Fort lauderdale, Florida – Property owners across Broward County can expect a bit of financial relief next fiscal year, following the County Commission’s approval of a $1.7 billion property tax-supported budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The plan includes a modest reduction in the millage rate, bringing it down to 5.6658 mills, which translates into slightly lower property taxes for many homeowners.
The total countywide budget—covering both property-tax-supported and non-property-tax-supported services—comes to $8.8 billion. This includes funding for major operations such as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, county utilities, capital projects, and reserves.
Despite major fiscal challenges, including the loss of $80 million in revenue due to the transition to an elected Tax Collector’s Office and the added costs of funding countywide constitutional offices, the Commission managed to approve a balanced budget. To do so, it cut 159 funded positions and reduced recurring operating costs by nearly $20 million across various General Fund agencies.
Major Investment in Public Safety
Even with these cuts, the Broward County Commission prioritized public safety. The budget includes a $24.2 million increase—a 3% bump—to the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) regional budget and 911 services. This funding includes the second installment of an $8 million salary adjustment for BSO Detention Deputies. County officials say this is the largest operating appropriation to public safety in Broward’s history…