North Lauderdale presents final FY2026 budget proposal, highlights $2.4M citywide increase

The City of North Lauderdale presented its final fiscal year 2026 budget at a Sept. 22 commission workshop, showing a roughly $2.4 million increase in the citywide spending plan and reaffirming a 7.4 millage rate for property taxes.

Budget Manager Lourdes told the commission that taxable property value rose about 8.35% year over year, from roughly $2.49 billion to $2.698 billion, producing higher ad valorem revenue without raising the millage rate. “Our tax millage rate has remained the same since 2018,” Lourdes said, and the proposed 7.4 millage would generate approximately $18.9 million in ad valorem revenue for FY2026.

The nut of the presentation was a set of targeted additions and rebalancing across funds. Staff described roughly $1.96 million of added General Fund spending that will be covered by use of fund balance, several large consulting and capital items in enterprise funds, and a net citywide budget increase from an earlier ~$154 million to about ~$157 million. Lourdes said the use of fund balance increases in some funds while ARPA funding falls sharply as projects conclude.

Key figures and program changes presented - Millage and taxable value: Taxable value up to $2.698 billion; millage held at 7.4 mills; rollback rate listed as 6.8458 mills. Lourdes said the proposed 7.4 rate is about 8.10% higher than the rollback rate and that a four-vote majority will be required to adopt the ad valorem rate at the public hearing. - General Fund: Projected to increase from about $49 million to about $54 million (an increase near 10.1%), with taxes representing the largest single revenue source (about $23 million). - Citywide budget: Staff described a citywide budget rising by about $2.3–$2.4 million from the earlier presented figure (from roughly $154 million to roughly $157 million), largely reflecting rollovers and final project costs; ARPA fund balance was noted to decline by about $10 million as remaining ARPA projects are closed out. - Notable spending additions (as stated by staff): $2.1 million for water-plant consulting; $200,000 added to a fleet leasing line; $50,000 for marketing/outreach and town halls; a part-time communications position (salary and FICA, listed as $32,295); an increase in the City Commission contribution to the Boys & Girls Club from $18,000 to $50,000 (an added $32,000); community development additions of $100,000 for consulting on new non-tax revenue sources, $200,000 for zoning regulation consulting, and an increase to the housing line item bringing it to $1,500,000 (staff described adding approximately $1,250,000 to that line). - Enterprise and special funds: Stormwater and the Water Control District assessment rates were adjusted; the Water Control District assessment was decreased from $100 to $95 and stormwater assessments were reduced with corresponding reductions to repair and maintenance spending; the fire and solid waste assessment rates remained unchanged. No water and sewer rate increase was included for FY2026, according to staff.

Questions and follow-up items Commissioners and callers asked for clarifications during the workshop. A caller asked for the precise percentage breakdown of where property tax dollars go; Lourdes said she had the detailed decimals and could provide them for the record. Commissioners asked staff to reconcile a small discrepancy in the slide decimals for fines and forfeitures and to confirm interest income sources; staff confirmed the increased interest earnings came from investment income.

On revenue recovery, a staff member identified only as a city staff representative said the city could pursue collection of outstanding fines and code-related revenues and that doing so could provide a “huge infusion” to the budget, but that collections can be subject to legal processes and review. The staff member said city departments prepare items with the expectation some may end up in court.

Open items and next steps Staff noted one outstanding budget item: crossing-guard services. The city has piggybacked an existing contract with a neighboring jurisdiction; the vendor’s competitive bid process encountered issues and will be rebid. Staff said the new cost is not expected until October, at which point the commission will be asked to act.

The commission did not take final votes at the workshop. The public hearing and final vote on the ad valorem tax rate and adoption of the FY2026 budget are scheduled for the commission meeting that follows; staff said adopting the tax rate will require four of five votes when the hearing is held.