The simple truth: City services are not free.
Here’s another truth: Fort Lauderdale has a proven record of fiscal conservatism and financial prudence.
So where does our money go? More than 62 percent of all of our property tax income goes to support our police and fire departments.
Between 2020 and 2025, Police and Fire-Rescue accounted for nearly 9 of every 10 new city employees. Those additional officers and firefighters enabled the city to create the Real Time Crime Center, launch the Group Violence Intervention program, reinstate Neighborhood Action Teams, expand patrols and homeless outreach, staff new fire stations, start the Mobile Integrated Health Program and operate emergency rescue units independently.
The extra staff has been necessary. Fire-Rescue handles 10,000 more calls for service than five years ago, and police activity has grown similarly.
Years ago, we struggled to hire police officers and firefighters. We responded by increasing pay ranges to better compete with surrounding municipalities. Today, our departments are more fully staffed than ever.
The city also has increased spending in several other areas:
Infrastructure
Although water, sewer and stormwater utilities are funded separately, the property tax-supported General Fund has increased spending on road repairs, bridge replacements, sidewalk improvements, new seawalls, better street lighting and projects to ease traffic congestion.
Parks and Recreation
We have made tremendous improvements to our parks and added many new amenities with much of the work coming as a result of a bond issue that voters approved in 2018. Look at the renovated Aquatic Center and the upgraded Jimmy Evert Tennis Center. These improvements, though, have ongoing costs that are covered by the General Fund budget. Last year, for example, we added a pool mechanic to maintain new splash pads. The renovated Aquatic Center required an additional maintenance employee, and the renovated Tennis Center required more operating funds.
Combatting Homelessness
To reduce the number of people living on our streets, we have expanded shelter access, funded mental health and substance abuse programs, launched the Community Court Program, increased support for family reunification, enlarged the Police Department’s outreach team and supported Rotary Connection transportation and relocation services. While we have a long way to go to resolve this problem, we would be a lot worse off if not for the additional money we’ve spent so far.
Environmental Protection
The city began weekly testing of canals and rivers for contaminants, installed aerators in critical waterways to improve water quality, expanded marine pump-out facilities and partnered with Coastal Conservation of Florida to cultivate oysters along the New River. Fort Lauderdale also has one of the region’s most expansive waterway-cleanliness programs, removing 63 to 159 tons of debris annually.
Many city services, particularly public safety, must serve more than our residential population. More than 13 million people visit greater Fort Lauderdale each year. Although roughly 190,000 people live in the city, its daytime population rises to an estimated 280,000 as workers commute from the suburbs.
So, what would be the city’s strategy if voters approve the tax reform initiative? The City Commission would face tough decisions on balancing the needs and wants of a growing community with the new limitations on revenue.
Is there an alternative?
So let’s say that instead of cutting services, the city raised property tax rates. Under the new regimen, businesses and non-homesteaded residential property owners would shoulder a greater portion of the tax load in order to fill the gap. Let’s see what that means.
What is non-homestead residential property? These are homes that are not primary residences, such as seasonal homes, vacation rentals or homes of people who live here part-time. It also includes rental properties, which are often occupied by young professionals who might be living in places such as Flagler Village. Business properties impacted would include office buildings and shopping centers.
If the cost of owning a second home becomes more expensive, the real estate market may be flooded with sellers looking to get out. This would weaken an already weak market. Young people who are renting may find it too expensive to live here and decide to relocate, perhaps out of state. And small businesses could decide that the cost of doing business in Florida does not bode well for a successful future.
These are just some of the potential consequences that the city would need to consider if the ballot initiative passes and we must try to balance the loss of income with the need to maintain the level of service people have come to expect from the city.
There is a great deal to consider. As the November election approaches, I encourage everyone to weigh the arguments on both sides and, most importantly, vote.
Yours,
Dean
