase of roughly $189.97 million (8.19%) compared with the prior year’s current budget figure quoted in the hearing materials.

Votes at a glance (selected levies and outcomes) The board conducted roll-call votes on individual millages and related resolutions. Below are selected levies read into the record at the hearing with the millage rate, the revenue the county reported each would generate, and the outcome as recorded by the clerk: - Brevard County BCC operating millage — 2.8643 mills (generating $208,618,399). Motion: Goodson; second: Altman. Vote: passed 4–1 (Commissioner Delaney voted No). - Brevard County Free Public Library District — 0.3242 mills ($23,725,382). Motion: Atkinson; second: Altman. Vote: passed 4–1 (Delaney No). - Mosquito Control District — 0.1340 mills ($9,806,296). Motion: Atkinson; second: Altman. Vote: passed (recorded as 4–0–1; one absence recorded). - Law enforcement millage — 0.8531 mills ($27,155,020). Motion: Goodson; second: Altman. Vote: passed 5–0. - Fire control MSTU (voter‑approved millage) — 0.6431 mills (35.39% change; generating $22,364,632). Motion: Delaney; second: Altman. Vote: passed 5–0. - Several road-and-bridge maintenance MSTUs and recreation district levies (D1–D5, North Beaches, Merritt Island South, etc.) were read, moved and passed; most showed unanimous approval (5–0) or 4–1 margins on levies where Commissioner Delaney voted No. Specific millage readings and revenue totals were read into the record for each taxing district during the hearing; the clerk called the roll on each. - The board adopted a resolution to levy final millages for the taxing entities identified in exhibit A (motion by Altman; second by Goodson). Vote on that resolution: passed 4–1 (Commissioner Delaney voted No). - The board adopted a resolution to adopt the final operating and capital budget for FY 2025–26 (motion by Atkinson; second by Altman). Vote: passed 4–1 (Delaney No); clerk recorded the adoption and the matter moved to dependent‑district votes.

Other formal actions recorded - By single‑vote procedures allowed under Florida Statute 200.065 the board adopted millages and budgets for multiple dependent special taxing districts in grouped votes (motions recorded and carried on the record, many unanimous). - The board authorized the county manager or designee to execute TRIM compliance forms required under Florida statutes 200.065 and 218.63 (motion passed on roll call). - The board authorized the chairman to sign state budget forms for the Mosquito Control District so the district can submit the adopted budget to the Florida Department of Agriculture to maintain its certified status (motion passed 5–0).

Board remarks and next steps Several commissioners praised staff for preparing multiple budget workshops and for the level of detail in presentations. Commissioner Altman said he was “extremely impressed with the staff’s work and their level of knowledge.” Commissioner Delaney urged more time for internal board deliberation in next year’s budget workshops so commissioners can exchange priorities before final adoption.

What the record shows and does not show The transcript records that Delaney moved an amendment to limit large raises; a discussion followed but there is no separate recorded roll-call vote on that specific amendment in the hearing minutes provided. The final budget and millages were adopted as recorded above.

Ending The adopted FY 2025–26 budget takes effect Oct. 1, 2025. The board adjourned budget business and moved to new business items after completing the millage and dependent‑district votes.