Brevard County Commission Meeting on Tuesday May 20, 2025.
The following is a recap of the items of interest:
After 2 hours of public comment in the Public Hearing section of the agenda the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the Brevard County Fire Services Special Assessment Rate to the 2025 property tax bill of all of unincorporated Brevard County residents as well as those in the City of West Melbourne, Town of Palm Shores, Melbourne Village and Grant Valkaria as those are the areas serviced by Brevard County Fire Rescue. The Fire Services Assessment is an existing non-ad valorem assessment that is annually assessed. Based upon the approved adjustment, the total annual Fire Service Special Assessment revenue to be collected for fiscal year 2025-26 is estimated to be up to $53,030,972 ( 37% in some cases). Also approved is an annual increase to the Fire Service Special Assessment equal to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 3% which ever is less. This increase will start in the fiscal year beginning. October 1, 2025.
The amount of the assessment to be applied to each parcel will be based on the property use code designated by the Property Appraiser and the square footage ranges, where applicable, as well as the applicable hazard code, as determined by the National Fire Protection Agency Standard.
In this same commission meeting the board voted 3-2 to dissolve the North Brevard Economic Development Zone for the purpose of recapturing the tax increment funding for the County general fund. The thought is to use that $3 million to help with the critical funding situation facing the fire department. The county will still honor the existing contractual obligations and commitments of NBEDZ. This was also heavily debated. Community leaders such as Robert Jordon, Bart Gaetjens, Titusville Mayor Andrew Connor, and Robin Fisher along with Commissioner Katie Delaney and Commissioner Thad Altman voiced their support for NBEDZ and wanted to find a compromise to the dissolution.