Pompano Beach adopts FY2026 budget, millage rates, five-year CIP and personnel reclassifications; EMS district budget approved

The Pompano Beach City Commission on Sept. 22 adopted the city's FY2026 millage rates and budget, approved a five-year capital improvement plan and a personnel reclassification ordinance, and the Pompano Beach Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District adopted its FY2026 millage and budget. City staff presented figures and the commission voted on each item by roll call; all resolutions and the ordinance passed as recorded.

Josh Waters, the city's budget director, told the commission the FY2026 citywide revenues for all funds were estimated at approximately $462,800,000 and that the general fund budget is $243,600,000 after a $575,087 reduction tied to a commission action at the prior hearing. Waters said the general fund still covers more than half of city services and highlighted nondiscretionary budget pressures including BSO contracts, pension contribution increases for police and fire, employee compensation increases, and tax-increment distributions to community redevelopment areas.

The commission adopted a general operating millage rate of 5.2181 and an aggregate operating plus EMS millage of 5.7181 for the 2025 tax roll; the resolution text on the dais described the 5.7181 aggregate as representing a 5.15% increase in property taxes compared to the rollback rate of 5.4379 (as presented in the resolution language). Waters explained that growth in property valuations and budget pressures underlie the revenue changes. The EMS district millage of 0.5 also was adopted by the EMS board of the district as presented.

On the capital plan, the commission adopted the FY2026-FY2030 capital improvement plan. Waters said the only change since July was removal of a $150,000 general-capital allocation for a Habitat for Humanity CIP project; those funds will be carried by the northwest CRA instead. Lisa Senego, human resources director, described the second-reading ordinance as a housekeeping item to codify position changes and reclassifications that were part of the adopted budget.

All city budget and millage votes were recorded by roll call. The city budget resolution was adopted with the total city budget stated in the resolution as $430,648,598. The EMS district adopted a FY2026 budget of $32,164,940.

Votes at a glance

- City millage resolution (adopt millages for 2025 tax roll, aggregate millage 5.7181): Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous "yes" (Commissioner Perkins; Commissioner Seagerstein Eaton; Commissioner Smith; Vice Mayor Fournier; Mayor Harton). Outcome: approved.

- City budget resolution (adopt FY2026 city budget, resolution total $430,648,598): Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous "yes." Outcome: approved.

- Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (FY2026-FY2030): Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous "yes." Outcome: approved. Notable change: removal of $150,000 general capital funds for the Habitat for Humanity CIP project; funding to be provided by Northwest CRA.

- Ordinance, second reading (position classification plan; retitle/reclassify positions): Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous "yes." Outcome: adopted. Staff described this as a housekeeping item to codify positions included in the adopted budget.

- EMS district millage (0.5) and EMS district budget ($32,164,940): Motions moved and seconded; roll-call votes recorded as unanimous "yes." Outcomes: approved.

None of the adopted items included additional conditions or amendments on the record. Waters and staff noted that the commission's earlier vote to reduce the operating millage by 0.5 percentage point and to move $150,000 from general capital to the northwest CRA were reflected in the presented resolutions and plan. Several items were introduced as part of the TRIM Act-required budget hearings; Waters stated the meeting was the second of two required hearings.

The commission closed public testimony on the items before each recorded vote; no public speakers registered during the hearings. The actions take effect as provided in each resolution and ordinance.