Miramar approves third amendment to Broward transportation surtax interlocal agreement

The Miramar City Commission on Sept. 3, 2025, voted unanimously to approve the 2025 amended and restated transportation system surtax interlocal agreement (the “third amendment”), a change to the Broward County program that shifts funding priorities and creates a new formula-based model for some municipal allocations.

The amendment reprioritizes local surtax distributions to give greater priority to rehabilitation and maintenance projects at municipal request, establishes a formula-driven funding model for rehab/maintenance and on-demand transportation, allows the county to terminate cycle-one projects that lack funding agreements, and creates new authority for municipal collaboration and joint management of a community shuttle program through the Broward County City Managers Association (BCCMA). City staff recommended approval.

Why it matters: The surtax, approved by Broward County voters in 2018 as a 30-year, 1% transportation surtax, is the primary local source for a range of transportation projects. The city’s change in priority toward rehabilitation and maintenance means local street repairs, resurfacing and similar work will receive greater direct support from surtax proceeds. The amendment also enables municipalities to use surtax funds to leverage outside funding and introduces an on-demand/microtransit funding path that did not previously exist in the ILA.

City staff framed the amendment as a response to municipal requests. A staff presenter summarized the item’s background and effects, saying it “addresses the status of the remaining cycle 1 projects” and “reprioritizes the current distribution of surtax funding to municipalities between community shuttle, municipal capital projects, and rehabilitation and maintenance projects.” Public works staff confirmed Miramar is already surveying the public about microtransit and microtransit / on‑demand options.

Commissioners asked whether reprioritization would reduce community shuttle funding and whether Miramar has an existing shuttle program. Staff said the community shuttle and rehab/maintenance funds are held in separate buckets so both can exist; Miramar already operates a community shuttle program and is collecting public comment about microtransit before deciding whether to add on-demand services.

The commission recorded a roll-call vote after discussion; Commission Chambers, Commissioner Scheherazade, Vice Mayor Yvette Colburn and Commissioner Edwards each voted yes and the ordinance was approved.

What the amendment does (high-level): the county may terminate projects not under a funding agreement; funding allocation methodology for rehab/maintenance shifts from ranked projects to a formula model; a new on-demand transportation funding category is created; BCCMA is given a defined role to facilitate municipal collaboration; the amendment also clarifies administrative processes and permits surtax revenue to be used to leverage additional funds.

Outlook: With commission approval Miramar remains eligible for the revised allocations. Staff indicated next steps include coordination with Broward County and BCCMA to apply the new formula and incorporate community feedback on potential microtransit services.