North Lauderdale city commissioners faced public backlash after approving a salary increase that will nearly triple their pay — just days before a new state oversight team began scrutinizing local government spending in Broward County.
The 4-1 vote on July 29 raises annual commissioner salaries from $19,000 to $57,000, effective October. Each commissioner will also receive an $8,400 car allowance, while the mayor’s salary will increase to $68,000 per year.
State Representative Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) criticized the timing and size of the raise, calling it “abhorrent.” He reminded officials, “Ultimately you serve at the pleasure of the people that elect you. If you want more money, it’s like a job — you’d ask your supervisor, your boss.”
The vote occurred just before the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began an extensive review of Broward County’s spending practices. Launched by Governor Ron DeSantis, the audit team aims to identify what the governor calls “wasteful” spending on initiatives such as diversity programs and environmental projects.
Over nine days, Broward County staff provided more than 54,000 files totaling nearly 135 gigabytes of data to DOGE, reflecting a wide-ranging probe into payroll, contracts, and various county programs. DeSantis has repeatedly criticized Broward officials for a lack of fiscal responsibility.
“We’re here in Broward County, and I think most people know there is some criticism of how the county government has operated. I think over the last five years, taxpayers here in Broward watched their county government increase property tax burdens by the tune of $450 million.”
He said the increase was “close to 50% in the last five years,” and argued that the county’s lack of substantial population growth made such spending levels excessive.
Nearby, the El Portal Village Council also approved a salary increase last month, raising pay from $3,000 to $10,000 annually. Councilperson Anders Urbom noted that inflation since 1992 justifies the adjustment, stating, “Technically, that would move us from $3,000 a year to close to seven, so the jump to ten is not that crazy.”
