Commission approves nearly $9 million in year‑one spending authority from $65 million GO bond

Lauderhill commissioners authorized a supplemental appropriation of $8,995,125 on May 11 to provide spending authority for year‑one projects tied to the voter‑approved $65 million general obligation bond. City Manager Kenny Hobbs and finance staff said the allocation covers issuance costs (bond counsel, financial advisers and related fees), construction management and initial project design and procurement activity necessary to begin work before fiscal year‑end.

Hobbs told the commission the appropriation gives staff the budget authority to issue purchase orders and enter solicitation processes, but that vendor selection and construction contracts will return to the commission for approval. Hobbs said about $4 million of the appropriation is expected to be issuance and construction management costs and that up to 5% of the bond is typically set aside for construction management across the program.

Commissioners discussed public‑safety items on the draft project list (including license plate readers and vehicles). Hobbs said the appropriation does not irrevocably allocate funds to a single vendor or line item and pledged to present a detailed five‑year plan, dashboard and reporting mechanisms at a workshop scheduled for the following week.

The ordinance (26O05114) passed 5–0; the commission also adopted a separate six‑month revenue/expenditure amendment (26O05115) for operational adjustments totaling $5,056,394.

Next steps: staff to provide detailed project schedules, reporting dashboard and procurement plans at a commission workshop prior to contract awards.