Brevard commissioners agree to place school‑funding referendums on 2026 ballot
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Summary
The board approved placing two measures — a renewal of a 1‑mill ad valorem tax operating levy and a renewal (10 years) of a half‑cent school capital sales surtax — on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot at the school board's request; the board treated these as ministerial actions under Florida law.
The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 28 voted to place two school‑funding referendums on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot at the request of the Brevard Public Schools board.
The first measure directs voters to renew an additional 1 mill of ad valorem tax for school operations. County staff explained that when a school board satisfies statutory requirements to seek a referendum, the county commission has a ministerial duty to place that question on the ballot. The motion to place the millage renewal on the 2026 general election ballot passed unanimously.
The second item asked the board to place a renewal of the half‑cent discretionary sales surtax for school capital outlay on the 2026 ballot for up to the statutory maximum period (the school board requested a 10‑year renewal). Superintendent Mark Rendell told commissioners that charter schools operating in their own buildings receive a portion of capital funding based on enrollment and that the surtax funds are primarily for maintaining and building school facilities. The board approved placing the surtax referendum on the ballot; commissioners framed this action as following statutory process and not an endorsement of the measures.
Why it matters: If approved by voters, the millage and surtax renewals would provide multi‑year operating and capital funding for Brevard Public Schools. The board's role in these items was procedural: staff and the county attorney advised that the school board had met statutory requirements and the commission must place the questions on the ballot.