Tamarac sets preliminary 7‑mill rate, raises fire and stormwater assessments; authorizes events and budget changes

The Tamarac City Commission on July 8 set the preliminary FY27 operating millage at 7.000 mills and approved several related non‑ad valorem assessments and budget adjustments.

Priscilla Moxie, Director of Financial Services, presented the staff recommendation: the proposed operating millage of 7.000 mills is about 4.49% above the rollback rate and would generate roughly $48.19 million in property‑tax revenue (an increase of about $1.98 million compared to the prior year). Moxie said the rate would be used for TRIM notices and that final adoption will occur at September public hearings.

Commission actions on assessments:
- Fire‑rescue assessment: approved preliminarily at $509 per residential unit (a $59/year increase, FY26 = $450); commission vote 4–1 (Commissioner Wright opposed). The assessment is estimated to fund approximately 50.75% of the department’s budget.
- Stormwater assessment: approved preliminarily at $178.07 per ERU (reflecting a 4.2% CPI increase); vote 3–2.
- Solid‑waste assessment: left unchanged at $278.75 per residential unit; approved 5–1 per the roll call.

Events and budget items: Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton sought commission support to host two carnival‑related initiatives — a Friday night "Red Road To J'ouvert" and the Miami Kids Carnival on the first Saturday in October — to capture tourism tied to the regional carnival weekend. Commissioners debated logistics, cost estimates and whether the city would be issuing a de facto "blank check" without firm budgets. Proponents cited Yard on the Lawn as evidence of local event capacity and economic upside. The commission approved the initiative 4–1 with the mayor opposed; staff were directed to bring back event budgets, sponsor commitments and operational plans.

Budget amendment and plan items: On first reading the commission advanced a FY26 budget amendment to increase the FY26 budget by $1,392,524 to reflect prior approvals and encumbrances (largest single line: a citywide culvert/headwall Phase 7 project of approximately $677,000). The commission also approved a comprehensive‑plan transmit amendment to address recent state Senate Bill 180 comments and authorized the FY27 CDBG Annual Action Plan and neighborhood stabilization funds; votes on those items were unanimous.

Votes at a glance: millage and assessments (6A–6D) and event support (6F) were approved for notice or as initiatives; several items advanced on first reading or with follow‑up direction to staff.

What to watch: staff will return in September for final millage adoption and with detailed event budgets and execution plans. The fire and stormwater assessments — already approved for notice — will also return for final adoption after required public hearings.