The proposed budgets for Indialantic and Melbourne Beach for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 have their ups and downs, but both towns are on trend with the rest of the county and benefitting from increased assessed property values.
Indialantic expects to hold the line on the tax rate, while Melbourne Beach officials have initially voted to increase taxes slightly.
In Melbourne Beach, the gross taxable value increased 6.4 percent from $355.4 million to $378 million and the preliminary maximum millage rate was set at 4.1831, higher than the current rate of 4.1584. One millage equals one dollar for every $1,000 of taxable value. A house worth $100,000 would pay $418.31 in taxes to the town – plus county, school board and special taxing districts which have their own tax rates. Melbourne Beach anticipates raising $2.3 million in total tax revenues, including $1.5 million in property taxes.
In the current fiscal year, the gross taxable value of property in Indialantic exceeded $351.1 million. For the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the value jumps 8.5 percent to $381 million. Brevard County as a whole saw property values rise $2.5 billion, or about 7.5 percent.
Indialantic’s budget includes two sources of income: the general fund, much of which comes from property taxes, and the enterprise fund, which comes from parking meters, beach parking permits, and special-event revenue. Proposed tax revenue is projected to rise from $3 million to almost $3.2 million.
“The current 2016-17 millage rate is 6.2653 and I am proposing that council set the 2017-18 millage rate at the same 6.2653,” Town Manager Chris Chinault said. “We should receive additional ad valorem tax revenue to cover some increased costs and increased services.”
The law enforcement budgets will rise in both communities, increasing from $1.05 million to $1.09 million in Melbourne Beach while in Indialantic the budget for law enforcement will grow from $1.63 million to $1.73 million.
Total expenses in Melbourne Beach expect to increase from $2.7 million to $2.8 million. In Indialantic, the proposed budget comes to $5.04 million, a slight tick downward from the current fiscal year’s $5.05 million.
The Melbourne Beach budget for 2017-18 includes almost $1 million in salaries. Yet the figure decreased more than $38,000 from the current year. Finance Manager Elizabeth Mascaro’s salary will rise by $13,000 as she assumes the position of acting town manager during the search for a replacement for Tim Day, who left Aug. 11. The budget also includes an increase of $2,400 for the town clerk. “We eliminated the public works director, saving $44,776, which was somewhat offset by the new position of lead maintenance worker for $34,476,” Mascaro said.
Budgets will also increase in Melbourne Beach for finance and parks and recreation. Code enforcement expects to decline. Melbourne Beach is playing catch up in repaving its streets, so in perpetuity, the town has allocated $52,000 a year to pave one mile a year. Another capital expense in perpetuity is the lease of a new police vehicle each year starting at $12,000 for 2017-18.
It doesn’t amount to much in the scheme of things, but the lack of state and federal elections this year will add expenses to the proposed local budgets for 2017-18 of both Melbourne Beach and Indialantic, where municipal elections will be held. “Election expenses are significantly up,” said Melbourne Beach Finance Manager Elizabeth Mascaro. Election costs expect to rise from $600 to $5,000 in Melbourne Beach and from $400 to $5,000 in Indialantic.
Overall, Melbourne Beach Mayor Jim Simmons is pleased with the town’s financial position.
“After years of belt tightening, this commission committed to fully funding our town’s infrastructure maintenance plan. We established a proactive and stable funding mechanism so that the town’s anticipated infrastructure/capital equipment needs (police cars, roads, parks and playgrounds, dune crossovers, HVAC systems, roofing, painting, etc.) can be met without sacrificing needed year-to-year operating funds. All of this was achieved while maintaining one of the lowest millage rates in the county,” Simmons said.
The Indialantic budget includes $50,000 toward building a $400,000 reserve in case a 1999 firetruck needs replacement. In addition, the town budgeted $65,200 for police personnel to enable enhancement of community policing, motor vehicle safety and pedestrian and bike safety. Maintenance costs will rise as will uniform expense, the latter because of bulletproof vests. Replacement of an ATV is scheduled at a cost of $12,378.
Said Indialantic Mayor Dave Berkman, “I am very happy with the proposed budget. The millage rate is to be held at the 2016-17 rate but we still included in the budget some funding for 5th Avenue and town beautification, key safety equipment for police and fire, as well as restoring the community policing officer which was de-funded about five years ago.”