Tamarac staff propose 7.07-mill tentative rate and related FY27 assessments ahead of July 8 meeting

City staff on July 6 told colleagues they will ask the Tamarac City Commission on July 8 to adopt a tentative FY2027 operating millage rate of 7.07 mills and to initiate required public hearings for related assessments.

Priscilla Moxie, interim director of financial services, presented the preliminary numbers and schedule, saying the proposed rate is the same operating millage as the prior year and about 4.49% higher than the rollback rate of 6.6991 mills. She said the commission must hold a first public hearing on Sept. 14, 2026, and a second hearing on Sept. 23, 2026, before any final adoption.

Staff also previewed three temporary resolutions to start statutory processes tied to the budget. For fire-rescue services (Temporary Resolution 14405), staff proposed a residential assessment of $5.09 per dwelling unit to fund what the presentations characterized as 100% of the allowable fire-rescue component (staff cited $20,000,003.75 as the allowable fire-rescue component within a roughly $38,000,000 total department cost). "This resolution also authorizes the public hearing process and directs the preparation of the assessment roll," Moxie said.

For stormwater (Temporary Resolution 14406), staff proposed an ERU-based management fee of $178.07, a 4.2% increase over FY26 consistent with the city code provision that ties the annual adjustment to the greater of 3% or CPI. Staff provided projected gross and net revenue estimates and an exemption buy-down figure.

For residential solid-waste collection (Temporary Resolution 14407), staff proposed the same rate as FY26, $278.75 per unit, describing these costs as pass-throughs under the city's franchise agreement with Waste Management and noting the resolution would begin the notice and hearing process.

Moxie and other staff clarified how the assessment revenues relate to departmental budgets and the general fund. The items will appear on the commission agenda on July 8 for formal action to set the tentative millage and to schedule required hearings.

Next steps: the commission is scheduled to consider the tentative millage and the temporary resolutions at the July 8 meeting and to hold the statutorily required public hearings in September.