Davie council adopts tentative millage and tentative budget for fiscal 2026

The Town of Davie on Wednesday approved a tentative operating millage rate of 5.625 mills for fiscal year 2026 and adopted a tentative budget that officials say will increase the general fund by roughly $8.8 million.

Town Administrator Richard Lemack, speaking at the council's first budget hearing, said the proposed operating millage “is a tax increase under state law,” because it is 6.87% higher than the rollback rate of 5.2633 mills. He also noted the town's voted debt millage that covers general obligation bond debt would decrease from 0.1868 mills to 0.1725 mills.

The tentative budget approved at the hearing includes a 4% increase in the general fund — approximately $8,800,000 — and a 13% increase in operating expenditures, or about $7,000,000, driven in part by salary costs tied to collective bargaining and other personnel changes. The council approved the millage and the tentative budget by roll call votes; each motion passed unanimously (Yes: Council members Lewis, Whitman, Starkey, Vice Mayor Hatton, Mayor Paul).

Why it matters: Town leaders said the increases will support ongoing operations, planned capital projects and business-plan initiatives. Finance Director Bill Ackerman described priorities in the FY2026 plan, including economic development, master planning for key parks and facilities, stormwater and drainage projects, and continued investment in technology to streamline town services.

Key budget details presented by staff include: - General Fund transfer: about $9,500,000 to the Capital Projects Fund to support 35 capital improvement projects in FY2026. - Vehicle fund transfer: $739,000 from the General Fund to the vehicle maintenance fund for fleet additions. - Capital program totals: staff said the budget will provide nearly $24,000,000 for 59 capital projects overall; the water and sewer fund will appropriate $6,400,000 for 21 projects and the General Fund nearly $9,500,000 for 35 projects. - Revenue drivers: expected growth in ad valorem taxes, electric utility service taxes, EMS transport revenue, school speed-zone violations, red light camera violations, revenue from a police-services contract with Nova Southeastern and contractual services with Southwest Ranches. - Revenues not budgeted: staff said Seminole Compact revenue was not budgeted because of timing uncertainty. - CRA repayment: staff said the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will pay the town $2,000,000 in FY2026 and that an additional $4,000,000 loan made to the CRA in FY2025 has a first payment expected in FY2026.

Ackerman outlined the town's business-plan initiatives for FY2026. He said the Davie 10 initiative will “highlight Davie's 10 major economic engines” and involves rebranding existing planning zones: the Regional Activity Center (RAC) — roughly between University Drive and the Florida Turnpike — will be rebranded (as presented, by staff) and a Transit-Oriented Corridor (between the Turnpike and State Road 7) will be rebranded to emphasize industrial and commercial proximity to ports. Staff also proposed master planning for four town facilities: Potter's Park, the Old Davie School Museum and Event Center, Bergeron Rodeo Grounds and the Pine Island Park/Bamford Sports Complex.

On stormwater and drainage, Ackerman and Lemack listed active projects including the Shenandoah pump station (in permitting), Oak Hill (multi-phase; west half in permitting, east half at 30% design), New River Estates (advertising for construction pending EPA approval), and Southwest 50th Avenue/Oaks Road (60% drainage drawings). Staff said the town has cleaned more than 2,400 catch basins to date and is conducting localized drainage studies in several neighborhoods.

Household impact: Using a sample home with a $450,000 assessed value (reduced by the $50,000 homestead exemption to a $400,000 taxable value for the town portion), staff said the ad valorem increase attributable to the property appraiser's 2.9% assessed-value rise would add about $73.41 annually for the town portion of the bill (roughly $6.12 per month). The solid-waste assessment will increase by 76 cents per month ($9.10 per year). The town's fire assessment and stormwater assessment rates remain unchanged; staff noted disabled veterans were fully exempted from the fire assessment starting in FY2025.

Next steps: Council set a special-assessments public hearing for Monday, Sept. 15 at noon and a second public hearing to adopt the final FY2026 budget at 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 17. Staff told the council that because millage and assessment information across municipalities is still being finalized in September, figures will be updated as neighboring jurisdictions complete their processes.

Meeting outcome: The council approved the tentative millage ordinance and the tentative budget ordinance at the Sept. 3 hearing. Both measures will return for a final reading and vote after the remaining hearings in mid-September.