Government of Brevard County, Florida
Money was spent by the country as follows: Constitutional officers 50%, County Commission 42%, state mandates 6%, outside agencies 1% and court services 1%.
The Brevard Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is composed of senior locally elected municipal and county officials.
Based on the mid-point of the growth estimates, if Brevard has 200,000 new residents by 2020, taxpayers will have to meet a list of new requirements, including: 400 more police officers and 362 more firefighters; 25 US gallons (95 L; 21 imp gal) million more per day of drinking water; 1,334 more teachers; 600 more jail beds.
[citation needed] Evacuation routes were insufficient to handle the resulting heavy traffic westbound when an emergency was declared.
[27] In southern Brevard County, Hurricane Frances destroyed or substantially damaged nine single-family dwellings, a pool house, and a World War II observation tower.
Notably Jeanne destroyed a 100-ft. concrete seawall and a 50-ft. wooden return wall, causing a single-family dwelling to be undermined.
The 56-year old Sea Grape Manor, built by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1948, lost its two motel wings with 10 units and a garage building when the dune line receded about 50 feet.
The winds of Jeanne blew roof sections inland up to 350 feet from the building spreading debris across U.S. Highway A1A.
[56] Some volunteers work alongside paid professionals in jurisdictions served by the sheriff, including the Citizens Observer Patrol and Civilian Mounted Posse programs.
[57] There are five sheriff precincts: Cape Canaveral, East (Merritt Island), North (Titusville), West (Viera), and South (Melbourne).
[60] The sheriff solved the problem by the construction of a large but less expensive "hardened tent" to house non-violent offenders.
A unit of the Coast Guard, homeported at Port Canaveral, plays a role in preventing illegal immigration, and is an interdictor of drugs in the area.
[63] Drug Court programs adjudicate cases in which offenders are chronic substance abusers through an extensive supervision and treatment regimen.
Drug Courts require offenders to acknowledge their problems with substances and provide him/her with tools and mechanisms to deal with their addictions, in an effort to reduce or eliminate future criminal conduct.
In exchange for successfully completing this intensive program, the Court may dismiss the charge, reduce the sentence, or offer a combination of other incentives.
[66] In May 2005, the ACLU accused local police and Sheriff's offices of attempting to intimidate protests by conducting surveillance and filming them.
The county justice system has faced criticism for its reliance on since-discredited dog handler John Preston as an expert witness in the 1980s.
[69] The Department of Juvenile Justice refers selected youths to the Space Coast Marine Institute (SCMI).
[70] The SCMI is a six to eight month moderate security residential facility for juvenile boys ages 14–18 who have committed around 4-12 crimes.
The young men arrive at the institute with little or no self-esteem and have experienced minimal positive interaction with adults and peers.
The mission of SCMI is to address their needs by providing a scheduled curriculum of academic, vocational and mental health awareness activities.
In addition to a personalized academic education, the daily schedule includes programs that build self-confidence and a greater understanding of the world around us.
[73] Reentry Brevard contracts with a contractor, often non-profit, to provide halfway services to youth conditionally released from prison.
All but three of the 17 incorporated municipalities, Malabar, Cape Canaveral and Palm Shores, maintain their own law enforcement services.
Experience with hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne in 2004 prompted the formation of the Brevard Long Term Recovery Coalition, consisting of United Way of America officials and other emergency-needs experts.
The scope of responsibility for the lifeguards include accident and drowning prevention, public education, citizen assist, search and recovery of lost children, basic life support, and swimmer rescue.
In November 2006, the Board of County Commissioners provided taxpayers the opportunity to vote on issuing additional bonds.
[119] In 11 sanctuaries that protect natural ecosystems, the county's Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program offers passive recreation opportunities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, biking and paddling.
A special collection of Talking Books is provided by the National Library for the Blind to serve the visually impaired and physically disabled population.
Brevard County tries to provide a number of unique services to help the aged, juveniles, the physically and mentally handicapped, and minorities.
