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State delegation presents checks for local projects, warns of possible property-tax reform
Summary
State Senator Barbara Sharief, Representative Robin Bartleman and lobbyist Nelson Diaz told the Town of Southwest Ranches that recent advocacy secured state funding for a Dykes Road turn-lane project and startup funding for a new fire station; they also warned of possible state-level property-tax changes that could appear on the 2026 ballot and urged resident education.
State officials visiting the Town of Southwest Ranches reported funding wins for local infrastructure and urged residents to monitor proposed state property-tax reforms.
Senator Dr. Barbara Sharief and Representative Robin Bartleman, joined by the town’s lobbyist Nelson Diaz, presented ceremonial funding and described two items they said benefitted the town this session: funding to support Dykes Road turn lanes and a state allocation identified as startup funding for a new fire station. Presenters credited sustained advocacy in Tallahassee and thanked municipal leadership and town staff.
Bartleman and Sharief walked the council through several bills of local interest, citing SB 1080 (changes to local government development-application processing), HB 1205 (petition-collection rules), and recently passed measures affecting healthcare, newborn screening, special education supports for students with autism, and line-of-duty coverage for catastrophic injuries to first responders. They also warned that an active policy discussion at the state level could put substantial property-tax reform on the 2026 ballot; the delegation’s message to residents was that eliminating or substantially changing property taxes without an adequate replacement would threaten local services such as police, fire and solid-waste collection.
Nelson Diaz, the town’s lobbyist, said his firm would accept project requests from the town for the next session and encouraged the council to submit priorities by the fall so staff could prepare materials for Tallahassee.
Council members and attendees took photos with the ceremonial checks and expressed appreciation; speakers encouraged residents to ‘cash quickly’ the ceremonial checks and to stay engaged on tax-policy discussions. The specific dollar amount for the Dykes Road check was not clearly audible in the meeting record; the fire-station startup amount was stated in the presentation as $900,000.
