The Broward County commissioners have approved an $8.6 billion budget, marking an increase of $1.7 billion from the previous year.
Amid soaring home values, the property tax rate remains constant.
Here is a deep dive into what this means for the community.
Steady tax rate amid rising property values
Broward County’s property tax rate remains unchanged at 5.6 per cent. Yet, the surge in property values by about 11 per cent means that many homeowners will witness a rise in their tax bills.
This increase in the budget results not just from the hike in property values but is largely attributed to revenue inflows from sectors such as the airport, port, and tourism – sectors showing robust recovery post the COVID-19 turmoil.
Capital boost and project highlights
The capital budget stands out this year with a significant increase of $1.13 billion, focused on major projects spanning construction, maintenance, improvement, and facility acquisition.
Spearheading this surge are initiatives like the Forensic Science Center project, Aviation projects, and the newly embraced Premium Mobility plan’s surtax projects.
County Administrator Monica Cepero highlighted the potential of these projects to be primary job creators, especially with a strong emphasis on supporting local enterprises that employ local residents.
A closer look at transportation and the Sheriff’s Office
- Transportation: The Premium Mobility plan, sanctioned earlier this year, gets its funding from the county’s transportation surtax – a 30-year, 1 per cent surtax dedicated to transportation enhancements that received voters’ nod in 2018. This encompasses projects like high-frequency buses, Light Rail Transit, and Broward Commuter Rail South. With a 54 per cent jump, next year’s budget for this program escalates from $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion.
- Broward Sheriff’s Office: With a budget allocation exceeding $743 million, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) consumes the most substantial portion of the county’s general budget. The increment is particularly noticeable with the creation of 30 new roles, mutually agreed upon by Sheriff Gregory Tony and the commissioners. Additionally, BSO will see an injection of $25 million for personnel expenses and an added $3.4 million dedicated to the new positions.
Prioritizing affordable housing
Addressing the housing crisis, the budget has set aside over $23 million for new affordable housing units, marking a 32 per cent rise from the previous year.
A portion of this budget aims to fund 30-40 permanent supportive housing units to aid those grappling with homelessness. Supported by developer-paid mitigation fees and transfers from the General Fund, these initiatives will be further supplemented by various state and federal grants.
The push for tenant rights
A significant discussion point at the public budget hearings was the proposition for a tenant right-to-counsel pilot program, inspired by a successful eviction prevention initiative in Miami-Dade County.
However, despite its $2.7 million tag and the plea from several activist groups, commissioners have deferred their support to the following year, citing timing concerns.
The proposed program aims to bolster pro-bono legal support for eviction cases and enhance public outreach, ensuring affected individuals are well-informed about available assistance.
