Brevard County Commissioner John Tobia: County Commission to Raise Your Taxes Again

By  //  September 26, 2017

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Brevard County District 3 Commissioner John Tobia: On September 19, the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners tentatively voted to raise property taxes by a 4-1 vote.  I adamantly dissented.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On September 19, the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners tentatively voted to raise property taxes by a 4-1 vote.  I adamantly dissented.  

Unless the citizens of Brevard County convince the Board otherwise, we are on a clear path to once again raise taxes at the final budget hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Viera Government Center Boardroom.

I urge readers to make their voices heard, either by contacting their Commissioner directly, or by attending this hearing.

For months, the Board held workshops to discuss the County’s budget.  During this period, my office worked to identify areas where the County could either reduce spending or, at minimum, prevent increased spending within specific departments.

While the Board did agree with a few of these proposals, it largely stayed on the path of enlarging government and increasing spending.  We have now reached the inevitable result of this out-of-control spending – raising your taxes to pay for it.

According to the Florida Department of Revenue, the millage plan that the Board tentatively approved on September 19 is a tax increase.  The formula which the State agency uses is designed to prevent politicians from keeping citizens in the dark when they raise taxes.

Still, you can expects some commissioners to try to explain away this tax increase.  After all, last year the Board voted to break the voter-imposed Charter Cap, which is designed to prevent increases in spending more than the Consumer-Price-Index.

The year before that, the Board voted to raise taxes, just like they are doing now.  Each time, commissioners did what politicians always seem to do and tried to worm their way out of their responsibilities.

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The bottom-line is that more than 25 percent of Brevard County homeowners will see heir tax bills increase this year, and all property taxes will be higher than they should be.  Brevard County Citizens have heard all the excuses before, and are smart enough to know what a tax increase is.

I humbly ask Brevard County citizens to get involved and demand that their elected officials at the Brevard CountyCounty Commission keep their promises.  If the Board votes to give final approval to the current plan, the tax increase will take effect beginning October 1.

Time is running out, but there is still one more chance to convince commissioners to make the“tough choices” and become good stewards of your hard-earned money.

BREVARD COUNTY COMMISSION: Front Row, left to right – Vice-Chair Rita Pritchett, Chairman Curt Smith and Commissioner Kristine Isnardi. Back Row, left to right – Commissioner Jim Barfield and Commissioner John Tobia. (Brevard County image)

Contact information for Brevard County Commissioners:

District 1

Vice-Chair Rita Pritchett
(321) 607-6901
D1.Commissioner@BrevardFL.gov

District 2

Commissioner Jim Barfield
(321) 454-6601
D2.Commissioner@BrevardFL.gov

District 3

Commissioner John Tobia
(321) 633-2075
John.Tobia@BrevardFL.gov

District 4

Chairman Curt Smith
(321) 633-2044
D4.Commissioner@BrevardFL.gov

District 5

Commissioner Kristine Isnardi
(321) 253-6611
D5.Commissioner@BrevardFL.gov

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ABOVE MAP: The Final Budget Hearing is Tuesday, September 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the Boardroom at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera.

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS

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