Parkland adopts $75.5 million budget, keeps millage at 4.2979 mills

The City Commission of the City of Parkland on Wednesday unanimously approved the fiscal year 2026 budget and a final operating millage rate of 4.2979 mills.

The commission adopted Ordinance 2025-009 to set the fiscal 2026 millage and Ordinance 2025-010 to adopt the fiscal 2026 budget, with separate roll-call votes for each item. Commissioner Bridal moved to adopt the millage ordinance and Commissioner Canerman seconded; commissioners voted unanimously. Commissioner Canerman moved to adopt the budget ordinance and Commissioner Murphy Salomonie seconded; that motion also passed unanimously.

The budget’s total across all funds is $75,500,000; the general fund totals $58,800,000. City staff told the commission the budget includes a roughly $5,000,000 transfer to three capital project funds and $1,900,000 for debt service. Staff said the city now has two loans outstanding after paying off one this year.

City staff outlined personnel and benefit changes in the general fund: a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees, merit increases ranging from 0% to 3% based on performance, and a health insurance cost increase of about 4.75%. General insurance (property, workers’ compensation and general liability) rose about 7.24%.

Staff reported reserves and capital amounts: a stabilization reserve of approximately $13,000,000 (about 25% of budgeted expenditures guideline), an infrastructure reserve of $750,000, and $4,900,000 budgeted for capital via transfers. Staff also noted the city’s revenue mix: property taxes account for roughly 61% of general fund revenue, followed by a fire assessment of about $4,200,000 and combined sales taxes around $3,800,000.

The adopted millage of 4.2979 mills was presented as 5.181% above the computed rollback rate of 4.00618, producing approximately $2,150,000 in additional revenue for fiscal 2026 compared with the rollback rate. City staff explained that 0.1 mill produces about $829,000 in revenue for Parkland.

During the presentation staff described taxable-value trends: total taxable value in the city was described as approximately $8.7 billion, a year-over-year increase of about 6.7%, and staff noted new taxable value of roughly $73,000,000 in the most recent year. Staff emphasized the degree to which homestead and portability provisions moderate value growth for most parcels and observed that tax policy changes being discussed at the state level could affect local revenue going forward.

Commissioners and staff noted public safety is the largest single piece of the general fund pie, with police and fire costs described as the primary use of property-tax revenues. The commission approved both ordinances by unanimous roll-call votes.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-009 (Fiscal 2026 millage rate) — Motion by Commissioner Bridal; second by Commissioner Canerman. Vote: Breyer—Yes; Canerman—Yes; Murphy Salomonie—Yes; Vice Mayor Israel—Yes; Mayor Walker—Yes. Outcome: Approved (unanimous). Ordinance 2025-010 (Fiscal 2026 budget) — Motion by Commissioner Canerman; second by Commissioner Murphy Salomonie. Vote: Breyer—Yes; Canerman—Yes; Murphy Salomonie—Yes; Vice Mayor Israel—Yes; Mayor Walker—Yes. Outcome: Approved (unanimous).

The commission did not take additional budget amendments at the meeting; staff said more detailed budget materials had been presented earlier in the process and are available for residents.