[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6458281,"mediaKeyId","5822903-a409f875d738a8183fab709193281682","parentId",5822903,"title","Tamarac keeps operating millage at 7 mills; commissioners cite public-safety costs and structural risks","audioSeconds",3455,"startMs",156000,"endMs",3611000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5822903-a409f875d738a8183fab709193281682&start=156&end=3611","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5822903-a409f875d738a8183fab709193281682/thumbnail_156000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6458281/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-keeps-operating-millage-at-7-mills-commissioners-cite-public-safety-costs-and-structural-risks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458281-a04bdff8b215690632a9ddab7b0789a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770612746&Signature=XFHMm60kIqWe3LeqjqGyI6hKFxjFHShsrjCNzoKoxmcqWnObf7kNilY~WQcLAhXmKP9Tgp1qWoYR5ycvfjSDiIjW9Dd07xxI8I4g0tkYKDOxW2-7jfrUyBKW8pQHLl6gRzOBbOrWg4J1-LRZJuUpl0RxUQ4EWebQ04u1O~LJrIn69bwPg4HaZFNm5WqEXu-cd1ZvkA8ds2wk2yPuc8d4ynRtD55Gs3nPOe82QotsYFQt4s2E-zAKJ8XQvQy4is3O3km6y3tZLJizuqKdNOTWLT-xUPcwPE~MJQPTbycCS7nvPQMz6Z7hjAgNJMen6hBlZOdffXITLH9Haq65BODaVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tamarac","date","2025-09-24T00:00:00Z","article","The City Commission of Tamarac voted 5-0 Wednesday to set the fiscal year 2026 operating millage at 7.0 mills, a rate staff said is 0.4094 mills (6.21%) higher than the rollback rate required under the Truth in Millage (TRIM) process.

Financial Services Director Christine Cajust and Budget Manager Jeff Streeter told the commission the tentative 7.0 mill rate would generate about $2,542,000 in added revenue and is roughly equal to the projected increase in police and fire costs for the coming year. Streeter said the rate “exceeds the rollback rate of 6.5906 mills by 0.4094 mills or 6.21%.”

The commission adopted temporary ordinance 2599 after a public hearing and a motion by Commissioner Wright, seconded by Vice Mayor Daniel. Roll-call votes were Commissioner Patterson — yes; Vice Mayor Daniel — yes; Commissioner Bolton — yes; Commissioner Wright — yes; Mayor Gomez — yes. The ordinance was approved by the required supermajority (four of five members).

Why it mattered: Streeter and other staff emphasized that three factors drive property-tax revenue — growth in taxable value, value added by new construction, and the millage rate itself — and that the first two have weakened this year. Streeter noted Tamarac has about 32,460 tax parcels and that roughly 20,276 are homesteaded and subject to a cap (Save Our Homes) that limited increases to about 2.9% this year. With new construction down sharply, he told the commission the city needs the 7.0 mill rate to avoid a “structural imbalance,” a budgeting condition in which ongoing revenues do not cover ongoing expenses.

Public comments during the hearing urged caution on the rate. Resident Kate Johnson said the city could cut other areas of the budget rather than keep the millage at 7. “When you look at the budget, there are many places to cut that budget,” she said. Mark Gorgon, who identified himself as a Tamarac resident, echoed calls to scrutinize operational increases and singled out items such as travel and benefits for further review.

Staff details and clarifications: Streeter provided an example showing a property with $100,000 taxable value would pay $700 in city property taxes at a 7.0 mill rate. He also said that each tenth of a mill represents approximately $660,038 in property-tax revenue for the city. Christine Cajust said adopting the rollback rate instead of 7.0 would require roughly $2.7 million in budget cuts and potentially staff or program reductions. Priscilla Moxie, assistant director of finance, confirmed some of the fine-grained impact calculations during commissioner questions.

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners debated whether to reduce the rate given recent property-value declines reported in parts of Broward County. Several members — including Commissioner Bolton and Commissioner Patterson — asked staff to supply historical millage votes and argued for looking at prior reductions. Staff repeatedly framed the choice as a fiscal tradeoff: lowering the millage would reduce revenue this year and lower future rollback baselines, making it harder to cover ongoing costs.

What’s next: With the operating millage set, staff and the commission proceed to finalize the fiscal year 2026 budget, which is tied to the adopted millage. The commission also directed staff to provide historical vote records and other clarifying details requested during the hearing.

Speakers quoted or summarized in this article spoke during the ordinance 2599 public hearing and in commissioner Q&A.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tamarac - Special City Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Tamarac City Commission voted 5-0 to adopt a 7.0 operating millage for fiscal year 2026 after staff said that the rate is needed to cover rising police and fire costs and to avoid a future structural imbalance.","taxTitle","Tamarac, Broward County, Florida","taxId",8839,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6458278,"Tamarac adopts $293.98 million fiscal 2026 budget after heated public hearing over last-minute additions",3715,3608000,7323000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5822903-a409f875d738a8183fab709193281682&start=3608&end=7323","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5822903-a409f875d738a8183fab709193281682/thumbnail_3608000.jpg","/articles/6458278/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-adopts-29398-million-fiscal-2026-budget-after-heated-public-hearing-over-last-minute-additions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458278-a75f22f6f0c176540fdc2274ea1be0be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770612746&Signature=ahU9bOOXsvFB0TjLTCRnM1Gj-uf1oxk5fR3FTTVSovN9s4-lUPMRUILPqGlLydD2sbfE9o-aMFubRMsvSirosBkDANlK~HHa1O9DT~kc0UW7VD1GMZUm9nZxrJ2pkEImRZK2kcmfG1Wt4LK8T6jTNQ41SM-4~RR9~Px~nTREKNqZdtQzWxCQgsS0IHzmPh9tjRSeZ9~PGjmPrLaiJ~7OQgHId9tyi-YJzFqbrDkPad58lQK6LN1ZSqFSG-Kzg-XSwaaGmFWbxlCPlua0yHxcM5dBzzlO2CASRQ~rPBobLVjYGF2kx3F3ort4RHoOKxwU-lTyAnPnAOYzNBRAO13ZNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tamarac City Commission adopted the fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget on Wednesday, approving a tentative $293,982,462 total budget (including a $114,195,279 general fund) after a contested vote that split the commission 3-2.

The final vote followed a contentious public hearing and internal debate over several line items the city manager added late in the process — approximately $175,000 in new allocations for items including expanded travel for the commission, a public-relations consultant, a business expo, sister-city seed funding and a $25,000 grant for a Black/African American chamber. Commissioner Bolton moved to include the manager’s additions; that motion passed 3-2 (Bolton — yes; Wright — no; Patterson — yes; Vice Mayor Daniel — yes; Mayor Gomez — no).

What staff presented: Budget Manager Jeff Streeter and Finance staff said the tentative FY2026 operating and capital budget totals $293,982,462, an increase of $53,646,238 (about 23.8%) from the amended FY2025 budget of $240,336,224. The tentative general fund budget is $114,195,279, an increase of $12,050,722 from FY2025. Streeter and Christine Cajust, director of financial services, outlined adjustments made between the city manager’s proposed budget and the tentative budget, including removing a proposed public-services director position, restoring an assistant city manager position, and cutting approximately $1,704,000 from the general fund to reach the tentative level.

Public comment and points of contention: More than a half-dozen residents urged the commission to reduce spending and to be more transparent about last-minute changes. Resident Kate Johnson questioned travel and public-information increases and described the budget as “bloated.” Resident Sandy Hill and others warned the budget could deplete reserves and leave the city vulnerable to emergencies. Mark Gorgon and Stuart Webster also criticized the timing and substance of added items such as a $60,000 public-relations consultant and funding for a chamber group.

Staff responses and clarifications: Finance staff said the added $175,000 was presented in the name of transparency although the items were made available to commissioners shortly before the hearing. The specific late additions listed on the slide shown at the meeting were: $30,000 — additional commission travel; $25,000 — sister cities seed funding; $20,000 — increased printing/binding for PIO; $5,000 — commission office supplies; $10,000 — economic-development business expo; $60,000 — additional public-relations support for outreach and business marketing; $25,000 — appropriation for a Black/African American Chamber of Commerce activity.

Budget mechanics and reserves: Staff reported the city’s unrestricted fund balance is about $57 million and that, after the FY2026 appropriations and planned use of fund balance, the city would have roughly $11 million of unrestricted reserves remaining if revenues and expenditures track the budget. Staff said the city’s reserve policy calls for two months of operating expenses (16.667% of general fund expenditures). Finance staff also warned that adopting a rollback rate instead of the adopted 7.0 mill would require roughly $2.7 million in cuts to balance the budget.

Votes and procedure: The commission first took a motion to adopt the budget as presented without the manager’s late additions (motion by Commissioner Wright; second by Vice Mayor Daniel). That motion failed on a 4-1 roll call (only Commissioner Patterson voted yes). Commissioner Bolton then moved to adopt the budget including the manager’s $175,000 additions; that motion passed 3-2. The manager said some of the added items fall within the manager’s procurement/administrative authority but confirmed on the record that several of the items (sister cities seed funding, the chamber contribution, the business expo and related economic-development items) would return to the commission for formal approvals.

What’s next: With the millage and budget adopted, the city moves into implementation and the commission asked staff to return with follow-up information on several late additions, historical comparative budget data and the specific mechanics of any proposed grants or contracts linked to the new appropriations.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the temporary ordinance 2600 public hearing and subsequent budget motion debates.","The Tamarac City Commission approved the fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget, $293,982,462, in a 3-2 vote after debate over $175,000 in last-minute items added by city administration.","actionData","errors"]

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Tamarac keeps operating millage at 7 mills; commissioners cite public-safety costs and structural risks

Tamarac adopts $293.98 million fiscal 2026 budget after heated public hearing over last-minute additions