Editing West Melbourne, Florida (section)

== Government ==
The City of West Melbourne utilizes a [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]] form of government.<ref>City of West Melbourne, Florida.  [http://www.westmelbourne.org/index.asp?nid=33 "Form of Government"], ''West Melbourne, FL - Official Website''. Accessed November 20, 2007.</ref>  The [[City Council]] consists of the [[mayor]] and six council members.<ref name="City Council">City of West Melbourne, Florida.  [http://www.westmelbourne.org/index.asp?nid=122 "City Council"], ''West Melbourne, FL - Official Website''. Accessed January 23, 2009.</ref> The City Management consists of a [[city manager]] and a twelve-person executive management team.<ref name="City Management">City of West Melbourne, Florida.  [http://www.westmelbourne.org/index.asp?NID=123 "City Management"], ''West Melbourne, FL - Official Website''. Accessed November 20, 2007.</ref> The city government offices are located at the West Melbourne City Hall.

In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.32 billion.<ref>{{cite book|author=Dean, James|title=More taxes or fewer services|date=April 26, 2008|publisher=Florida Today}}</ref>

In 2011, about half the city general fund was spent on the police department.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cervenka|first=Suzanne|date=December 7, 2011|title=Council spares Hazlett a censure vote|pages=1B|newspaper=[[Florida Today]]|location=Melbourne, Florida|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111207/NEWS01/312060022/Council-members-won-t-censure-Hazlett}}</ref>

===City council<ref name="City Council" />===
*Pat Bentley, Mayor (November 2020 – Present)
*Diana Adams, Deputy Mayor (November 2022 – Present)
*Andrea Young, Council Member (November 2022 – Present)
*John Dittmore, Council Member, Council Member (November 2022 – Present)
*Stephen Phrampus, Council Member (November 2020 – Present)
*Daniel McDow, Council Member (November 2020 – Present)
*Helen Voltz, Council Member (November 2023 – Present)

===City management===
The city experienced a 35% increase in crime for 2010, the highest rise in Brevard County, most areas of which experienced a drop in crime. This included 48.5% more burglaries.<ref name="ft101015">{{Cite news|last=Knapp|first=Andrew|date=16 October 2010|title=Crime rate decreases 5.5%|pages=1B|publisher=Florida Today|location=Melbourne, Florida|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101016/NEWS01/10160312/1006/Crime+rate+decreases+5.5+percent}}</ref>

In 2010 the number of police officers dropped from 38 to 33, due to a hiring freeze.<ref name="ft101015" />

The fee for garbage disposal was $10.24 per month per household in 2011–2012.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cervenka|first=Susanne|date=April 20, 2011|title=City to drop rates by $3 for garbage|pages=1B|newspaper=[[Florida Today]]|location=Melbourne, Florida|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110420/NEWS01/104200343/West-Melbourne-s-monthly-garbage-rates-drop}}</ref>

Personnel who operate the city government, under the guidance of the city council, include:
*Tim Rhode, City Manager<ref name=cityadm>[https://www.westmelbourne.gov/15/City-Administration "City Administration"]</ref>
*Gregory Vesta, Police Chief<ref name=cityadm/>
*John Cary, City Attorney<ref name=cityadm/>