Fort Lauderdale budget advisory board elects leadership, approves meeting schedule and reviews $136.1 million in active grants

The Fort Lauderdale Budget Advisory Board at its organizational meeting appointed board leadership, approved changes to its 2025 meeting schedule and heard a grants update showing the city is managing roughly $136.1 million in active grant funding.

The board nominated and approved a chair and vice chair, selected a representative for the city—s revenue estimating conference, and moved two standing meeting dates so the board could meet before joint sessions with the city commission. Members were told the commission must approve any grant the city accepts.

The board received a detailed presentation on the city—s grants program from Mika McGibbon, a principal analyst in the Office of Management and Budget, who described grants as a way to "enhance the programs" in the city—s strategic plan and to fund capital and public-safety projects without tying up general-fund resources. McGibbon said staff use a pre-application review to ensure grant requests are aligned with city priorities and to confirm the city can…