Smoke, Mirrors & Spin

As the campaign for Town Commission unfolds, candidate Steve Walters and his posse are expressing disparaging opinions about realtors and builders impacting our town, forcing senior citizens to move.  Click HERE

One of Walters' vocal supporters on Nextdoor purposely lied to readers stating, “The more senior citizens who are forced to move, the more houses are available for the Circle to outbid families and buy them up. Plus, it is easier for the Commissioners to just raise our taxes. We need new commissioners come November who will represent all our citizens, including seniors and not the Circle!” 

Who is this so-called “Circle”? 

Truth and Accuracy Matter will address this misinformation head on. It’s important to ensure that this discussion is grounded in facts, not political rhetoric.

Let’s take a look at the FACTS.

Florida’s Save Our Homes cap is designed to safeguard homesteaded residences—INCLUDING those owned by retirees—by limiting tax increases to 3% annually. This fact alone protects our seniors from being, “forced to move”.

Property taxes generated from new construction play a significant and positive role in funding Town services for ALL residents, including retirees. This adds additional money into our Town’s budget, safeguards our property values and elevates our community.

Mr. Walters and some of his supporters choose to criticize those who have achieved financial success. He needs to understand that anyone, even those on pensions, can and do own multiple homes in our town.

For instance, there is a NYC retired firefighter living with a pension and owns two homes here. We also have a Town Commission Candidate, who receives a government pension, and owns two homes in our town. And, let’s not forget our Mayor… who repeatedly states she owns four houses in our town.

Now, let’s look at some specific properties and their tax contributions to our Town. 

By using actual numbers provided on the Brevard County Tax Collector website and adjusting for cost of living (COLA) by using an inflation calculator, these are the facts comparing property taxes paid specifically to the Town of Melbourne Beach from 2014 and 2024. We think you will find these numbers to be enlightening!

*Note: Social Security payments and government pensions receive a cost of living increase annually to adjust for inflation. The 2025 Social Security COLA was 2.5% and the US Gov’t is looking at a 2.7% increase in 2026.

204 Riverside Drive 

In 2014, they paid $2,402.23 ($3,181.33 - adjusted to reflect today’s COLA)

In 2019, they did a tear down and rebuild

In 2024, they paid $9,846.54 adding substantial revenue to the Town

215 Ash Avenue

In 2014, they paid $697.05 ($923.12 - adjusted to reflect today’s COLA)

In 2024, they paid $726.73

Based on COLA calculations, this property paid $196.39 less in 2024, than in 2014

412 First Avenue

In 2014, they paid $1,370.04 ($1,869.56 - adjusted to reflect today’s COLA)

In 2024, they paid $1,597.01

Based on COLA calculations, this property paid $272.55 less in 2024, than in 2014

416 Sixth Avenue

In 2014, they paid $743.35 ($1,014.37 - adjusted to reflect today’s COLA)

In 2024, they paid $956.22

Based on COLA calculations, this property paid $85.48 less in 2024, than in 2014

204 Riverview Drive

In 2014, they paid $1,024.43 ($1,356.68 - adjusted to reflect today’s COLA)

In 2022, they did a total renovation

In 2024, they paid $4,469.96

Based on COLA calculations., this property paid $3,113.28 more in 2024, than in 2014

To do the COLA calculations for your own property, you can type your specific information into the calculator that we used. Click HERE

Steve Walters and others who keep repeating that our taxes are out of control, need to STOP trying to mislead the residents of our Town with smoke and mirrors.

At Truth and Accuracy Matter , we remain committed advocates for informed conversations rooted firmly in factual evidence rather than misinformation.

If you’d like updates or more information on these topics moving forward please feel free reach out via our contact page!

The following graph also PROVES that millage rates in the Town of Melbourne Beach were less in 2025 than they were in 2020!!!

Taken from TMB 2025 Final Budget Report