The Cocoa Beach City Commission voted 3-2 to reallocate $25,000 from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) facade grant fund to Cocoa Beach Main Street, increasing that nonprofit’s city subsidy to $40,000 for the fiscal year.

Cocoa Beach Main Street director Kenny Wells presented the nonprofit’s 2024 report and told the commission the organization sells bricks, runs recurring events and tracks volunteer hours to support downtown businesses. "We have 1 paid staffer who works tirelessly throughout the year," said Margaret Schneider, introduced as a Cocoa Beach resident and Main Street board member during public comment.

The move was opposed by some residents who argued Main Street, a private 501(c)(3), should be self-sustaining. Janice Scott, a Cocoa Beach resident, said, "I don't think it's the business of government to keep giving our tax money" to a nonprofit. Supporters responded that Main Street's events benefit many local organizations, including school clubs and service groups.

Devin Talley, deputy finance director, told commissioners the $15,000 grant in the general fund for Main Street is already budgeted for FY25 and that the CRA currently has no line item specifically budgeted for Main Street. Talley said the CRA could provide $25,000 only by reassigning funds from another CRA account, such as the facade grant program, which had approximately $200,000 authorized and roughly $130,000 already committed in prior approvals.

Commissioners debated whether the funding level is sustainable and whether Main Street should increase private contributions to reach a roughly one-third share of its budget. Commissioner Williams moved to reappropriate $25,000 from the CRA facade grant program to Main Street to supplement the $15,000 in the general fund. The motion received a second and passed 3-2.

The commission did not record an itemized roll-call of individual yes/no votes in the public transcript; the official result was recorded as "Motion passes. 3:2." The CRA finance line chosen for the transfer — if implemented administratively — will be the facade grant account unless the commission directs otherwise during the next formal budget process.

The commission also urged Main Street representatives to pursue additional private memberships and sponsorships to reduce future reliance on city funding.

The action was a formal allocation decision, not a policy change. The CRA staff indicated the agency could also consider a formal line-item request in the next budget cycle if the commission prefers that route.

The Commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote.