BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Commissioners have given tentative approval to the fiscal year 2019 budget. The recommended total budget, which includes tax supported and non-tax supported funds, is $4.8 billion. The second and final public hearing for the Broward County FY2019 budget is scheduled for 5:01 PM on September 25, 2018 at the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 422, in Fort Lauderdale. Public comment on the proposed budget is welcome.
The total millage (property tax) rate will remain the same as fiscal year 2018. The proposed combined millage rate for FY19 is 5.6690 per thousand dollars of taxable value. Overall, the total proposed budget decreases by $75 million from the prior year.
The proposed budget includes funding for critical county priorities to address a growing population and improve the quality of life for all residents. The FY19 budget provides additional resources for public safety, transportation and paratransit services, traffic improvements,emergency operations and maintenance of county public buildings for cost-efficient operations. The budget also plans ahead, setting aside reserve funding if Amendment One is passed on the November ballot. If approved, the estimated impact would be a reduction of $34 million in property tax revenue beginning in FY20.
The new budget invests in specific initiatives identified by the Commission such as Elderly Homelessness Prevention, increase in the County’s Living Wage, apprenticeship programs to increase the number of jobs, and funding for a variety of countywide community programs. The Broward County FY2019 budget funds the Broward Sheriff's Office, Property Appraiser's Office and Clerk of the Court.
A homestead property with the "Save Our Homes" differential and an average taxable value of $158,400 will experience an estimated increase in taxes of $19. A non-homesteaded residential property, with an average taxable value of $237,500 will experience an estimated increase of $89. This is primarily due to property values increasing throughout the county.
County taxes consist of less than one-quarter of the overall tax bill, which also includes city taxes, school district taxes and special taxing districts. The fiscal year 2019 budget takes effect on October 1, 2018. Detailed budget information can be found here.
DATE: September 13, 2018
CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe
Public Information Manager, Broward Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org