Categories: Cocoa Beach

City of Cocoa Beach May Raise Property Taxes By 20%

UPDATE: Cocoa Beach Caps Property Tax At Current Rate

COCOA BEACH, Florida – City of Cocoa Beach Commissioners will consider increasing property taxes by 20% to help pay for a new City Hall, police station, and parking garage during their meeting that takes place at 7 p.m. on July 16, 2015.

“Although the staff is recommending the current 4.9798 millage for the continuation of current service levels along with the funding of several highly desired projects, the current millage does not provide for the funding of a new city hall, police station, or participation in some or all of the cost of constructing a parking garage as part of the city hall/police station complex or at another chosen location,” City Manager, Ron McLemore wrote in a memo to Commissioners.

City staff propose that the Commission raise property taxes one mill above the current 4.9798 millage, an increase of just over 20%. Another alternative proposed by staff is to hike the millage rate by three quarters of a mill.

“The second option would probably be sufficient to fund the new city hall and police station but could preclude the Commission’s option to enter into a public private partnership to construct a parking garage, or in the alternative, to fully fund a municipal garage,” the memo concludes.

Both property tax increases would require a supermajority vote of the Commission.

In addition to the City property tax, Brevard County Public Schools are also proposing property tax increase at a hearing on July 30.

Also on the July 16 Agenda is a proposal for the City to pay $186,000 from the Community Redevelpment Agency for a new parking lot, sign, and landscaping at Island Animal Hospital at Cocoa Beach, located at 333 Minuteman Causeway.

Image Credit: City of Cocoa Beach Meeting Video

City of Cocoa Beach Property Tax History