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Pembroke Pines clears elections agreement with county; commissioners discuss timing and legal limits for ballot outreach
Summary
The commission voted to adopt a municipal elections agreement for Nov. 3, 2026, and the city attorney warned about state restrictions on using public funds to advocate ballot outcomes while outlining timelines (Aug. 18 filing deadline) and options for factual voter education.
The Pembroke Pines City Commission voted on May 20 to approve a municipal elections agreement with the Broward County Supervisor of Elections that will place a special municipal election on the Nov. 3, 2026, countywide ballot, and commissioners used the meeting to clarify timing and legal limits on public outreach about possible referendum items.
The city attorney explained that the agreement (proposed resolution 2026R-08) authorizes the city clerk to transmit the executed municipal elections agreement and directs city officials to take necessary steps to participate in the county-run election. Commissioner comments noted the Supervisor of Elections’ cost estimate for administering the election had been reduced from an earlier projection of $345,000 to about $92,742.
The city attorney cautioned the commission about Chapter 106 (specifically section 106.313) of Florida law, which restricts governmental use of public funds to advocate for or against ballot measures. The attorney said education is allowed but must be carefully tailored; because two charter-change ordinances and a bond resolution remain on the commission's calendar, the commission is sequencing final actions so that factual town-hall-style outreach can occur without crossing statutory advocacy limits.
The attorney noted an August 18 deadline the Supervisor of Elections gave for delivery of referendum questions and said the commission could present first readings, conduct town halls and circulate informational materials up until certain statutory limits. Commissioners discussed a schedule of district town halls in June to present factual information and asked staff to produce materials that comply with state restrictions. The commission approved the municipal elections agreement without objection.
The commission did not adopt final charter changes or a bond resolution at the meeting; city staff and legal counsel said they will bring draft bond language and financial figures to a special meeting or the early June meeting to allow commissioners to review material in advance of final action on a schedule that preserves the city's ability to conduct informational outreach within state law.
