Broward County FY27 Budget Workshop – June 16, 2026

The Board of County Commissioners held a budget workshop on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (or upon completion of the regular board meeting) in Government Center East Room 430. Commissioners reviewed the Property Appraiser’s FY27 budget proposal, the Water and Wastewater Services FY27-FY31 capital program and operating budget, and a FY27 General Fund overview. No formal votes were taken on the water/wastewater or general fund presentations, but the board expressed consensus to support the Property Appraiser’s budget.

County Priorities for FY27

• Commissioners briefly discussed county priorities, with one commissioner noting that North Beach Park was not prioritized and urging future consideration. No formal action was taken, and the board moved to the next agenda item.

Property Appraiser FY27 Budget Proposal

• Presented by Arnela (Office of Management and Budget). The proposed budget totals a 4.3% increase, comprising a 4.5% increase in personnel services (including a 2% salary adjustment consistent with county collective bargaining agreements and higher health insurance costs) and a 3.1% increase in operating expenses. One additional commercial appeals position is requested with no new funds, funded by reallocation. The county’s share of the budget adjustment increases from 91.64% to 91.89%, resulting in a 4.6% increase in the county’s contribution.
• Property Appraiser Marty Kier noted that excluding the 2% salary adjustment and health insurance, the net increase is only 0.26%. He emphasized the budget is lean and that the new position is funded through savings from retirements.
• Commissioners praised the presentation and the lean budget approach. Consensus was reached to support the Property Appraiser budget. Several commissioners commended the efficiency and suggested it could serve as a model for other constitutional officers.

Water and Wastewater Services FY27 Budget and FY27-FY31 Capital Program

• Presented by Alan Garcia. The five-year capital program totals $795 million, focusing on system reliability, quality, sustainability, septic tank elimination, and regulatory compliance (ocean outfall reuse, biosolids disposal, and PFOS regulation).
• Septic Tank Elimination: Of 51,000 parcels on septic tanks countywide, about 2,375 remain in the county’s service area. A project in Pembroke Pines and Hollywood will eliminate 2,170 septic tanks. Smaller projects for 50–100 homes are ongoing.
• Ocean Outfall: The December 2025 deadline was met with an exception to continue supplying source water to Pompano Beach’s OASIS reclaim system. A dedicated pipeline is being built to allow the outfall to be shut off as an emergency backup while still providing water to Pompano.
• PFOS: A consultant is completing a pilot study to determine the best filters for treatment. Design is expected to be complete by the end of 2026, with construction taking about two years, targeting the 2029 deadline. The total cost for PFOS treatment is estimated at $400–500 million. The county has secured about $22 million from lawsuits (3M, DuPont, etc.) to help fund the design ($40 million).
• Biosolids Disposal: New state legislation effective in 2029 requires Class A biosolids; Class B land application will be prohibited. A consortium of seven wastewater utilities (including the county) is designing a pyrolysis facility to destroy PFOS and produce ash. Estimated cost is $200–300 million. Three utilities (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines) have not yet joined. The county will issue an RFP for a consultant to design the facility.
• Rate Stabilization: To avoid a large rate spike when debt service increases (from $37 million to $67 million), the county has added $6 million per year to a rate stabilization fund for water (three years) and is now adding $6 million for sewer. This will build $30 million in reserves to cover the debt service increase. Commissioners noted this intentional smoothing to minimize customer impact.
• Proposed Rate Increase: The average residential customer (5,000 gallons/month) would see a $5.65/month increase (about 6.3%). For lower-use customers (3,000 gallons), the increase is $4.39/month. Wholesale rate increases are minimal: wastewater from $3.20 to $3.22 per 1,000 gallons (10¢/month impact) and raw water from 29.3¢ to 30.6¢ per 1,000 gallons (6¢/month impact).
• Discussion on Fort Lauderdale Surcharge: Vice Mayor McKenzi raised concerns about residents in unincorporated Broward and cities served by Fort Lauderdale water paying a 25% surcharge, leading to high bills. Fort Lauderdale’s rates are among the highest in the county, and the surcharge is permitted by state law. Commissioners asked the county attorney to explore legal options to address the issue, noting that the surcharge is a revenue driver for Fort Lauderdale and that residents lack representation. The county has sent letters to Fort Lauderdale’s city manager on this topic.

FY27 General Fund Overview

• Presented by Budget Director Jennifer Steelman. Key dates: recommended budget to commission on July 15, 2026; tax collector submission to state on August 1; budget workshops on August 20 and 25; public hearings on September 10 and 22.
• Revenue Outlook: Ad valorem taxable value: 77% residential (36% homestead, 41% non-homestead) and 23% non-residential. The state EDR projection is 4.99% growth; the June 1 tax roll from the property appraiser shows 5.08%, a small 0.09% increase over planning. The gap between projections and actual roll has narrowed significantly from past years.
• Property Tax Ballot Issue: If the November 2026 ballot measure passes (capping non-homestead growth at 5% instead of 10%), the county would lose revenue. The 5% cap on commercial/non-residential could have a larger long-term impact than the homestead exemption changes. Staff are monitoring.
• CRA Payments: Total CRA payments projected at $57.4 million for FY27, down from $61.9 million in FY26 due to Margate’s expiration. Growth within active CRAs is only 1.8%, indicating a slowdown.
• Expired CRA Funds: Projected at $32.6 million, unchanged from last year’s estimate.
• Non-Ad Valorem Revenue: Continued decline in half-cent sales tax (11.78% year-over-year decline as of February 2026). Other general fund revenues also slightly down.
• Constitutional Officers’ Budget Requests: Total $106.7 million, a 12% increase. Breakdown: BSO 12.4%, Property Appraiser 4.6%, Supervisor of Elections 7.3%, Clerk of Courts 41%.
• County Agency Core Budget: Change of $25.4 million (4.5% increase). Major cost drivers: health insurance ($11.3 million), 2% union salary adjustments, FRS increase ($6.7 million), SOE gubernatorial election ($5.1 million), and tax collector fees/commission (now $84.6 million, including a new state law requiring the county to pay school board debt levy).
• Position Changes: 17 position reductions proposed (12 from long-term vacancies, 5 from department consolidation), plus 2 reductions from the clerk of courts recording contract. Net reduction of 17 positions. Operating reductions of $3.4 million in facilities management by shifting budgets to appropriate funds.
• Strategy: The county is cautiously and strategically developing a balanced FY27 budget in light of the potential property tax ballot measure. Staff emphasized a lean budget with reductions and efficiencies.

Key Outcomes

• Consensus to support the Property Appraiser’s FY27 budget (4.3% increase, including the new position). The board directed staff to include it in the recommended budget.
• No formal vote on Water and Wastewater Services; the proposed rate increase and capital plan were presented for discussion. Commissioners expressed support for the rate stabilization approach and asked staff to continue addressing the Fort Lauderdale surcharge issue.
• No formal vote on the General Fund overview; staff will incorporate feedback into the recommended budget due July 15, 2026. The board will hold additional workshops on August 20 and 25, followed by public hearings in September.