During a recent government meeting, officials addressed community concerns regarding the allocation of the city’s budget, particularly the distinction between funding for police and fire services. A resident raised questions about a pie chart presented during the meeting, which indicated that 39% of the budget is allocated to police services, while emergency medical services (EMS) received 9.4%. The total public safety budget, which includes both police and EMS, accounts for 48.4% of the general fund.

City officials clarified that the fire services are funded through a separate fire fund, established under state statute, which allows for special assessments specifically for fire services. This separation is due to legal rulings that permit special assessments only for services that directly impact property, such as firefighting, while police and EMS services are considered to be more people-oriented and must be funded through the general fund.

The discussion highlighted the historical context of budget allocations, noting past attempts to include police and EMS in special assessments, which were ruled against by the courts. Officials emphasized the importance of transparency in budget discussions and expressed their commitment to addressing residents' inquiries.

The meeting concluded with a positive outlook on the upcoming budget year, as city officials expressed pride in their community, noting that they are the fifth largest city in Broward County and the sixteenth largest in the state.