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Town proposes flat millage but higher fire and solid-waste assessments in preliminary 2025–26 budget
Summary
Finance staff presented a preliminary FY2025–26 budget that keeps the ad valorem millage at 3.9000 mills while showing proposed increases to the residential fire assessment ($823.79) and residential solid-waste rate (average $601.72), pending council choices about using reserves or subsidies before final adoption. Public hearings scheduled beginning Sept. 15.
Town finance staff presented the Town of Southwest Ranches’ preliminary fiscal year 2025–26 budget and three related resolutions: (1) the proposed millage (no change from last year, 3.9000 mills), (2) the proposed fire-protection assessment, and (3) the proposed solid-waste assessment. The items were introduced as "not to exceed" numbers required by statutory notice deadlines and are subject to refinement during the budget workshop and public hearings.
Emil (finance) described the drivers: projected contract escalations for public-safety services, the CPI-linked increase under the town’s solid-waste contract, and property-value changes reported by the Broward County Property Appraiser (noted growth in assessed values). Staff presented a proposed residential fire assessment of $823.79 per dwelling (a year-over-year increase that reflects both contract costs and the removal of a prior council subsidy) and an average residential solid-waste charge of $601.72 per unit (an average increase of $47.15 compared with the prior year’s subsidized amount). Emil emphasized the numbers show the full program cost; the council may choose to use unassigned fund balance to moderate homeowner impact.
Council members reiterated that these are preliminary figures and that the council commonly uses the budget workshop and subsequent hearings to refine subsidies, use reserves, or otherwise alter final assessments. The council scheduled public hearings beginning Sept. 15 for consideration and final adoption. Staff offered to provide individualized estimates to residents who asked how the changes would affect their total tax bills and noted that the town’s portion is only part of a resident’s total Broward County bill.
