Parkland sets FY2027 proposed millage, approves preliminary fire, solid-waste and stormwater assessments

The Parkland City Commission on July 8 voted unanimously to send a proposed millage rate of 4.2979 mills for fiscal year 2027 to the property appraiser and to approve preliminary assessments for fire rescue, solid waste and stormwater.

Finance Director Kelly Schwartz opened the budget presentation, saying, “We are proposing to maintain the same millage rate as the prior 6 fiscal years,” and that the unchanged rate combined with higher taxable values will produce roughly $1,570,000 in additional ad valorem revenue for the city.

The commission also approved a 4% increase in the fire assessment, which Schwartz said yields a residential rate of $340.14 per unit — a $13.08 annual increase — and preliminary solid-waste and stormwater assessment schedules. Schwartz told commissioners the city’s total FY2027 budget is $69,800,000 and that the general fund relies on ad valorem taxes for roughly 61% of its revenue.

Commissioners framed the vote as a cautious response to rising costs. Mayor Rich Walker described the action as setting “the ceilings” for the statutory process and praised staff for constraining operating budgets: “We’ve kept our millage rate the same … and we tightened the belt a little bit more,” he said.

Commissioner Israel, who led several budget questions, emphasized outreach to residents about an upcoming property-tax ballot amendment and urged staff to continue preparing clear, resident-facing materials about potential impacts.

All four assessments and the millage were approved separately on roll call (each vote recorded as yes from Commissioners Israel, Canerman, Murphy Salomonie, Vice Mayor Breyer and Mayor Walker). The city will hold statutorily required first and second public hearings on the millage and budget on Sept. 14 (5:01 p.m.) and Sept. 23 (6:00 p.m.), with a resident budget workshop on Aug. 5 and a staff workshop Aug. 12 to review details ahead of the hearings.

The commission’s action at this meeting set the maximum rates that will appear on tax notices; the ordinances to adopt the millage and the final budget will receive formal readings in September.