Brevard County has a county government, municipal governments, and various Florida state and U.S. federal agencies.
Summary
County commissioners are elected by the public to establish ordinances and policies for the county. The Commission appoints a County Manager, who executes the will of the Commission. The county employed about 2,350 workers in 2024.
The government under the jurisdiction of the county commission includes:Agricultural Extension Service, Central Services (contractual services for the government), Animal Services and Enforcement, Emergency Management, Facilities (support services for the government), Fire Rescue, Space Coast Government Television and Communications, Library Services, Utility Services, Information Technology, Human Resources, Mosquito Control, Housing and Human Services, Planning and Development, Natural Resources Management, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Space Coast Area Transit, Solid Waste Management, and Tourism Development.
A centrally located County Government Center in Viera houses the various county government branches, including Housing and Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety, Public Works and Solid Waste Management. County and school board meetings are televised on Educational-access television, and the public is present for all city and town council meetings as per Florida's own version of Government in the Sunshine Act.
The various cities, towns and villages of Brevard have varying reliance on services provided by the Brevard County government.
The Brevard County government had annual expenditures just over $1 billion in the fiscal year 2009-2010, exclusive of the municipalities. In 2009, real estate taxes for homesteaded property averaged .83% of the value of the property. Real estate taxes are levied by each authority. They are collected by the County Tax Collector. The money is disbursed (for a typical Palm Bay resident) as follows: School Board 41%, City (Palm Bay for this case) 31%, County Commission 26%, Water Management Districts 2% and Independent special districts 1%. Money was spent by the country as follows: Constitutional officers 50%, County Commission 42%, state mandates 6%, outside agencies 1% and court services 1%.
In 2012 bonds issued by the county were given a rating of AA by the Fitch Group and improved ratings by Moody's.
The county assesses residents in the county only, for fire protection. Annual fees range from $39 for homes up to ; up to $311 for homes over .
The total taxable real estate base was $33.7 billion in 2009. County taxes rose 26.5% in total per capita revenue from 2002–2007, and 49.8% in property tax per capita in the same time frame. Delinquent taxes were $36 million in 2008.
Solid waste management budgeted $33.4 million in fiscal year 2008/9 for county waste, not including municipalities which contract separately. In 2017, the county served about 97,000 residences. It charged $128.21 annually to pick up waste curbside. Of concern, was a $1.2 million reserve for extra removal of wastes resulting from hurricanes. This was considered too low. The deficiency was magnified by the fact that collection costs more than customers are being charged.
In 2010 municipalities and the county charged from $9.74 to $14.95 monthly for solid waste disposal. Most disposal was contracted out by the municipality to private vendors. Titusville and Rockledge each had a municipal operation.
The ex officio Space Coast League of Cities suggests legislation to its representatives.
The Brevard Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is composed of senior locally elected municipal and county officials. This local multi-jurisdictional agency decides where federal and state road money will be used.
Various elected officials call unofficial "town meetings" to allow the public to express their concerns about issues that the officials should address.
The Brevard County Housing Authority acquires and leases housing projects; investigates housing conditions; determines where slums and unsafe housing exist and investigates conditions dangerous to the public. It is managed by citizens appointed by the county commission.
Brevard County has two unique election districts. One governs Port Canaveral; the other, the maintenance of the Sebastian Inlet.
The Canaveral Port Authority is an independent governmental agency created by the Florida Legislature. Five elected commissioners representing the five port regions are the governing body of Port Canaveral and have jurisdiction over all fiscal and regulatory policies and operations of the Port. The Authority sets policy and can levy taxes. They stopped levying an ad valorem tax on district residents, becoming only the second taxing authority in Florida to do so.
The county has hired a federal lobbyist to represent its interests.
Brevard expected to have 100,000-300,000 more people by 2020, an increase of 60%. This offers a challenge to local government to keep infrastructure ahead of growth, while preserving the environment.
Based on the mid-point of the growth estimates, if Brevard has 200,000 new residents by 2020, taxpayers will have to meet a list of new requirements, including: 400 more police officers and 362 more firefighters; million more per day of drinking water; 1,334 more teachers; 600 more jail beds. In 2009, the county expected to grow to 763,546 by 2030, a 42% increase.
The county got about $459 per resident in 2008 from the federal government. This ranks the metro among the bottom five metro areas that receive money based on population. This distribution is tied to income inequality. K In 2010, the state had 1,465 employees working in the county.
Ordinances in the county (as opposed to municipalities) can be noticeably different. For example, county land may be zoned as "agricultural" and therefore raise animals (other than pets). Even in county suburbs, residents may have one chicken. This would not be allowed in suburbs in municipalities.
History Libraries Most of the libraries in Brevard County were initiated by a club or an interested group of citizens which started a library program in their area or city. The first five public libraries in the county - Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Eau Gallie, Melbourne, and North Brevard in Titusville - were all started in this fashion.
State Representation Prior to the creation of districts in 1967, state representatives were elected by county. Beginning in 1967, Brevard County was represented by the 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th districts. Following redistricting in 1970, the county was represented by the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th and 48th districts. Following redistricting in 1982, the county was represented by the 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 77th, and 78th districts. Following redistricting in 1992, the county was represented by the 29th, 30th, 31st, and 32nd districts. Following redistricting in 2002, the county was represented by the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, and 80th districts.
County Growth and Emergency Response Evacuation routes were insufficient to handle the resulting heavy traffic westbound when an emergency was declared. A major westbound route (US 192) was expanded in 2008 to four lanes to accommodate the south Brevard population.
Hurricanes Between September 5 and September 25, the 2004 hurricane season brought three back-to-back hurricanes to Brevard County: Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne.
In southern Brevard County, Hurricane Frances destroyed or substantially damaged nine single-family dwellings, a pool house, and a World War II observation tower. Frances also caused major damage to 35 single-family dwellings, 21 multifamily dwellings (condominiums, motels), five commercial buildings, a church building, a garage building, a pavilion, and a pool.
Along southern Brevard County, Hurricane Jeanne’s impact was even more catastrophic. Jeanne destroyed or substantially damaged 40 single-family dwellings, two motel buildings, a commercial building, two garage buildings, two pavilions, and a pool. Notably Jeanne destroyed a 100-ft. concrete seawall and a 50-ft. wooden return wall, causing a single-family dwelling to be undermined. The 56-year old Sea Grape Manor, built by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1948, lost its two motel wings with 10 units and a garage building when the dune line receded about 50 feet. The winds of Jeanne blew roof sections inland up to 350 feet from the building spreading debris across U.S. Highway A1A. At least five of the units were undermined and collapsed on the beach. Jeanne also caused major damage to 146 single-family dwellings, 26 multifamily dwellings (condominiums, motels, and duplexes), four commercial buildings, and a garage building.
Within two blocks of the beach nearly every building sustained some damage from Hurricane Jeanne. Barefoot Bay, a mobile housing development, was essentially destroyed. Winds tore off the roof of a shelter for special needs people in an elementary school. Emergency workers were forced to evacuate these people at the peak of the storm.
In September 2005, 1,400 survivors of Hurricane Katrina took refuge in the county.
County Commission Robin Fisher was elected in 2007 as the first black commissioner in the county's history. He became the first black chairman of the county commission in 2010. The chair normally rotates among the commissioners.
In 2012, Andy Anderson was the first Commissioner to be elected without opposition since the 1970s.
Commissioners were paid $60,272.98 annually as of January 2023.
Government officials
Local
The citizens of Brevard County are represented in the Brevard County Commission by five commissioners elected by district. They are:
District 1 - Rita Pritchett, Vice Chair District 2 - Tom Goodson District 3 - John Tobia District 4 - Rob Feltner District 5 - Jason Steele, Chair
The County Manager is Frank B. Abbate.
The County Manager is the head of the executive branch of County Government, and is responsible to the Board of County Commissioners for the proper administration of all affairs of County Government not otherwise entrusted to an elected County officer. The Manager attends all regular and special meetings of the Board of County Commissioners and has the right to participate in its discussions.
The following are considered state officials but are elected and paid for by the County: Sheriff - Wayne Ivey Clerk of the Circuit Court - Rachel M. Sadoff Property Appraiser - Dana Blickley Tax Collector - Lisa Cullen Supervisor of Elections - Tim Bobanic State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit - Phil Archer Public Defender, 18th Judicial Circuit - Blaise Trettis
In April 2007, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement seized documents from the office of the County Appraiser in connection with an investigation into illegally re-appraising properties at lower values.
State The county lies within two state senatorial districts, the 14th and 17th. They are held by Tom Wright and Debbie Mayfield.
The county lies within four state house representative districts. These seats are held by Vacant representing the 50th district, Tyler Sirois representing the 51st district, Thad Altman representing the 52nd district, and Randy Fine representing the 53rd district.
Federal Brevard County lies within Florida's 8th congressional district which is represented by Bill Posey. US Senators are Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
Justice system
Courts
The county has centralized most county and circuit courts in Viera which try a variety of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and domestic. An elected State's Attorney prosecutes cases for the public. Defendants can be represented through the auspices of the office of the elected Public Defender. The 18th Circuit Court includes Seminole as well as Brevard and covers not only the court itself but the State's Attorney and the Public Defender.States Attorney 18th Circuit Court accessed January 19, 2008