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Dear Neighbor,
If you own property in Fort Lauderdale, then you most likely have received your yearly TRIM (Truth in Millage Rate) notice from the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office. A TRIM notice is NOT a tax bill; it simply allows you the opportunity to review your proposed property taxes, assessment, and exemptions to ensure that your November tax bill is correct and that you are receiving the eligible tax-exemptions allotted to your property.
The amount of taxes that you owe is determined by two factors: the assessed value of your property and the tax rate. The Broward County Property Appraiser determines the assessed value of your property; his office does not set the tax rates. The tax rate is determined by the entities that have taxing authority over the community in which your property is located. In Fort Lauderdale, this includes the Broward County Commission, the Broward County School Board, City of Fort Lauderdale Commission, the hospital district, and multi-county districts such as South Florida Water Management. The property appraiser compiles these individual millages proposed by those entities and sends an all-inclusive TRIM notice to every property owner.
As City staff prepared the budget for FY 2025, they received positive information regarding one of the largest revenue sources: ad valorem (property) taxes. The Broward County Property Appraiser’s July 1, 2024 estimate of the City’s taxable property value indicated an increase of 8.56% from $54.3 billion to $59 billion. Of the $4.7 billion increase, $600 million is associated with new construction. The resulting $16.3 million of additional revenue above the FY 2024 budget will offset many of the City’s increasing expenses.
Because of the increase in taxable values, I am very proud to say that the City will maintain its current low millage rate of 4.1193 for the eighteenth consecutive year (unheard of and one of the lowest in Broward County) and produce, year over year, a structurally balanced General Fund Budget.
Each taxing authority is required to hold two public hearings before they set the tax rate. I encourage everyone to attend the annual public meetings and give input on the tax rates being set as several other entities are responsible for a larger portion of your tax bill than the City of Fort Lauderdale. The largest portion of your tax bill is derived from the Broward County Commission and Broward County Public Schools. The taxing authorities’ phone numbers, as well as the dates and times for each of the meetings being held, is included in your TRIM notice. The City of Fort Lauderdale will hold two Budget Hearings in-person at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts on September 3, 2024, and September 12, 2024, at 5:01 P.M.
If you feel that your assessed property value is too high, please contact the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office. A representative will be more than happy to speak with you and address your concerns. If after speaking to the property appraiser’s office, you still feel that your market value is too high, you can file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). The Broward County Value Adjustment Board (VAB) is the independent appeals board that has initial jurisdiction over challenges to any property valuations (the "assessed value"), denials of exemptions, denials of classifications, and other similar matters. The statutory deadline to file with the VAB is September 18, 2024.
Property values and the corresponding tax rate have always been, and will continue to be, a top concern for the residents in our community. As property values and the tax rate both serve as the driver for your tax obligation, understanding the methodology for the rates proposed in your TRIM notice is a very important step in joining the conversation and having your voice heard.
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General Election Dates and Deadlines | |
You Must Re-Apply to Vote by Mail for the General Election on November 5th, 2024 | |
Due to a change in state law, Florida Voters who wish to receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot for 2023 through 2024 elections are required to complete a new Vote-by-Mail ballot request.
In 2021, Florida legislators passed a new law that changed the basic rule for mail-in ballots. Previously, a Florida voter's request for a mail-in ballot would be good for two general election cycles, meaning a new request would not be needed for four years. The new law reduces that duration to once per general election cycle, or every two years. As a result, every vote-by-mail request expired at the end of 2022.
To renew your Vote-by-Mail request, in Broward, click on this link: Mail Ballot Request Service.
For additional information, click here to visit the State of Florida Division of Elections Vote by Mail information page.
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Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday began Saturday, June 1 and extended through Friday, June 14. A second exemption period began Saturday, August 24 and extends through Friday, September 6. The Department of Revenue created this webpage to provide information and promotional materials for consumers, businesses, and other interested parties. | |
Consumers can purchase qualifying tools and equipment exempt from tax during the 2024 Tool Time Sales Tax Holiday. Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday begins Sunday, September 1 and extends through Saturday, September 7. The Department of Revenue created this webpage to provide information and promotional materials for consumers, businesses, and other interested parties. | |
Las Olas Isles Utility Undergrounding Project Updates
Post Date: August 23, 2024 5:30 PM
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Roadway Resurfacing Underway as of Monday, August 19
No on-street parking daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The City of Fort Lauderdale is working with All County Paving to resurface the road and apply new pavement markings along all nine streets in the Las Olas Isles neighborhood: Mola Avenue, Isle of Capri Drive, Bontona Avenue, Coconut Isle Drive, Lido Drive, San Marco Drive, Coral Way, Royal Plaza Drive and Isle of Palms Drive.
Resurfacing began on Monday, August 19, 2024, and is expected to be completed by Friday, September 6, 2024. Work is taking place Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Work began on Mola Avenue and is progressing toward the east. This schedule is subject to change based on inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Traffic Impacts
- Neighbors are asked to refrain from parking along each street daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- One lane in each direction of each street may be closed daily during work hours. Traffic control personnel will direct traffic as needed.
- Crews will attempt to coordinate with neighbors prior to the start of asphalt operations on each isle. Access to driveways will be maintained unless work is taking place in the immediate area across from the driveway.
- Please follow posted signs and drive with caution in the area.
Recently Completed Activities
The following work has taken place over the past few days:
- Street light installation has been completed on Mola Avenue, Isle of Capri Drive, Bontona Avenue, Lido Drive and San Marco Drive.
Ongoing Work by Utility Companies
Utility companies are also making progress:
- FPL began street light installation on Monday, August 12 and will continue until completed.
Upcoming Activities (Through 9/6/24)
The following work is scheduled to take place over the next few days:
- Milling and resurfacing began on Mola Avenue and Isle of Capri Drive on Monday, August 19 and is progressing toward the east until work is completed along all nine isles. This work is expected to be completed by Friday, September 6, 2024. Work is taking place Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Flyers will be distributed alerting residents to remove vehicles from streets where milling and resurfacing is scheduled and prevent landscapers and contractors from parking along each street.
Upcoming Activities
The following activities remain to be completed as part of this project.
- Installation of 77 new streetlights
- Roadway resurfacing
For more information or questions, contact:
Gary Foster, Senior Project Manager
954-828-6233 or gfoster@fortlauderdale.gov
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The Las Olas Marina is fast approaching completion; this mega-yacht marina and restaurants is certainly better than all that asphalt. | |
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#TeamFTL is hosting a public meeting to explore one-way pairs on Andrews Avenue and NE/SE 3rd Avenue. We invite you to get involved in the process, ask questions, and provide feedback!
Join us:
Weds 9/4, 6:30-7:30 PM
Holiday Park Social Center (1150 G Harold Martin Drive)
The study is examining how this change would affect motorists, public transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Proposed concept: all lanes on one avenue heading northbound and all lanes on the other heading southbound.
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Pre Labor Day Festival September 1, 2024
A1A and Oakland Park Blvd
NE 32nd St and NE 33rd St from A1A west to Intracoastal
The Pre Labor Day Festival will take place on Sunday, September 1, at the North Beach Restaurants and Shoppes, located at NE 32nd and NE 33rd Streets from A1A west to the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale.
The following traffic advisory will be in effect on Sunday, September 1, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.:
- NE 32nd and NE 33rd Streets will be closed from A1A to NE 33rd Avenue
Expect traffic congestion and plan travel times accordingly. For more information, please visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov/laborday.
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Are you subscribed to #AlertFTL yet? Stay connected with us during an emergency- we send out notifications to keep you in the know.
Visit fortlauderdale.gov/alertftl to sign up today.
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We have the following Board Vacancies below.
Please email Erica Franceschi EFranceschi@fortlauderdale.gov if you are interested in serving on a Fort Lauderdale City Board.
Board of Adjustment
Cemetery System Board of Trustees
Code Enforcement Board
Community Appearance Board
Community Services Board
Education Advisory Board
Northwest Progresso Flagler Heights Redevelopment board
Nuisance Abatement Board
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I very much enjoy the programming of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce - even the 7:30 am events! “Downtown Districts on the Rise” sponsored by the Downtown Business Council took a good look at the phenomenal story of our downtown - an economic engine right up there with the Airport and Seaport. The nation and the world have taken notice.
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The greatness of our community starts with passionate citizens like you.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Outreach Coordinator, Ashley Cacicedo, with any questions, comments or thoughtful suggestions acacicedo@fortlauderdale.gov or 954-828-5923.
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Steve Glassman
Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner, District 2
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