Miramar commissioners set 2025 millage at 7.1172 mills and approve tentative $423 million budget; fire assessment reimposed

The City Commission of Miramar on Sept. 15 approved on first reading a proposed ad valorem tax operating millage rate of 7.1172 mills for tax year 2025, reimposed the city’s fire protection assessment and adopted a tentative fiscal year 2026 operating budget totaling roughly $423 million.

The proposed millage rate — a 6.41% increase over the rollback rate of 6.6885 mills — was presented by Rafael San Miguel, director of management and budget, who said the rate is “necessary to fund the budget.” San Miguel told the commission the tentative all-funds budget for fiscal year 2026 is about $423 million, with the general fund representing roughly $241 million (57% of all funds).

Why it matters: Ad valorem taxes make up the single largest revenue source for Miramar’s general fund, covering 43% of general fund receipts and funding mission-critical services such as police and fire. Budget choices will affect service levels, pension obligations, capital projects and reserve policies, and commissioners emphasized they will continue staff review before the second reading.

Budget and program details presented by San Miguel include investments in public safety (five new fire suppression vehicles including an aerial platform), a West Water Treatment Plant expansion, a stormwater master plan and targeted accessibility and parks upgrades. The administration said the tentative budget reflects a strategy to maintain fund balance reserves and incorporate five-year forecasting.

San Miguel and city manager Dr. Virgen said the general fund had a net decrease in proposed spending of about $4.3 million (1.8%), driven largely by lower capital outlays compared with the prior year, while personal services were projected to rise by about $9 million because of collective bargaining increases, pension costs and the return of 16 firefighters from a SAFER grant to general-fund payroll.

The administration said the average homesteaded single-family taxable value increased in Miramar from about $258,000 to $267,000, and the city estimated the average homesteaded household would pay about $63.72 more in city ad valorem taxes under the proposed millage — roughly $5.31 per month. Rafael San Miguel explained that homestead protections under the state’s Save Our Homes cap limit annual increases for qualifying homeowners (capped at the stated percentage), and that taxable value differs from market value.

Public comment: Three residents spoke. Leon Jenkins, who identified himself as a Miramar employee, said he and his board supported the proposed 2026 budget. Resident Sean (Shion) Affleck accepted the budget broadly but asked whether the city could do more to reduce pressure from ad valorem taxes. Colin…