Brevard commissioners set proposed 2025-26 millages, debate bonding for conservation and fire funding

The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners voted July 22 to set proposed millage rates for fiscal year 2025-26 and to include several adjustments to voter-approved levies so they appear on residents’ TRIM notices. The change will let the board consider those levies again during its September budget hearings. Commissioners also debated whether to use remaining voter-approved bond capacity for the county’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program and whether to seek new voter-approved revenue for fire/EMS infrastructure.

County staff told commissioners the package of proposed millages was the version posted with the board’s proposed budget on July 15; because property values rose about 7% this year, the county must provide trim notices by early August. “All of the proposed millages have decreased from the current millage rates,” staff said, but the aggregate rate remains higher than the rollback rate and therefore must be advertised as a tax increase under state law.

The board directed staff to adjust several voter-approved levies for advertising. Those adjustments would increase the millage for the county’s fire control MSTU to its voter-approved level (0.6431), raise several special recreation district levies to higher levels (Port St. John/Canaveral Groves, North Brevard, Merritt Island and South Brevard), and advertise an additional 0.0275 mill for EEL debt — the latter intended to preserve the county’s ability to issue more bonds under a 2024 voter-approved limit. Staff presented estimated revenue numbers: the fire control increase would add about $5.56 million in revenue; the EEL debt millage adjustment would add roughly $1.48 million in debt capacity.

Commissioners pressed staff on timing and implications. Commissioner Altman said he preferred a modest approach to bonding EEL funds, noting market cycles and that earlier boards had chosen partial bonding. Vice Chair Goodson and others said advertising adjusted millages preserves public input at the required TRIM hearings; the board can lower but not raise millages later. Commissioner Delaney asked staff to run quick calculations for several alternative millage scenarios so the board could finalize what to advertise.

On EEL bonding specifically, staff reported about $43.8 million of unissued voter-approved bond capacity remains on a $50 million authorization approved by voters; that balance could be issued within the voters’ authorization but would need to be spent under the bond rules. Staff also warned that any bond issuance would have to be amortized and fit within the advertised millage limits if the board chose to commit to debt service.

The board adopted the proposed millage schedule, with the adjusted voter-approved amounts included for advertising, and moved the tentative budget hearing date to Sept. 10 to avoid a conflict with the school board. The roll calls on the millage package and date change show unanimous board support for posting the proposed rates and calling public hearings.

Why it matters: The proposed millages determine what taxpayers will see on their TRIM notices and frame the public budget debate this fall. Advertising higher voter‑approved levies preserves options to use bond capacity and dedicated levies for conservation, parks and fire/EMS infrastructure, rather than relying solely on the general fund.

The board will hear public comment and can reduce any advertised millage at tentative and final hearings in September; increases after TRIM notices are mailed would require additional procedural steps.