Pompano Beach presents FY2026 budget with public‑safety cost increases, proposes $20 fire fee hike

POMPANO BEACH — City staff presented a recommended fiscal year 2026 general fund budget on June 24 that holds the operating millage rate at the FY2025 level while identifying roughly $19.2 million in year‑over‑year general fund expenditure growth driven largely by public safety costs.

The presentation by Josh Waters, the city’s new budget director, noted that total recommended general fund expenditures are $242,500,000 and that combined public safety spending accounts for 56% of the budget. Waters said the largest single component is police at $72,900,000 and that fire and EMS total roughly $58,000,000. "In sum, these budget pressures total $19,700,000," Waters said, summarizing contract and pension obligations that staff say are non‑discretionary.

Waters told commissioners the recommended operating millage remains unchanged from FY2025 and the net aggregate millage rate would decrease by 0.7% year over year. He said the recommended budget relies on year‑over‑year revenue growth totaling about $19,200,000 from all sources and uses approximately $4,500,000 of general fund fund balance for mostly one‑time capital projects.

Why it matters: the budget reflects rising costs for police and fire, a multi‑year compensation change from the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) contract and pension…