Fort Lauderdale City Commission Special Meeting – Second Budget Hearing (September 14, 2026)

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission held its second public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:01 PM in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Community Room. Mayor Dean J. Trantalis presided, with Commissioners John C. Herbst, Steven Glassman, Pam Beasley-Pittman, Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, Acting City Manager Christopher Cooper, City Attorney Shari L. McCartney, City Auditor Patrick Reilly, and City Clerk Solomon present. The commission considered 10 budget items, including the final five-year capital improvement plan, special district assessments and millage rates, the city's final millage rate, the $1,283,327,106 all-funds budget, and the personnel complement for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Capital Improvement Plan: A resident said they supported fixing drainage and flooding problems but objected to a 20% increase applied in one single year. They questioned why the increase was not phased and noted that substantial wastewater items had already been discussed with a rate increase.
• Beach Business Improvement Special District: A resident said residents do not experience government decisions in separate budget categories and asked whether the city looks at the total tax picture.
• Final millage rate: A speaker said the millage rate had not changed in 20 years, questioned why the city needed to absorb all of that revenue and spend it, and asked the commission to adopt the 3.9408 rollback rate instead of the proposed 4.1193 rate.
• Final budget: Four public speakers were listed. One said the city's budget and decision making were not correctly anticipating Fort Lauderdale's needs over the next five to ten years, criticized the lack of focus on attracting jobs, and urged the city to work with the private sector as a partner rather than a counterparty. Another thanked the commission for consistent support of programs helping children be ready for kindergarten and stay healthy and safe. Another urged the commission to distinguish needs from wants, phase immediate obligations, separate core services from discretionary spending, and stop spending money the city does not have.

Discussion Items

• The acting city manager presented the final five-year Capital Improvement Plan for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031.
• The acting city manager presented the Lauderdale Isles Water Management District non-ad valorem assessment and budget. At the district's June 15, 2026 meeting, the board voted to continue levying an assessment of $15 per parcel for fiscal year 2027, generating $8,265. Vice Mayor Sorensen thanked district board members and noted improving waterways.
• A public hearing was held on the Beach Business Improvement Special District; the resolution text was not included in the supplied agenda excerpt.
• The Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District held its second required public hearing. The district taxes residents to provide neighborhood security; the proposed final millage rate was 1.0000 mills and the proposed final budget was $230,007 for fiscal year 2027. The commission took two votes, one on the millage rate and one on the budget.
• In response to questions about the total tax burden, city staff said the city looks at the overall picture with the Budget Advisory Board and described the breakdown in the Neighbor's Guide to the Budget: school board 35%, Broward County 31%, City of Fort Lauderdale 24%, public hospitals 7%, Children's Services Council 2%, and all other items 1%. Staff noted that the Budget Advisory Board's recommendation reflected a year of meetings with departments, and that one board member's approach was a minority position rather than consensus.
• Discussion of fire and emergency medical services included the daytime population being larger than the city's resident population of about 200,000, different service demands and fees for commercial versus residential structures under Florida law, and the relationship between staffing levels and survivability. An official noted that equipment was purchased with a grant, blood was provided through an agreement with Broward Health, and the program had full cost recovery. A commissioner rejected the idea that supporting a fiscally prudent and responsible government means not supporting public safety personnel.
• The final all-funds budget of $1,283,327,106 was presented, along with the final personnel complement for fiscal year 2027. The mayor encouraged adoption, saying the city must be maintained, the community protected, and the commission must provide for both.

Key Outcomes

• The commission adopted the final five-year Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2026-2031.
• The commission approved the Lauderdale Isles Water Management District assessment and budget at $15 per parcel, with projected revenue of $8,265 for FY 2027.
• The commission approved the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District final millage rate of 1.0000 mills and the final district budget of $230,007, in two separate votes.
• The commission approved the city's FY 2027 final budget, including the $1,283,327,106 all-funds budget and the personnel complement, for the period beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027.
• The supplied minutes record a 5-0 yea vote for one budget action and a four-member yea vote (Commissioners Glassman, Beasley-Pittman, Sorensen, and Mayor Trantalis) for another; Commissioner Herbst's vote is not shown in the provided minutes excerpt. The final budget item was declared approved, and no further business was brought before the commission.