Fort Lauderdale Mayor’s Newsletter: July 2026 [Flat Property Tax, New City Hall, Infrastructure and Resilience Projects, City Updates & More]

The following highlights are from the Mayor of Fort Lauderdale’s July 2026 newsletter –

---

💰 Fort Lauderdale is proposing to keep its property tax rate unchanged for the 20th consecutive year, a milestone that city leaders say few Florida municipalities can match. During the same period, property tax rates in Broward County’s other cities increased by an average of 36%.

📊 Mayor Dean Trantalis said the proposed budget aims to balance fiscal discipline with continued investment in city priorities, including public safety, infrastructure, resilience, parks, water quality and neighborhood services, while recognizing the financial pressures facing residents and businesses.

👮 Public safety remains the city’s largest budget priority, accounting for more than 60% of the annual budget. Proposed funding includes continued support for the Group Violence Intervention program, ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, Real Time Crime Center, expanded license plate reader network, additional public safety aides at schools, new marine vessels for Fire Rescue and Police, replacement of 81 public safety vehicles, and funding for the future Holiday Park Fire Rescue Station.

🏠 The proposed budget also expands investments aimed at addressing homelessness. Funding includes additional shelter access through the Broward Partnership, mental health and substance abuse treatment initiatives, the Community Court Program, the Police Homeless Outreach Unit, reunification efforts, the Mobile Integrated Health–Homeless Action Team, five dedicated homelessness-related positions, and support for the Rotary Connection transportation and relocation program.

🌊 Infrastructure and resilience remain major priorities. The proposed budget includes $58.3 million for the Fortify Lauderdale flood mitigation program, $9.4 million for stormwater improvements, and additional operating funds to maintain completed flood mitigation projects.

💧 Water and sewer improvements also continue with $22 million in new capital projects, $36.7 million to operate the new Prospect Lake Clean Water Center, which is expected to come online by September, and $4.2 million to support staffing during the transition from the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant.

⚓ Seawall improvements are another key investment, with $8.3 million in new replacement funding, $22.3 million in previously appropriated project funding, and $5.1 million in grant funding to help protect neighborhoods, roads and public infrastructure.

🚗 Transportation projects included in the proposed budget support the Las Olas Mobility Plan, bridge replacements, roadway and sidewalk improvements, traffic calming projects, and additional pedestrian safety enhancements through the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons.

🗣️ Residents will have opportunities to review the proposed budget, participate in public meetings, explore the city’s Financial Transparency Portal, and provide feedback before adoption. Public hearings are scheduled for September 9 and September 14 at the new community center located within the Police Station at 1300 W. Broward Blvd.

🏛️ The City Commission has also approved moving forward with the construction of a new Fort Lauderdale City Hall following the demolition of the former building, which sustained severe damage during the historic April 2023 flooding.

🏗️ City officials determined that constructing a new facility would better meet long-term municipal needs than purchasing and renovating an existing office building. The mayor stated that a new City Hall can be designed to meet current building codes, flood protection standards, hurricane resilience requirements, public access needs, security requirements and modern government operations.

🤝 The commission also approved moving into the next phase of a public-private partnership with CORE Construction, Stiles Corp., PALMA and PGAL to evaluate, design and plan the new City Hall. A final building design is expected to be selected within the next three months.

🏢 According to the mayor, a permanent City Hall will consolidate city services currently spread across multiple temporary locations, improve customer service and public meetings, strengthen emergency coordination, and reduce the long-term costs associated with operating from scattered facilities.