Broward commissioners approve $9.2 billion budget with modest millage reduction
Key Points(5)
- Broward County commissioners have approved a $9.2 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, while adopting a slightly lower overall millage rate.
- Commissioner Michael Udine said Tuesday that he had made the motion to reduce the tax millage rate and received the support of his colleagues.
- “I am happy to report that for the second year in a row I have made the motion and received the support of my colleagues to REDUCE the tax millage rate to 5.6628 and another modest tax rate reduction for the Broward County millage rate.
- Thank you,” Udine said in a post on X.
- The county approved a $9.2 billion budget and a countywide general millage rate of 5.6658 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Broward County commissioners have approved a $9.2 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, while adopting a slightly lower overall millage rate.
The millage rate is the amount of property tax charged for every $1,000 of a property's taxable value.
Commissioner Michael Udine said Tuesday that he had made the motion to reduce the tax millage rate and received the support of his colleagues.
“I am happy to report that for the second year in a row I have made the motion and received the support of my colleagues to REDUCE the tax millage rate to 5.6628 and another modest tax rate reduction for the Broward County millage rate. Thank you,” Udine said in a post on X.
The county approved a $9.2 billion budget and a countywide general millage rate of 5.6658 for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The rolled-back millage rate was 5.3946.
The operating budget is $5.6 billion, while the capital budget is $2.88 billion and the debt service budget is $720.3 million.
Mayor Mark D. Bogen said the commission has lowered the millage rate three times during the more than decade he has served on the commission and has never raised it.
“In the over decade that I have been here, we have lowered the millage rate three times,” Bogen said. “We have never raised the millage rate.”
The budget includes major investments in public safety and affordable housing.
County Administrator Monica Cepero said it includes the largest investment in public safety in the county's history, including $24 million in salary adjustments for detention deputies and an additional $15 million for a 5.8% salary increase.
According to Cepero, the salary increases, including related benefit increases, cover general law enforcement, courts, fire rescue and emergency services within the Broward Sheriff's Office.
The capital budget also includes $27.7 million for the Affordable Housing Trust, which aims to increase the county's affordable housing supply. The transfer from the general fund increased from $20 million to $25 million.
Commissioner Nan H. Rich said teachers are leaving the county, highlighting the need for affordable housing.
Commissioner Beam Furr warned that if voters approve Amendment 3, which would increase the homestead exemption, the county could have to reduce its investment in affordable housing.
The new budget takes effect October 1.
