Broward County residents will see a slight break on their property tax bills in Fiscal Year 2026, after commissioners approved a $1.7 billion property tax budget that lowers the county’s millage rate to 5.6658 mills.
The county’s overall budget for the year, which includes non-property tax-supported agencies such as the airport, seaport, and utilities, totals $8.8 billion.
Crafting the budget proved challenging, officials said, due to the loss of $80 million in funding to the newly elected Tax Collector’s Office and the need to cover costs for all county-wide constitutional offices. To offset the shortfall, commissioners cut 159 funded positions and trimmed nearly $20 million in recurring operating costs from General Fund agencies.
Even with reductions, public safety received the largest operating appropriation in county history. The budget allocates $24.2 million more for the Broward Sheriff’s Office regional operations and 911 services — a 3% increase — which includes the second year of an $8 million salary adjustment for detention deputies.
The commission also bolstered reserves, setting aside additional funds for emergency preparedness, shelters, and cash flow needs. County officials highlighted Broward’s continued fiscal strength, noting it has paid off all General Obligation debt and retains a coveted “AAA” credit rating from all three major credit rating agencies, a distinction held by fewer than 2% of U.S. counties.
For residents, the modest tax reduction means more money in their pockets at a time of rising costs. Commissioners said the FY26 budget maintains funding for essential services like transportation, parks, libraries, environmental protection, and senior and veterans’ programs while preparing for future needs.
With Broward’s large Caribbean-American population — many of whom rely on public services, small business opportunities, and cultural programs — county leaders stressed that the budget is designed to balance fiscal responsibility with community investment.
