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 Thompson asked how county services — and the county’s portion of residents’ tax bills — differ from city services and was directed to Broward County hearings for detail.

Commission remarks: Commissioners thanked staff for the presentation and asked follow-up questions on revenue projections, reserves and departmental spending. Commissioner Scheherzard (who asked detailed questions about departments’ year-to-date spending and reserve levels) urged staff to search for savings that might allow a lower millage at the second reading; she asked staff to examine whether $2.6 million could be identified to move the rate closer to 6.95 mills. Vice Mayor Coburn and Commissioner Chambers praised the budget presentation and encouraged public engagement. Commissioner Edwards noted the budget’s importance and asked about possible state-level changes to property taxation.

Fire assessment and exemptions: The commission also reimposed the city’s fire protection assessment for fiscal year 2026. The temporary resolution presented (Temporary Resolution No. 8482) sets the fire protection assessment rate to continue (the staff presentation described a reimposition at 100% of the calculated rate). San Miguel and staff explained that certain Broward County property-appraiser exemptions (for seniors, veterans, disabled persons and others) automatically qualify some residents for a Miramar fire-fee exemption; the city’s outreach efforts included information on exemption applications and a Sept. 17 application deadline noted in the presentation.

Next steps: This was the first reading for the millage ordinance and the tentative budget; Florida law requires a second reading before final adoption. The commission set the second hearing for Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. and requested that commissioners and staff continue questions and department-level follow-ups ahead of that meeting.

Votes at a glance

• Item 1 — Temporary ordinance establishing ad valorem tax operating millage rate at 7.1172 mills (first reading): outcome — approved (unanimous). Recorded votes: Commissioners Chambers, Scheherzard, Vice Mayor Coburn, Commissioner Edwards and Mayor Messam — yes.

• Item 2 — Temporary Resolution No. 8482 reimposing the fire protection assessment for FY2026 and approving the assessment role: outcome — approved (unanimous). Recorded votes: Commissioners Chambers, Scheherzard, Vice Mayor Coburn, Commissioner Edwards and Mayor Messam — yes.

• Item 3 — Temporary ordinance adopting the tentative FY2026 operating budget and capital improvement program: outcome — approved (first reading/tentative; unanimous). Recorded votes: Commissioners Chambers, Scheherzard, Vice Mayor Coburn, Commissioner Edwards and Mayor Messam — yes.

Clarifying details

• Proposed millage rate: 7.1172 mills (presented as 6.41% above the rollback rate of 6.6885 mills).

• Tentative all-funds FY2026 budget: approximately $423,000,000; general fund approx. $241,000,000.

• Projected average homesteaded tax increase: $63.72 per year (city portion) under proposed millage (varies by assessed value).

• Fire assessment: staff recommended reimposing assessment (Temporary Resolution No. 8482); certain Broward County exemptions automatically qualify property owners for Miramar fire-fee exemption; application deadline referenced as Sept. 17, 2025.

Speakers (attributed in this article)

• Rafael San Miguel — Director, Management and Budget (city staff).

• Dr. Virgen — City Manager (city staff).

• Mayor Wayne Messam — Mayor, City of Miramar.

• Vice Mayor Coburn — Vice Mayor, City of Miramar.

• Commissioner Chambers — Commissioner, City of Miramar.

• Commissioner Scheherzard — Commissioner, City of Miramar.

• Commissioner Edwards — Commissioner, City of Miramar.

• Leon Jenkins — Resident; identified as city employee; spoke in support of the budget.

• Sean (Shion) Affleck — Resident, 2809 Crescent Place; asked about ad valorem relief options.

• Colin Thompson — Resident, Amber Lake development; asked about county vs. city responsibilities.

Authorities

• Chapter 200, Florida Statutes — cited in staff presentation as the state law governing millage adoption and the required announcement of the millage comparison to the rollback rate. Referenced by: item 1 presentation (topicintro).

• Temporary Ordinance Nos. 1851 / 1852 (as presented in staff materials) — described in the presentation as the tentative budget and millage ordinances for FY2026. Referenced by: items 1 and 3.

• Temporary Resolution No. 8482 — reimposes the fire protection assessment for FY2026. Referenced by: item 2.

Actions

• Action: Establish/adopt proposed millage (temporary ordinance, first reading). Kind: ordinance_first_reading. Motion text: "Approve temporary ordinance establishing the ad valorem tax operating millage rate at 7.1172 mills for tax year 2025." Mover/second: not recorded in transcript. Vote_record: Chambers (yes), Scheherzard (yes), Vice Mayor Coburn (yes), Edwards (yes), Mayor Messam (yes). Tally: yes 5/no 0/abstain 0. Outcome: approved.

• Action: Reimpose fire protection assessment (temporary resolution 8482). Kind: resolution. Motion text: "Approve Temporary Resolution No. 8482 reimposing the fire protection assessments for FY2026 and approving the assessment role." Mover/second: not recorded. Vote_record: Chambers (yes), Scheherzard (yes), Vice Mayor Coburn (yes), Edwards (yes), Mayor Messam (yes). Tally: yes 5/no 0. Outcome: approved.

• Action: Adopt tentative FY2026 operating budget and CIP (temporary ordinance, first reading). Kind: budget_adoption. Motion text: "Approve Temporary Ordinance No. 1851 adopting the tentative operating and capital improvement program budget for FY2026." Mover/second: not recorded. Vote_record: Chambers (yes), Scheherzard (yes), Vice Mayor Coburn (yes), Edwards (yes), Mayor Messam (yes). Tally: yes 5/no 0. Outcome: approved (first reading/tentative).

Discussion vs. decision

• Discussion: Staff presented budget details, revenue sources (ad valorem, permits, utility taxes), departmental drivers of cost increases (collective bargaining, pensions) and capital priorities. Commissioners requested more department-level detail and asked staff to look for potential savings ahead of the second reading.

• Direction: Commissioners requested follow-up 1-on-1 meetings with budget staff before the Sept. 29 second reading; Commissioner Scheherzard asked staff to search for reductions sufficient to lower the millage toward 6.95 mills if possible.

• Decision: On first reading, the commission approved the proposed millage, reimposed the fire assessment and adopted the tentative budget; final adoption remains subject to a required second reading.

Clarifying details (structured)

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Proper_names

[{"name":"City of Miramar","type":"agency"},{"name":"Broward County Property Appraiser","type":"agency"},{"name":"Miramar Business Academy","type":"organization"},{"name":"West Water Treatment Plant","type":"facility"},{"name":"Temporary Resolution No. 8482","type":"other"},{"name":"Save Our Homes","type":"statute"}]

Community relevance

{"geographies":["Miramar","Broward County"],"funding_sources":["ad valorem taxes","fire assessment","grants"],"impact_groups":["homesteaded homeowners","senior residents","city employees","business owners"]}

Meeting_context

{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":11,"duration_minutes":122,"items_count":4},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2024-09-","note":"Annual budget process and prior millage adoptions"}]}