FY 2025-2026.
Mark Wilhelm stated he has been a Brevard County resident for 55 years, he lives in the Cocoa
area, but he is a resident of the County; he wants to comment on the four percent wage
increase for the higher paid County employees; as a retired automotive technician after 45
years of service, he would seldom get a pay raise; sometimes as long as five years or more
and he would have to state his case for a raise, even though he was qualified at what he did, as
a master technician; it has always bothered him that government employees gets annual
raises, regardless of whether they earned them; everyone knows that is not always the case,
but they get them anyway; and the employees at the lower part of the pay scale may deserve
and probably need a four percent raise. He went on to say that someone making $50,000 a
year would get a $2,000 raise, while somebody at the top of the pay scale would get nearly
$14,000, even though their salary is 669 percent higher than the median income in Brevard
County employees who make over $150,000 per year; business as usual and spending
taxpayers money needs to be reined in; and with government, those who make the financial
decisions are used to the big numbers, a piddly $14,000 pay raise is just a drop in the bucket,
but those drops fill up the bucket quickly, like a leaky faucet running up the water bill. He
stated he believes that most of the Commissioners, just like most politicians, are more
concerned about getting reelected or moving up and not what their constituents need or want;
voters, like he, are waking up to what is going on, and are starting to speak up; what is needed,
are more Commissioners like his from District 1, Katie Delaney; Commissioner Delaney is
willing to put in the time and effort, to support those who voted her into position, as well as all
other County residents; Commissioner Delaney knows where the money is going and why, and
sometimes much to her chagrin; and how about following her example and join her in the fight
for financial responsibility.
Chairman Feltner advised the Board that was the only speaker card.
Jim Liesenfelt, County Manager, advised since the Board must adopt the millages and related
budgets separately, comments and motions concerning the individual tax levies can also be
made at the time each millage is adopted; and if the Board would like, he will keep going.
Chairman Feltner inquired if there is discussion at this time.
Mr. Liesenfelt replies affirmatively.
Commissioner Delaney inquired if this is where the Board would be talking about possible
amendments to the budget, or are these just millages.
Jill Hayes, Budget Office Director, replied at this time the Board would need to vote on the
individual millages; there can be discussion on each of those individual millages; and the
millages must be adopted before the budget is adopted.
There being no further comments, the Board accepted public comments concerning the
tentatively approved Operating and Capital Budget for the County’s 2025-2026 Fiscal Year,
including Charter Officers and Dependent Special Districts.
D.3. Public Comment, Discussion and Adoption of the Resolution Establishing Final
Millages for FY 2025-2026 for Brevard County
Chairman Feltner called for a public hearing for public comment, discussion, and adoption of
the resolution establishing final millages for FY 2025-2026 for Brevard County.
Jim Liesenfelt, County Manager, stated Item D.3., allows for public comment, discussion, and
