Indian River County adopts $598.9 million budget, raises millage above rollback

Kenny, the county administrator, told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday that the county's proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget is $598,860,844 and represents the second and final public hearing on the budget.

The budget adoption matters because it sets tax rates and spending across general, special, capital and enterprise funds for the coming year and allocates a large portion of new general‑fund revenue to the sheriff's office.

Kenny said the proposed total is a decrease of about $72 million compared with the fiscal 2024–25 beginning budget as calculated March 20, 2025, and that the county's tax roll increased about 8.8% countywide (8.7% for unincorporated areas). “Tonight represents our second and final hearing, the adoption hearing for our budget, for fiscal 2526,” Kenny said. He reported that retirement-rate increases added about $3.9 million countywide and that workers' compensation costs rose by just over $1 million.

The county set the proposed general‑fund millage at 3.5475 mills, which the administrator said is 6.69% above the rollback rate of 3.325 and therefore legally constitutes a tax increase. The adopted general‑fund budget is $156,981,193. In explaining allocations, the administrator said the sheriff's office will receive about 72% of the new general‑fund revenue tied to the increased tax roll and that, as proposed, the sheriff's budget will represent 53.1% of the overall general fund.

The adopted package included a net increase of 21.25 full‑time positions across county budgets, the administrator said, and reflected reductions from earlier requests to partially cover increased sheriff funding. The administrator also noted the sheriff's requested additions were reduced from an initial request of roughly $14.6 million to a revised request of about $12.2 million and that the final recommended sheriff funding is $85,773,472.

During public comment, Jill Collins, president of the board of the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, asked commissioners to avoid describing the shelter's county funding as an “allocation” because she said the term understates the animal‑control and other services the nonprofit provides under a memorandum of understanding with the county. “When I look at an allocation, it's more of a gift,” Collins said, asking the board to recognize the operational relationship between the shelter and county animal control.

Commissioners approved the general‑fund millage and adopted the general fund budget by unanimous vote. The board then took up and approved a series of special and enterprise fund budgets and millages as follows: municipal services taxing unit (MSTU) millage 1.1506 (6.09% above rollback) and budget $56,348,983; transportation fund budget $27,075,755; emergency services district millage 2.3531 (6.25% above rollback) and budget $73,585,471; land acquisition bond tranche millage 0.061 and budget $1,843,432; aggregate millage announcement (6.1158 mills, informational); solid waste disposal district budget $42,047,435 (approved 3–1); and a set of non‑ad valorem and other funds including special revenues, debt service, capital projects, enterprise and internal service funds totaling the amounts presented by the administrator.

Most motions carried unanimously by the four commissioners present; Commissioner Susan Adams was absent. The solid waste disposal district budget passed 3–1 with Commissioner Moss recorded as the dissenting vote. The administrator and commissioners urged continued work with state, federal and private partners to leverage bond proceeds for environmental land acquisition approved by voters in 2024, and one commissioner said the Environmental Lands Acquisition Committee expects to present preliminary property recommendations in October.

Votes at a glance

- General‑fund millage: 3.5475 mills; adopted unanimously (4–0). General‑fund budget: $156,981,193; adopted unanimously (4–0). - Municipal services taxing unit (MSTU) millage: 1.1506 mills; adopted unanimously (4–0). MSTU budget: $56,348,983; adopted unanimously (4–0). - Transportation fund budget: $27,075,755; adopted unanimously (4–0). - Emergency Services District millage: 2.3531 mills; adopted unanimously (4–0). Emergency Services District budget: $73,585,471; adopted unanimously (4–0). - Land acquisition bond (first tranche of 2024 voter authorization): millage 0.061; bond‑related budget $1,843,432; adopted unanimously (4–0). - Solid Waste Disposal District budget: $42,047,435; adopted 3–1 (Commissioner Moss voted nay). - Non ad valorem and other fund totals (special revenue, debt service, capital projects, enterprise, internal service): adopted unanimously (4–0).

The board directed staff to proceed with the adopted budgets and millage resolutions; several commissioners also referenced ongoing coordination with outside grant and funding partners to maximize bond and acquisition funds. The administrator closed by thanking department heads and budget staff for their work during the budget season. The meeting adjourned after the budget actions were complete.