Commission approves $50,000 for Coast to Coast Legal Aid as budget debate heats up

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners voted to allocate approximately $50,000 from a commissioner's excess office account to Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida Inc. to fund senior eviction-prevention services.

The funding was authorized by a motion from Commissioner Nan Rich and a second; the board approved the motion in a recorded vote that the clerk summarized as passing. The money will be used to contract with Coast to Coast Legal Aid to provide legal services intended to help seniors avoid eviction.

Coast to Coast staff described the work those funds will support. "My position is directly funded by your support," said Sammie Danielson, a staff attorney at Coast to Coast Legal Aid, describing a case in which an elderly Gulf War veteran avoiding eviction kept his housing voucher after the firm intervened. "During the first 6 months of this county funded position, I have been able to help 27 seniors successfully keeping most seniors in their home," Danielson said.

Executive Director Lisa Goldberg told commissioners the organization served more than 6,000 Broward residents last year and noted the senior legal-aid work is part of broader services including domestic-violence and trafficking representation. "When we're able to keep a senior in their home, it's more than just the roof over their head," said Jeff Hittleman, a Coast to Coast enumerated speaker. "It protects their health, their ties to our community, and their peace of mind." He added that since the start of the year Coast to Coast had helped nearly 500 seniors facing eviction.

Public comment included criticism of the county's overall spending levels. Chris Nelson, who identified himself as a resident and recovering client of county treatment services, urged the commission to reduce the millage and cut perceived "waste," arguing the county budget had grown far faster than population. "The budget has ballooned 61.8%...the population has only increased about 5.78%," Nelson said, and urged commissioners to prioritize cuts rather than discretionary grants.

Commissioners debated the broader principle of using unspent office account funds to support local nonprofits. Commissioner Rich said the $50,000 came from her remaining office budget and emphasized that the funds were intended to plug a gap while negotiating a longer contract. "I couldn't be prouder of taking this $50,000 and giving it to a program that has in a short period of time done so much for so many seniors," Rich said.

Vice Mayor Bogan and several other commissioners emphasized seniors as a high-need population, with Bogan noting special assessments and insurance increases that make seniors particularly vulnerable. Commissioner Rogers said using office-account funds allowed individual commissioners to support local groups in their districts, while Commissioner McKenzie and Commissioner Davis expressed concern about the optics of using office funds rather than returning them to reserves.

After debate the board approved the motion. Commissioners also approved three related allocations drawn from other commissioners' excess office funds on the same day: two additional community grants and one allocation tied to district priorities. Those companion motions were debated together and passed on separate voice votes.

The approvals drew repeated references to the county's pending final budget hearing later in the day; several commissioners said they would press for a modest millage reduction when the board reconvened for the final hearing.

Ending

Coast to Coast Legal Aid leaders thanked the board for the funding and said they would proceed to finalize an agreement with the county. Commissioners who supported the grants described the allocations as short-term, locally targeted support while other board-level budget choices are considered at the final hearing.