Brevard Charter Review Commission considers elected Comptroller position

Members of the Brevard County Charter Review Commission (CRC) will be having the final rounds of discussion on an amendment to the County Charter that would give the county an elected comptroller with the authority to audit the Constitutional Officers Thursday night.

Almost half of the Board of County Commissioners’ budget goes to the Constitutional Offices, but the board currently has no authority to perform internal audits of those offices.

Advocates say approval of this amendment would increase transparency between the Board of County Commissioners and the Constitutional Offices and potentially save Brevard County millions of dollars each year.The Sheriff and Property Appraiser have written letters to the Charter Review Commission opposing the idea. Reasons cited range from the concern over “abuse” of the position to increased costs to the taxpayer. Only one of the proposals would actually increase the size and cost of government, however.

Tax Collector Lisa Cullen isn’t opposed to the concept, but she is opposed to the authority being vested with the office of the Tax Collector, which was one of the options discussed.*

Brevard Clerk of Courts Scott Ellis has spoken before the Charter Review Commission in favor of the position, citing the success of Orange County’s model.

The Supervisor of Elections, Lori Scott, has remained officially neutral on the item because of her position on the Election Canvassing Board.*

Citizens are encouraged to attend the CRC meeting Thursday night at 6pm to speak for or against the amendment. The meeting will be in the Florida Room on the 3rd Floor of the Viera Government Center at 6pm Thursday.

*Editor’s Note: I initially reported the Tax Collector wrote a letter opposing the Comptroller position; to be exact, her letter stated  she didn’t think it would be appropriate for *her* office to perform the duties of the Comptroller, and I have since been informed Mrs. Cullen is in favor of the overall concept.

*Editor’s Note II: In my original story I inadvertently lumped Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott in with the others as opposing the amendment, which was not accurate. The Supervisor has taken no position on the issue because of her position on the Election Canvassing Board. I sincerely regret the error and have apologized to Ms. Scott for the mistake.