Broward County Board of County Commissioners Final Millage Rate and Budget Hearing – September 16, 2025

On September 16, 2025, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners held public hearings to adopt final millage rates and budgets for fiscal year 2026. The proposed aggregate millage rate was 5.7024, representing a 7.28% increase over the rolled-back rate. The total proposed county budget was $8.756 billion, an increase of $930.8 million from FY25. After extensive debate and multiple votes, the commission adopted a final general county millage rate of 5.6658 (a reduction of $1,019,864 from the proposed rate) and passed all related budgets.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chris Nelson (resident) urged the commission to lower the millage rate, noting a 61.8% budget increase since 2019 versus a 5.78% population increase, and called the property tax increase a “windfall” for the county.
• Chief Judge Carol Lisa Phillips and Judge Lauren Alperstein requested funding for family court navigators and support staff, citing increasing caseloads and the need for therapeutic interventions for children. They expressed disappointment that their initial request of over $1 million was not included in the budget but welcomed a potential pilot program.
• Robert Kirchgraber (resident) objected to the meeting starting after 5 PM, making it difficult for working residents to attend, and criticized the tax burden and the county’s exclusion of BSO from the DOGE audit.
• Anna Henry (community health worker) advocated for addressing mental health needs in the juvenile justice system and urged the commission to consider Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in budget decisions.
• Aaron Gonzalez (resident) argued for a full rollback, stating that the budget grows reserves by over $46 million while families struggle with mortgages and insurance, and called the tax increase a contradiction to affordable housing goals.

Discussion Items

• County Administrator Monica Saparo presented the FY26 budget overview: $8.756 billion total, with operating increases driven by BSO contracts, the new convention center hotel fund, and capital projects (Terminal 5 at the airport, emergency operations center). The general fund budget is $2.036 billion. The county reduced positions by 159 and cut $20 million in recurring expenses. Reserves increased by $40 million for emergencies, bringing total reserves to $266 million.
• Judiciary Funding: Following testimony, commissioners debated funding for family court navigators. Commissioner Udean proposed shifting $750,000 from judiciary IT or painting budgets, but County Administrator Saparo offered $660,000 from a judicial reserve line item for a one-year pilot of four navigators ($309,304). The commission agreed to have the County Administrator meet with the judiciary and return with a plan on October 7.
• Millage Rate Reduction Debate: Commissioner Udean moved to reduce the millage rate by $1,019,864 (to 5.6658), arguing no programs would be cut and the county could afford relief. Commissioner Geller opposed, citing the need to build reserves for future cuts from the state and emergencies. Commissioner Rich and others argued the reduction was too small to help taxpayers and would harm programs. Vice Mayor Bogan proposed a $5 million reduction but withdrew after the County Administrator warned it would impact services like senior, veteran, and homeless programs. Geller then offered a compromise reduction of approximately $100,000, which failed to gain support. Eventually, Commissioner Fisher moved the $1.019 million reduction, which passed.

Key Outcomes

• Final Millage Rate (General County Purposes): Adopted at 5.6658 (Resolution 2025-582 as amended), representing a 7.24% increase over the rolled-back rate. The reduction of $1,019,864 comes from the county’s reserve for ad valorem. Vote: 7–2 (Senator Rich and Mayor Furr dissenting).
• Final General Fund Budget: Adopted at $2,034,725,420 (Resolution 2025-583 as amended), with total all-funds budget of $8,754,814,450. Vote: unanimous.
• Broward Municipal Services District: Millage rate 2.3353 adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-584 and 2025-585).
• Fire Rescue Municipal Services District: Millage rate 2.6191 adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-586 and 2025-587).
• Street Lighting Subdistrict: Millage rate 0.3743 adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-588 and 2025-589).
• Water Control District No. 2: Millage rate 0.1223 adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-590 and 2025-591).
• Water Control District No. 3: Millage rate 0.1325 adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-592 and 2025-593).
• Water Control District No. 4 and Subdistricts: Millage rates for 4A (0.0121), 4B (0.0318), 4C (0.0325) adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-594 and 2025-595).
• Cocomar Water Control District, Unit Area No. 1: Millage rate 0.1363 adopted unanimously (Resolutions 2025-596 and 2025-597).
• Five-Year Capital Program (FY2026–2030): Adopted as amended (Resolution 2025-598), unanimously.
• Judiciary Pilot Program: Directed County Administrator to work with the judiciary and bring a funding proposal of up to $660,000 from judicial reserves for family court navigators to the October 7, 2025 meeting.