City of Fort Lauderdale Budget Advisory Board Joint Workshop - April 15, 2025
City of Fort Lauderdale City Commission and Budget Advisory Board Joint Workshop Summary - April 15, 2025
The City Commission held a joint workshop with the Budget Advisory Board (BAB) on April 15, 2025, to discuss two agenda items: the role of the BAB in vetting nonprofit funding applications and the FY2026 budget development process. The meeting addressed funding priorities, resource constraints, public safety needs, and potential process improvements for nonprofit allocations.
Consent Calendar
No consent calendar items were discussed.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were made during the workshop.
Discussion Items
- Nonprofit Funding Process (BUS-1): BAB Chair Brown explained that in 2021, the BAB developed a scoring matrix to review 72 nonprofit applications, narrowing them to 30, but the commission did not fully adopt their recommendations, leading to frustration. The BAB sought direction on whether to continue participating in nonprofit vetting. Mayor Trantalis and Vice Mayor Herbst agreed that the BAB should not handle this task, citing time constraints and inconsistency with commission priorities. Commissioner Sorensen strongly advocated for a competitive, transparent process with measurable outcomes, criticizing the current ad-hoc approach. City Manager Laura Reese outlined the existing process: staff aligns nonprofit partnerships with commission goals from goal-setting sessions and each contract includes monitoring and reporting on outputs (e.g., number of children served, meals provided), but not long-term outcomes. A debate ensued over input vs. outcome measurement. City Manager Reese suggested setting a placeholder amount for nonprofits in the budget, which could later be adjusted. Commissioner Glassman mentioned that organizations like Funding Arts Broward could assist with vetting. The commission directed staff to explore a competitive process and consider third-party assistance, with the BAB no longer involved in individual nonprofit evaluations.
- FY2026 Budget Development (BUS-2): BAB Chair Brown reported that salary and benefits are outpacing property tax revenue growth, and the city's operating general fund is approximately $450 million, with only $2.6 million for nonprofits. He noted a slowing in large development projects. Commissioners discussed budget priorities: Commissioner Beasley-Pittman emphasized broadband infrastructure in District III and maintaining public safety funding. Vice Mayor Herbst stressed the need for increased sidewalk funding and adequate budgeting for police overtime, which has been consistently underfunded. Mayor Trantalis asked whether the city should raise taxes or cut non-essential services. Vice Mayor Herbst opposed tax increases given pressures on seniors and insurance costs, advocating for cuts in non-public-safety areas. Police Chief Bill Schultz reported 13 sworn vacancies (down from 20) and explained that overtime is often used for city-sponsored events not funded through the department's budget. Commissioner Sorensen questioned whether the budgeted sworn officer count (571) is sufficient given the city's tourism population. The commission also discussed the future of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) extension and Invest Fort Lauderdale, with Mayor Trantalis seeking BAB input on using those funds for public safety.
Key Outcomes
- Nonprofit Funding Process: The BAB will no longer vet nonprofit applications. Staff will develop a placeholder amount for nonprofit funding in the FY2026 budget and explore a competitive application process, potentially with third-party assistance. The commission will provide direction during budget adoption.
- Next Steps in Budget Process: The next joint workshop is scheduled for June 17, 2025, followed by a July 1 meeting to set the proposed millage rate notification, and an August 19 meeting for a final recommendation. BAB will identify potential service-level reductions in non-essential areas to help close the budget gap without tax increases.
- Public Safety Priorities: The commission directed staff to study the appropriate number of sworn officers for the city, considering both resident population and daily visitor numbers. Police overtime budgeting will be reviewed to ensure realistic funding. The chief will work with the new city manager on staffing analysis.
- CRA Funds: The BAB will analyze the potential use of CRA extension funds for public safety and report back at a future workshop. The outcome depends on state legislation regarding CRAs.
Meeting Transcript
Members of the commission to please come to the dais and uh members of the budget advisory board to please assemble and let us begin this workshop. Is this my lunch? Wow. God, oh my god. What the heck did I order? How long is this meeting gonna last? No wonder the Cisco truck was pulled up. It's had a lot to unload. Okay, great. So welcome to the City Commission uh joint meeting with the budget advisory board this um uh April 15th and Internal Revenue Service Day, how appropriate. Um I would ask that the clerk please call the role of the commission. Vice Mayor Herbst, Commissioner Glossman? Here, Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Here, Commissioner Sorensen. Here, Mayor Trentals. Here, thank you so much. And I see uh Mr. Brown is here as chair of the budget advisory board. Mr. Brown, would you like to call the role of your board? Could you speak into the microphone, please? Thank you, Mayor. Uh roll call would be Melissa Melroy Vice Chair, Norby Belts, Ross Camberrera, not present, uh Oliver Cale, present Richard D. We call him Richard D. But it's Richard D. Gerarlo, I believe. Closing off here. Okay. Desirea Smith. Okay. You want to join us on the front row? Is there a room? Please. And then Petit, not present, and uh Maloka Melinda Bau Balker. Okay, thank you. Um you have a quorum. We have a quorum, thank you. Great, thank you. So there are two items on the uh workshop agenda, and why don't we start with business one? This relates to a uh communication between the budget advisory board and the commission uh concerning um uh the process for uh vetting nonprofit applications in the budget uh process. So um want to explain to us a little bit, Mr. Brown, as to what that what you're asking for here. Okay. Uh first of all, mayor, I'd like to point out that we this past year we brought six new advisory board members out of the ten. So all six of the new members are present for their first joint workshop, so I want to commend them for taking the participation. And I see some old members too who can't let go, but that's okay. Oh but they're there for advice and consent. I understand. Thank you. So uh in early of January meeting and February at our BAB meeting, there was some discussion with the BAB members about what participation participating role we will have in the budget process on non-for-profits.
openpublica.com