Brevard County debates local gas-tax options as residents and businesses weigh costs

County commissioners spent a large portion of their Sept. 15 meeting discussing whether to pursue additional local option motor-fuel taxes to raise money for roads, drainage and transit projects.

Staff presented options including a 1–5¢ local option gas tax and a separate 9¢ gasoline-only option, and outlined eligible uses such as repaving, drainage, transit operations and capital projects. The county also provided a five-year revenue history for the existing local options. Mike Shaw, a retail fuel business owner, urged the Board to reject any new tax now, saying, “I’m here to to respectfully ask you to vote no on any additional local tax, local gas tax.” He warned that making gasoline more expensive would shift customers to neighboring counties and hurt convenience stores and employees.

Other public speakers urged the Board to adopt the tax. One commenter said tourist-paid fuel taxes would reduce pressure on property taxes and provide predictable funds for resurfacing. Commissioners discussed the economic tradeoffs, the effect on diesel used by construction, and whether to place a referendum before voters in 2028. County counsel and staff explained that levying a local option tax requires an ordinance (advertised in advance) and that the Board could direct staff to prepare an ordinance for a future meeting; no ordinance was advertised at this session and no final vote was taken.

The discussion ended without action; staff said they would return with additional analysis or ordinance language if directed. The Board noted that, to be effective Jan. 1, 2027, an ordinance would have to be prepared and advertised by October 1 and might require working with municipal partners on allocation formulas.