The Broward County Board of County Commissioners on Monday approved tentative millage rates and budgets for fiscal year 2026 during the legally required first public hearing, adopting the advertised countywide rate and separate budgets for municipal and special districts after public comments on property assessments and local services.

County Administrator Monica Sapero provided an overview of the proposed FY2026 budget, saying the countywide package totals $8,756,000,000 — an increase of $930,800,000 from FY2025. Sapero said operating increases of roughly $428,000,000 reflect contract increases for the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and fire-rescue, growth in constitutional officers’ budgets, and a new hotel enterprise operating fund for the Convention Center headquarters hotel. Capital spending rises by about $568,400,000 driven by projects including a new Terminal 5 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and a new emergency operations and communications center. Sapero also reported the county has paid off all general obligation debt and that GO debt per capita is $0.

Why it matters: The board’s decisions set the maximum property tax rates the county can levy this year and shape spending on public safety, infrastructure and resilience. The advertised general-purpose millage — 5.669 mills as shown on the required notice — is higher than the rollback rate (5.2832 mills) and represents a 7.3% increase in property taxes when applied to the certified tax roll, county staff said.

Public comments focused on property-assessment shocks and affordability. Several residents said recent reassessments after purchases or inherited transfers produced steep tax bills. Tereen Llewellyn said she has lived in her home since 2005 and told the commission she and neighbors are “living in fear of being kicked out of their house because they can’t pay their taxes.” Lewis Campbell, who said he inherited a small 1953 house in Sanders Park, Pompano Beach, said his homestead taxes were about $8,400 and asked county officials how that valuation was reached. Commissioner members and county staff repeatedly directed residents to the Property Appraiser’s office and the Value Adjustment Board appeal process; staff noted the VAB appeal deadline of Sept. 17.

Some speakers urged lower millage. Aaron Gonzales, a Broward resident, urged the board to “adopt the rollback rate for fiscal year 2026,” arguing the county was scaling up reserves and new programs while many households face rising housing and insurance costs. Others pressed for increased spending on flood resilience and clearer accounting of surtax and transit spending; Matthew McIntosh, who identified himself as a Plantation planning-and-zoning board member, asked the county to prioritize Broward County Transit (BCT) route redesign and a cost-of-operations analysis tied to the Primo surtax projects.

Board debate and votes: Commissioner discussion acknowledged two competing priorities — relief for ratepayers and maintaining reserves and funding for public safety and infrastructure. A substitute motion to reduce the advertised general-purpose millage to 5.6674 mills (the figure presented at an earlier budget workshop) failed on a recorded voice count: 3 in favor (Commissioner McKenzie, Commissioner Fisher and Commissioner Eudin) and 5 opposed (Commissioners Davis, Rich, Furr, Geller and Rogers), according to the transcript. The board then voted to adopt the advertised tentative millage and associated tentative general fund budget; the hearing record indicates the board approved the original proposed millage (advertised at 5.669 mills) and adopted the tentative budgets. The county will hold a second, final public hearing to adopt the budget and final rates on Sept. 16 in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center, staff said.

Other district actions: The board also approved, typically by unanimous voice votes, tentative millage rates and budgets or assessments for multiple dependent districts and subdistricts, including:
- Broward Municipal Services District (millage 2.3353 mills; tentative budget adopted)
- Fire-Rescue Municipal Services District (millage 2.6191 mills; tentative budget adopted)
- Street Lighting Subdistrict (millage 0.3743 mills; tentative budget adopted)
- Garbage and trash collection assessment for many single-family and small multifamily properties: assessment increased by $20 from $370 to $390 for FY2026 (board adopted resolution)
- Water Control Districts 2, 3 and 4 and unit-area budgets for Kokomar water control unit — all tentatively adopted

County staff flagged a few specific budget details during the presentation: a proposed reduction of 159 county positions overall; a $24.2 million combined increase connected to BSO detention deputy salary adjustments and a $1.4 million transfer to the 9-1-1 dispatch contract fund; and a proposed $65,000,000 increase in the tax collector budget triggered by statutory distribution responsibilities tied to the countywide tax-collector transition.

What’s next: The board’s tentative actions set the maximum millage the commission may levy. The commission must hold a second public hearing — scheduled for Sept. 16 at 5:01 p.m. in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center — before it can adopt final millage rates and the FY2026 budget. County staff and commissioners repeatedly advised residents with assessment questions to contact the Property Appraiser’s office or the Value Adjustment Board to pursue appeals.

Ending note: Commissioners and staff also urged residents to use county resources at the hearing entrance — including Property Appraiser staff and budget office staff — to get one-on-one help understanding assessments, exemptions and appeal options.