Hallandale Beach sets tentative $215.8 million budget, adopts rollback millage

The Hallandale Beach City Commission unanimously set a tentative city budget of $215.8 million for fiscal year 2025–26 and adopted a rollback operating millage of 7.3848 mills at its Sept. 15 budget hearing.

The commission also approved the city’s five‑year capital improvement program, ordinances updating procurement and zoning provisions, and a water, wastewater and stormwater rate ordinance. City staff presented the budget as balanced without use of one‑time revenues and noted a 10.25% increase in certified taxable value for Hallandale Beach compared with the prior year.

Property values were a central topic of the hearing. Budget director Natasha Mazze told commissioners the general fund for FY 2026 is proposed at $117.5 million, with roughly $68 million derived from ad valorem (property) taxes. Finance staff and the city manager urged commissioners to plan for potential state property‑tax reform on the November ballot; staff estimated a minimum $10 million revenue impact to the city if a $500,000 homestead exemption were enacted countywide.

City Manager Dr. Earle described the budget as “stable” and stressed steps the city is taking to prepare for possible reductions in property‑tax revenues, including a five‑year financial plan and renewal/replacement savings for vehicles, HVAC and fire apparatus.

Commissioners voted 5–0 on each measure. Mayor Joy F. Cooper, Vice Mayor Laszlo, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Butler and Commissioner Lee Matau all recorded affirmative votes on the tentative millage, the tentative budget, the CIP ordinance and related approvals. Several items had been discussed at prior meetings and were presented with staff summaries at the Sept. 15 hearing.

Votes at a glance - Tentative operating millage 7.3848 mills (rollback rate): approved, 5–0. - Tentative FY 2025–26 consolidated budget $215,800,000 (all funds): approved, 5–0. - Five‑year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and capital budget adoption (first reading, to return for final adoption): approved, 5–0. - Water/wastewater/stormwater rate ordinance (first reading): approved, 5–0. - Procurement code amendments (second reading): approved, 5–0. - Zoning and rezoning matters, including the rezoning at 424 N. Federal Highway: approved (quasi‑judicial), 5–0. - Ordinance establishing 25 mph citywide speed limit for two‑lane local residential streets (second reading): approved, 5–0. - Resolution setting annual fire protection special assessment: approved, 5–0.

Commission discussion and context Staff described significant drivers of the FY 2026 budget increases: salary and benefits adjustments, a nearly $2 million increase tied to the Broward Sheriff’s Office contract, tax increment financing pass‑throughs to the CRA, and planned capital project rollovers. Budget staff noted the city’s general fund reserves remain above policy minimums and that no one‑time revenues were needed to balance the proposed budget.

In a question from Commissioner Lee Matau and other commissioners, staff explained that some projects now listed in the CIP may be funded in part by other mechanisms (for example, special assessment districts such as Golden Isles and 3 Islands safe neighborhood districts) and that CRA rules limit use of CRA funds for projects shown in the CIP under state statute timing rules.

Next steps The commission set a second public hearing for Sept. 29 to adopt final millage and the final budget. Staff will return with required ordinance language and any required adjustments for the second hearing.