County Budget Basics
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about Broward County's budget.
Q. How much is Broward County's current budget?
It is approximately $3.6 billion. Of that amount, $2.6 billion is used for the operating budget (to annually support ongoing services and programs), $600 million for the capital budget (money put aside for construction and infrastructure projects and land acquisitions) and $400 million for debt service (money used to repay voter-approved bond issues).
Q. Is the budget funded entirely with property taxes?
No. There are a variety of funding sources. The General Fund ($1.3 billion) is supported with property taxes and other revenues to fund programs that are not self-supporting such as libraries, parks and the Constitutional Officers. It is important to note that 50 percent of the revenue in the General Fund goes to the independently-elected Constitutional Officers (Sheriff, Elections Supervisor, Property Appraiser). The Enterprise Fund ($1.1 billion) consists of programs that are self-supporting without general revenue subsidies, such as the airport, port, resource recovery facilities and water and wastewater facilities. The Other Funds ($1.2 billion) portion of the budget consists of self-supported agencies with dedicated taxes or fees, such as the Tourist Development Fund or the County Transportation Trust Fund.
Q. What percentage of the General Fund budget is composed of property taxes?
About 59 percent. The rest comes from fees and charges (9 percent); transfers and fund balance (12 percent); sales tax and state revenue sharing (6 percent); and about 14 percent comes from Sheriff's office contracts with municipalities.
Q. Exactly what is the millage rate?
The millage rate is the property tax rate set by the Commission. It is based on “mills.” One mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of taxable property value. Broward County's current countywide millage rate is 5.3145 mills. To calculate a property tax rate, multiply the taxable value of the property by the millage rate and divide by 1,000.
Q. What is the budget process?
February |
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County Commission meets to discuss the upcoming year's fiscal policy |
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Budget instructions are sent to each Department |
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Agencies submit proposals for capital projects to the Office of Management and Budget |
March/April |
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Budgets and program proposals are due back to Office of Management and Budget from Departments |
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Office of Management and Budget analyzes program proposals and budgets submitted by Departments |
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Results Teams meet to review program proposals submitted by Departments and develop recommendations for generally-funded budgets |
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County Commission holds budget workshop |
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Elected officials submit budgets |
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Office of Management and budget develops a recommended capital program |
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County Commission holds budget workshops |
June |
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County Commission holds budget workshops |
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County Administrator finalizes budget recommendations |
July |
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Recommended Budget and Capital Program are delivered to County Commission |
August |
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County Commission holds final budget and capital program workshop |
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Property Appraiser sends out TRIM notices |
September |
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Two public hearings are held |
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Operating Budget, Capital Budget, and Five-year Capital Program are adopted |
October |
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Fiscal year begins |
November/December |
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Preliminary forecasts for upcoming fiscal year are prepared |
Ongoing |
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Amendments to budget are made at weekly County Commission meetings as needed |
Q. Where can I find a copy of the budget?
The proposed budget and Capital Program for the upcoming fiscal year is available for viewing online beginning in August of each year. The adopted budget and Capital Program is available for viewing online beginning in November of each year. Visit www.broward.org/budget.