The Palm Bay City Council voted 3 to 2 to reject agreements with Brevard Public Schools and Odyssey Charter School for school resource officer programs next year, citing budget concerns and a need for renegotiation. The decision comes as city leaders seek to balance safety priorities with financial constraints. Councilman Kenny Johnson said cost was a major factor, but added that the city would not budge on the amount. "I would like for our chief to meet with the principals of the schools who have concerns," Johnson said. "How we can better serve, no matter what." Mayor Rob Medina suggested the city may need to lobby state legislators for changes to the mandate requiring armed officers in every school after the 2018 Parkland shooting. "They’re the ones putting on the demand, the mandate," Medina said. "Perhaps we can get our legislators to file some type of amendment." The exact cost of Palm Bay’s agreements was not disclosed, but public records show Melbourne Police charges about $72,000 annually per officer, covering salary, benefits, and other expenses. Council members emphasized that officers will still be present in Palm Bay schools this fall, but said the current agreements need to be renegotiated to address the financial burden on the city. "This is impacting our Palm Bay community as a whole," said one council member. The state law requiring armed officers on every campus remains in effect, but local officials are pushing for legislative changes to ease the financial strain. The council’s decision highlights the tension between state mandates and local fiscal realities as schools across Brevard County navigate the costs of security measures.