Commission Approves $3 Billion Budget with Reduced Millage Rate

Broward County Commissioners approved a $3 billion budget at their final public hearing on September 27, which represents a decrease in the County’s millage rate to 6.783 from last year’s rate of 7.023.

The new millage rate marks the ninth year in a row that the millage rate has been reduced or remained the same. Efforts to reduce the budget further were rejected by a majority of the Commissioners, who spoke of the need to maintain reserve funds for emergencies, the opening of bond-approved new facilities and other unforeseen events.

With the new millage rate, a taxpayer in a homesteaded residential property will not pay any increased taxes. Owners of non-homesteaded properties, including businesses, landlords and owners of second homes, will likely pay more taxes because their property is not covered under the Save Our Homes amendment to the Florida Constitution. The amendment was approved by voters in 1992. It is designed to cap increases on homesteaded property to no more than three percent per year, regardless of the value of the property.

The $3 billion spending plan incorporates the adopted goals of the County Commission with emphasis on transportation, affordable housing, community wellness, economic development, regional redevelopment, access to services/information, cultural amenities and environmental preservation. Broward County’s fiscal year began on October 1.

County Commission Names Bertha Henry as Interim CEO

With the departure of Roger Desjarlais as County Administrator on September 19, the County Commission appointed Deputy County Administrator Bertha Henry as Interim Administrator, while a national search is conducted for a permanent administrator.

Ms. Henry came to Broward County in July of 2000 after serving as the Assistant City Manager of Finance and Administration with the City of Miami. Prior to working for the City of Miami, Ms. Henry worked for Broward County as Assistant to the County Administrator from 1996 to 1998. She has held numerous positions on both the county and city level in Florida and Ohio, including the position of Assistant County Administrator for Montgomery County, Ohio. Ms. Henry graduated from Florida State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Government and received her Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Florida State University in 1978.

Desjarlais announced his retirement plans on June 21, following more than 30 years of experience with local government. Desjarlais has served as the County’s CEO since 1998. During his tenure, Desjarlais presented the County Commission with balanced budgets with reduced millage rates for nine consecutive years, while expanding programs, services and facilities. He implemented a goal-setting process for the County Commission and oversaw billion-dollar expansion programs for Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Under his watch, the $400 million Safe Parks and Land Preservation bond program was initiated along with the $139 million library bond program and the $600 million unincorporated neighborhood improvement projects.

Broward County Celebrates 90th Birthday

Serenaded by the award-winning Blanche Ely High School Marching Band, Broward County Commissioners kicked off Broward County’s month-long 90th birthday celebration on September 27 during an afternoon meeting at the Broward County Governmental Center in Fort Lauderdale. Broward County was created on October 1, 1915, from portions of then-Dade County and Palm Beach County. In addition to the music, Mayor Kristin Jacobs read a proclamation noting the anniversary and designated October as Broward County History Month. Mayor Anne Castro of Dania Beach, Broward’s oldest city, read a proclamation from her city, and Mayor Jacobs announced that proclamations from other municipalities would be on display at the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

On October 1, the annual Pioneers Day celebration was held at the library and a number of local residents were honored for their commitment to historic preservation and education. In addition, the Broward County Historical Commission presented three special awards: Professor Ralph Johnson was cited for his efforts in bringing the prestigious Fifth Biennial Florida African American Heritage Preservation Conference to Broward County; the Town of Southwest Ranches was honored for its successful efforts in archeological preservation; and, Patrick Scott was recognized for his research and dedication to local history.

Other awards presented included the Dr. Cooper C. Kirk award to author Joan Mickelson for her new book, A Guide to Historic Hollywood; the Historian’s Award was given to Cynthia Thuma for her new book on Wilton Manors; the Judge Clayton Nance Memorial Award was given to the Museum of Coral Springs History, which opened last May; and, the Julia Snow Jones Memorial Award was given to Joseph Belevance for his efforts to place a historical marked honoring the Lewis Family, early settlers of Broward County.

For a complete listing of events relating to Broward County’s birthday celebration, visit www.broward.org. In addition, the County’s homepage contains the October 2005 issue of Broward-by-the-Numbers, a monthly electronic information service of Broward County’s Planning Services Division. The County’s first census in 1920 is examined.

Million Meals Food Drive Seeks Donations in October

In partnership with the Coordinating Council of Broward County, the County will be conducting a food drive in October to benefit the Cooperative Feeding Program. The purpose of the food drive is to help various facilities supported by the Cooperative Feeding Program restock and replenish their supplies. Their clients include the Salvation Army and other organizations.

Drop-off locations for canned goods and non-perishable food supplies include the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale; the Main Courthouse, 201 S.E. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale; the West Regional Courthouse, 100 N. Pine Island Road, Plantation; the North Regional Courthouse, 1600 W. Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach; and, the South Regional Courthouse, 3550 Hollywood Boulevard. In addition, the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, and other branch libraries will maintain collections points.

New Pet Adoption Fees Effective October 1

Effective October 1, Broward County’s Animal Care and Regulation Division will be charging new fees for adoptions, boarding and impoundments. The new fees are:

Adoption $69.95
Daily Boarding $14.00
First Impoundment $22.00

Adoption fees were last increased in 1999; boarding and impoundment fees were last increased in 1998.

The fee increases are based on the results of a survey on fees from local and national animal care agencies, humane societies and animal welfare organizations.

Motorists with Smoking Cars Subject to Citations, Fines

In an effort to reduce air pollution, drivers of vehicles that emit visible smoke from their exhaust pipe for more than five consecutive seconds are subject to a citation. Failure to repair the problem within 30 days could result in fines of up to $100.

In some instances, owners are unable to repair their vehicles because of the cost, leaving them without transportation. To provide an alternative form of transportation to these individuals, Broward County Transit (BCT), in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Department’s Air Quality Division, will be offering BCT Fare coupon booklets, good for 10 rides on BCT buses.

For more information on the Smoking Vehicle Program, including how to report a smoking vehicle, call the Air Quality Division at 954-519-1220 or visit www.broward.org/air and click on Smoking Vehicle Program.

Workshops Offered in October during of Celebrate the Arts Month

In celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month and the Foundation Center’s (FC), Funding For Arts Month, Broward County’s Cultural Division invites interested participants from the community to two free training programs on Monday, October 24, Alvin Sherman Library, Research and Information Technology Center, Nova Southeastern University, 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

The first workshop, Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts, will be held at 10 a.m. This workshop will show artists how to identify potential donors in the arts, explore the option of fiscal sponsorship, and offer tips on creating a step-by-step plan to find funding. Finding Funders in the Arts with the Foundation Center Search will assist arts organizations in the basics of searching the Foundation Center’s database of more than 78,000 grantmakers, and will be held at 2 p.m. on the same day.

There is no fee for the programs; hourly parking is available next to the library. To register online, visit www.broward.org/arts, and click on “Workshops.”

Public Hearing on Turnpike Scheduled for October 11

The Florida Department of Transportation will conduct a public hearing on plans to widen and reduce traffic congestion on Florida’s Turnpike, on Tuesday, October 11, 6:30 p.m., Coconut Creek Community Center, 1100 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. An informal open house will precede the formal presentation at 5:30 p.m. (In the event of severe weather conditions, the event will be rescheduled to October 18). The public hearing will give residents an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed improvements to the turnpike, which include areas just south of Atlantic Boulevard and north to the Sawgrass Expressway.