Broward County Public Hearing on FY2027 Millage Rates, Budgets and Special Assessments - September 10, 2026
Broward County Public Hearing on FY2027 Proposed Millage Rates, Budgets and Special Assessments
On September 10, 2026, at 5:01 p.m., the Broward County Board of County Commissioners held the first of two required public hearings at the Broward County Governmental Center East on proposed FY2027 millage rates, budgets, and special assessments. County Administrator Monica Sapiro presented a $9.219 billion proposed FY2027 budget, a $483.1 million increase over FY2026. The board voted on all advertised items; the countywide millage and general fund budget passed 8-1, and all other items passed 9-0.
Countywide Millage and Budget Presentation
- The proposed general county millage rate was advertised at 5.6658, representing a 5.03% increase in property taxes compared with the rolled-back rate of 5.3946. Sapiro stated the total FY2027 millage rate remains the same as FY2026; most taxpayer changes would come from assessed property values.
- Proposed FY2027 total budget: $9.219 billion, up $483.1 million from FY2026, including a $185.2 million operating increase, a $332.7 million capital increase, and a $34.7 million debt service decrease. The general fund is $2.145 billion, an increase of $109.4 million.
- The Broward Sheriff's Office budget increases by $44.2 million (2.3%), including $41.5 million in the general fund transfer and $2.7 million for the dispatch contract. Sapiro called the public safety investment the largest operating investment in Broward County history.
- The FY2027 personnel cap is 6,657 positions, a net reduction of 21 positions.
- Reserves increase by $3 million for revenue fluctuations and $5.5 million for property tax revenue fluctuations. The certified property tax roll grew 5.40%, but the county does not expect that level of growth to continue.
- Homestead assessed-value increases are capped at 2.7%; county taxes make up about one-quarter of the total property tax bill.
Public Comments & Testimony
Most speakers on the countywide item discussed animal care and community-cat/TNR services.
- Franco Magnato, a U.S. Army veteran and volunteer, supported higher wages for kennel staff, staffing to actual need, and enrichment funding for shelter dogs.
- Nancy Biacentino, a cat trapper, said Broward County helped with only 74 of her 700 cats in 2025 and 38 of her 526 cats in 2026; she criticized two appointments six weeks out and the end of drop-off-and-return, and asked for more help.
- Laura Rand said there are over 300,000 stray cats in Broward County, and called a free, no-appointment TNR program the most accessible and cost-effective way to reduce the population.
- Kimberly Friedman, a Sunrise resident and physical therapist, said the cat population has increased sharply and asked for a better appointment system or more resources.
- Andrea Worth said cutbacks had already produced more cats in neighborhoods she helps and asked the commission to help volunteers help residents.
- Lydia Miranovska, a TNR volunteer, said appointment-only service does not work for feral cats and asked for more affordable or free services.
- Kathleen Seppelak cited a cat reproduction chart projecting one unspayed cat and offspring could total 66,088 cats in six years; she described volunteers as an unpaid army and pleaded for support.
- Deborah Hoya, a senior on Social Security, said her taxes are about $1,600 per year and she received notices proposing $800 increases from both Broward County and Pompano Beach; she said she would be homeless if the budget passed. The mayor responded that the county did not raise the millage rate and directed her to the property appraiser's office.
- Linda Ashby, a former Broward Sheriff's employee, proposed a six-month 'TNR on Patrol' pilot program in two high-need zones and cited an Animal Care estimate of about 800,000 community cats.
- Natalie Schein said TNR funding tied to dog-rabies-tag revenue is unsustainable; she said the shelter takes only six TNR appointments per day with a two-month wait and asked for dedicated funding.
- Cashelle Anderson, a kennel technician, emphasized low pay in rescue work and asked for more funding and TNR services.
- Hernan Castello, speaking for Noemi Hermita, described a North Lauderdale tax bill rising from about $3,000 to more than $6,000 after losing a 100% homestead exemption; staff explained the homestead cap no longer applied and referred him to the property appraiser's office.
- Tina DeMarco, a longtime rescuer, said a 10-year study showed TNR works; she pays about $250 per cat at a private vet and supported Linda Ashby's proposal as a cost-saving approach.
Leanne Barber, secretary of the Roosevelt Gardens Civic Association in the Broward Municipal Services District, expressed support for continued county services, particularly speed tables and solid-waste litter/bulk pickup improvements.
Discussion on Animal Care and TNR Funding
- Board members thanked the volunteers and discussed the current dog-tag funding system, under which $21 of each $25 tag goes to the general fund for the first 100,000 tags; after that, tag revenue goes exclusively to TNR.
- Commissioner Furr questioned why more of that revenue is not directed to TNR and suggested promotional efforts to increase pet registration, noting that only an estimated 5-10% of animals are registered. He also discussed a possible $30 dog-tag fee.
- Administrator Sapiro said diverting more tag revenue would require cutting six to eight animal care employees or replacing the money from another source. She said staff would return with proposals after the scheduled September 17 TNR meeting with the community, and a mid-year budget amendment could be considered as early as October 6.
- The proposed FY2027 TNR budget is $379,000, a $50,000 increase from $329,000 in FY2026.
- The board announced that Animal Care leadership would meet with TNR stakeholders on September 17 at 2 p.m. at Animal Care, and immediately after the hearing in room 430.
Adoption of Tentative Millage Rates, Budgets, and Special Assessments
All votes adopted tentative rates and budgets for FY2027.
- Resolution 2026-561, countywide general millage: passed 8-1, with Commissioner Udine opposed.
- Resolution 2026-562, countywide general fund budget, personnel cap, and travel budget report: passed 8-1; Commissioner Udine objected to county position cuts and asked that part of the $3 million stabilization fund be used for taxpayer relief and more spay/neuter funding.
- Resolutions 2026-563 and 2026-564, Broward Municipal Services District millage and budget: passed 9-0.
- Resolutions 2026-565 and 2026-566, Fire Rescue Municipal Services District millage and budget: passed 9-0.
- Resolutions 2026-567 and 2026-568, Street Lighting Subdistrict millage and budget: passed 9-0.
- Resolution 2026-569, Fire Municipal Services District non-ad valorem assessment: passed 9-0; fire assessment rates remain unchanged for FY2027.
- Resolution 2026-570, Garbage and Trash Municipal Services District non-ad valorem assessment: passed 9-0; rates for single-family homes and multifamily complexes with nine units or less remain unchanged.
- Resolutions 2026-571 through 2026-578, Water Control Districts #2, #3, #4 and subdistricts, and Cocomar Water Control District unit area #1 millage and tentative budgets: all passed 9-0; advertised millage rates were unchanged from rolled-back rates.
Key Outcomes
- The board approved all advertised tentative FY2027 millage rates, budgets, special assessment rates, and the personnel cap. These are the first-hearing approvals; a second public hearing is required before final adoption.
- Voted 8-1 to approve the countywide general millage and general fund budget; all other advertised items passed 9-0.
- Directed staff to follow up after the September 17 TNR meeting with options for additional TNR funding, including possible dog-tag fee structure changes and an October 6 mid-year budget amendment.
- The last day to file an appeal with the Value Adjustment Board to challenge a property assessment is September 18, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
You got it? Please take your seat. Monica, you ready? Yes, sir. Good evening, folks. If you guys can grab a seat, please. Can everyone grab a seat, please? We need to start our meeting. We're about to adjourn the meeting. All right, here we go. Thank you. It worked. Good evening. I have a script to read. I don't need to say my name. Tonight, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners will conduct public hearings on the proposed millage rates, budgets, and special assessments that will support county services during the fiscal year 2027. This is the first of two public hearings as required by law. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments receiving the county's budget tax rates and special assessments and to provide information on the budget and proposed amendments. The public hearings will be conducted in three sections. The first section will include public hearings on countywide and Broward Municipal Services District Area Millage Rates and Budgets, as well as the fire rescue and street lighting subdistrict millage rates and budgets. The second section includes public hearings on the proposed special assessments for fire and garbage collection in the Broward Municipal Services District area. The third section will include public hearings on the millage rates and budgets for the county's dependent water control districts. An agenda listing all the items to be discussed and the order of the items is available at Monica's desk. No, at the entranceway. If you are interested in addressing the Board of County Commissioners about an item on the agenda, please register with the county staff member at the entrance of the Commission chambers. County staff is also available at the entrance to answer questions about the county's budget and taxes. If anyone has questions about the property value assessment or exemptions, the property appraisers office, Marty Kier staff is available at the entrance and can also be reached at 954-357-6830. Marty Keir at BCPA.net. Or in room 111 downstairs on the first floor of this building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Marty is there waiting for you Monday through Friday. The last day to file an appeal with the value adjustment board to challenge your assessment is September 18th. If anyone has questions about the Valley Adjustment Board process, VAB staff is available at the entrance to discuss with that introduction. Let's begin.02 percent aggregate increase in property taxes when compared with the taxes generated from the aggregate rolled back rate. The rolled back rate generates approximately the same amount of taxes as the prior fiscal year, plus taxes generated from new buildings added to the tax roll. No, okay. Countywide millage and budget. The public hearing is open on the general county millage rate and budget. The proposed millage rate for general county purposes is advertised on the notice of proposed property taxes is 5.6658, which represents 5.03 percent increase in property taxes as compared to a rolled back rate of 5.3946. I would like to introduce our county administrator, Monica Sapiro, in person to provide an overview of the proposed county budget and millagerate. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners. The vi the fiscal year 2027 budget is a fiscally responsible and strategically balanced financial plan that reflects prudent stewardship of public resources while advancing the county's highest priorities. This recommended budget substantially minimizes growth and departmental budgets to ensure that the countywide property tax millage on the county's taxpayers is maintained at current levels. The budget was developed with careful consideration of evolving fiscal conditions and uncertainties, including potential future impacts on property tax revenues. Today we are presenting a budget for fiscal year 27, totaling $9.219 billion, which is $483.1 million more than fiscal year 26. The operating budgets reflect an increase in the amount of $185.2 million, largely due to increases in the constitutional officers' general fund budgets, primarily for BSO, Regional General Fund Services, and the dispatch contract, the countywide employee benefits fund to reflect increases in health insurance and the self-insured state required reserve, the local provider participation fund, paid fully by private hospitals, and the transit operating fund to address cost increases in contracts and diesel fuel. It also reflects an increase in the capital budget of $332.7 million, largely due to the budgeting of the following major nonproperty tax supported capital projects in fiscal year 27. Water systems improvements in the water and wastewater enterprise capital fund and the Broward Commuter Rail South Project in the Transportation Surtex Capital Fund.
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