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Melbourne Beach leaders scrutinize police budget as insurance, overtime and vehicle costs rise
Summary
At a May 14 budget workshop commissioners and staff reviewed the police department’s proposed operating budget, focusing on a projected 20% increase in insurance, overtime trends, proposed stipends and differentials totaling about $11,520, and vehicle and radio purchases funded partly from long‑term capital.
Melbourne Beach, Fla. — Town commissioners and staff on May 14 centered the first budget workshop on the police department, highlighting rising insurance estimates, persistent overtime and several one‑time capital requests.
Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro led the presentation, saying the packet’s first pages roll up payroll and benefit costs for the department and noting she had conservatively increased insurance lines "by 20%" to allow for higher premiums until actual renewal figures arrive. Mascaro said the town currently has 13 employees participating in the town health plan.
The discussion focused on a handful of cost drivers. Mascaro identified the payroll subtotal for the police department as $80,934 and flagged a proposed differential and stipend package that the chief had priced at about $11,520 for night‑shift and other duty pay. "When we get those actual hard numbers in, they will be — hopefully less — when we make those adjustments," Mascaro said about the insurance estimates. Commissioner Tim Reed had proposed…
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