Broward property appraiser gives Hollywood update: values up, owner-alerts and title-fraud enforcement expanded

Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kerr told the Hollywood City Commission on July 2 that property values in the city rose again this year and outlined county efforts to notify homeowners and combat title fraud.

Kerr said market value across Hollywood rose roughly 4% year over year — from about $38.0 billion to $39.5 billion — and taxable value increased by about 7.37%, from roughly $25.38 billion in 2024 to approximately $27.25 billion in 2025. He said those increases, if the city keeps the same millage rate, would produce almost $14 million in additional annual revenue for the city.

Kerr emphasized the county’s August ‘‘truth-in-millage’’ mailing, telling homeowners, “It’s your truth in millage notice. It’s not a tax bill,” and urging residents to review values and exemptions and to call his office by Sept. 17 if they have questions or think their assessment is incorrect. He highlighted exemptions in Hollywood: roughly 31,000 homestead exemptions, 2,725 low‑income senior exemptions, 459 long‑term seniors who currently pay no city property taxes, 3,028 widows receiving exemptions and 687 “American hero” veteran exemptions (296 fully exempt because of total/permanent disability).

Kerr also described title‑fraud schemes and the county’s expanded response. He promoted Owner Alert, a free notification system that emails or texts property owners if a document affecting title or ownership is recorded. He said about 300,000 Broward property owners are enrolled and that Hollywood’s sign-up rate for homesteaded properties is roughly 50%.

Kerr described the county’s “Crimes Against Property” team — a collaboration with the sheriff’s office and the state attorney’s office that investigates title‑fraud cases — and said the office has secured arrests and convictions in many cases, including multi‑year sentences in major convictions. He gave examples of schemes ranging from fake Zoom meetings that used AI images to impersonate an owner, to a case involving an alleged former Miami‑Dade law enforcement officer who was accused of using a fake power of attorney and probate filings to strip a severely disabled man of assets.

Why it matters: Rising taxable value affects the city’s revenue picture and next year’s budget conversations. Kerr’s fraud‑prevention recommendations are practical steps officials urged residents to follow to preserve clear title and avoid protracted restoration of ownership.

Kerr closed by repeating enrollment instructions (visit bcpa.net and register with a parcel ID and email) and noting that Florida law now exempts Owner Alert registration information from public disclosure to encourage sign‑ups and protect privacy.