Beam Furr Broward County Mayor​    ​

I thank you all for your trust in me to carry out this role as Mayor. It's been an honor. The mayoral role does come with some extra responsibilities and another unexpected benefit: You actually find your heart gets a little bit bigger.

We are elected to our district from the cities we live in and around. There is a natural tendency to focus on those in our district we have the privilege to represent. Being Mayor has allowed me to feel pride, even more than I already did, all over the County.

Whether it's Commissioner Fisher fighting for Tri-Rail and commuter rail…Commissioner Bogen encouraging people to get lifesaving scans…Commissioner McKinzie building houses, walls, and neighborhoods…Commissioner Geller trying to keep us from drowning…Commissioner Davis trying to keep planes from falling out of the sky…Commissioner Rogers helping small businesses get off the ground…Commissioner Udine trying to bring big business and innovators to Broward…or Commissioner Rich trying to make sure everyone has a home and our children grow up strong...The work that we do separately is greater than the sum of its parts.

Most importantly, we have thousands of Broward County staff members doing big things while at the same time keeping everything running day to day: clean water, wastewater, roads, traffic lights, garbage, parks, libraries, animal and mosquito control. Family Success Centers and Human Services try to find food and shelter and homes for those that are down on their luck. I get to see government at work. I get to see it at its best and in Broward County, we have a good story to tell. 

This year, I've had good reasons to tell it over and over again. Because this year has been one long test. Many of the nation's institutions and norms that we have come to take for granted have been challenged while civility and compassion, empathy and education seem to have been delegated to the margins. We have witnessed government by decree and petulance rather than by discussion and persuasion.

On the federal level, we have been mean to our friends and kind to our enemies. We have ignored science and research and encouraged conspiracies and unfounded ideas. We have thumbed our noses at the rule of law and unleashed troops in cities and counties. All of that comes at a cost. It has eroded trust in the government, created resentment between neighbors and shaken the foundation of American democracy, damaging the ability of all levels of government to attend to the needs of its citizens.

To a region like ours, dependent on tourism, the diminishment of the U.S. brand has resulted not only in the loss of global influence but tourism revenue as well. It has resulted in a decline in international visitors and a drop in foreign trust and favorability toward U.S. companies and products. It has affected how we compete in the global market. We have seen some of those effects locally, from the occupancy rate to the number of Canadian and Mexican tourists visiting South Florida. Despite the immense challenge, we should take heart in our response as a County and as a Commission. Our response has been:

• To open the best new convention center anywhere in the country with a view every city in this country will be jealous over. Within a few weeks, we'll open a hotel right next to it.
• To break a new record every day with the amount of cruise passengers coming through our Port.
• To hold an Industry Day, inviting the best of the best businesses to join us in reimagining what is possible at Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, or FLL.
• To lean into our strengths as a diverse multicultural home that loves and welcomes everyone under the sun. 

The challenges did not only come from the national environment. On the state level, we were faced with getting this letter from state's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who wanted to examine our books and see how we spend our money. Just one more poke at home rule.

The two weeks that followed were a whirlwind of compilation of documents and data, right in the middle of the budget season. Our response was to be totally transparent, invite them in and show them the financial situation – because it is worth bragging about. Our response was to show the good work we are doing on transportation, resiliency, procurements and solid waste, and let them know we celebrate and consider our diversity a strength.

Where we can do better, we will. But I think they will find that this County has its act together and that we know the values and priorities of the taxpayers better than they do. Instead of trying to make an example out of us, I hope they use it as an example of how to run a responsible and effective local government. Broward County is not going to back down from leadership.

Despite what is happening on the state and national level, real innovation is happening locally. Down at the beach, after 30 years of trying, we have a crew building the sand bypass that provides sand to the southern part of this County and in a sustainable way for the foreseeable future.

Our contribution last year to the South Florida Water Management District resulted in a completed Central and South Florida study that will allow us to request funding to build pumps to keep our heads above water for the future.

After a decade of trying, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward counties agreed to an operability deal where you can travel among all three of the counties in our transportation systems and your ticket will be accepted everywhere.

We have a master plan for solid waste. It still has to be passed by a percentage of the population of the county, but we have jumped over a lot of hurdles.

Take a look at the unemployment rate, the bond rating, the reserves. Building permits, wage growth, income migration, venture capital money and growth rate. We look good on all of those levels. We have leaned into our strengths and positioned ourselves well for the future.

We all know that no matter what metrics or accomplishments are listed, there is still more work to do. We have an affordability problem. Too many young people are finding it hard to make ends meet. This commission has rightly looked at the problem with a multipronged approach of trying to both increase the supply of housing with options for funding into the future along with recognizing the need to bring good jobs that pay well that can help close that affordability gap. I know this County tries its best to make sure that our safety net is strong. Still, sometimes people fall through the cracks. We always must take a look to see where we can improve. Those moments are where the big-hearted nature and the spirit of collaboration tend to show through in Broward County.

As so many people come together to help where we can and lift others up, when people need help, they are met by wonderful organizations. I don't see organizations protecting their turf. Everyone is into getting the services necessary for those who need them now, and the children in this county are incredibly fortunate to have a Children's Services Council and Early Learning Coalition that are models for forward-thinking advocacy.

This is where Broward is at its best. I can't tell you how many times this year someone has come up to me and told me how glad they are that they live in Broward County. So when I think of our county and the state of it, I say it is good. I think we try to be good to each other. That is the kind of place I want to live in and the kind of place that I want to call home.​

Mayor Beam Furr

View 2025 Broward State of the County Address​