FT. LAUDERDALE – The first of two public hearings to discuss the 2008 Broward County budget will take place Tuesday, September 11, beginning at 5:01 p.m., at the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 422, in Fort Lauderdale. Public testimony will be taken and the budget hearing will be broadcast live on Comcast Cable television.
After a series of budget workshops and committee meetings throughout the year, the proposed 2008 budget calls for $90-million dollars in reduced spending from the general fund, the portion of the budget financed by property taxes.
“Broward County Commissioners intentionally started the budget process early this year and began working on budget reductions long before the State Legislature met to discuss property tax reform,” said Broward County Mayor Josephus Eggelletion, Jr. “We asked for public comment early on and responded accordingly. The proposed budget represents the largest known millage decrease in nearly a quarter of a century.”
The Florida State Legislature required counties and municipalities throughout Florida to keep their tax supported budgets the same as in 2007 and reduce that amount by a percentage that was determined by past property tax increases. In Broward County, where property tax rates have actually been reduced—or stayed the same—for the past decade, lawmakers required a 5% reduction.
The second and final budget hearing is set for September 25 at 5:01 p.m., at the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room 422, in Fort Lauderdale.
Those wishing to address the Commission to speak about the 2008 proposed budget will be asked to sign-in and will be allowed to speak for three minutes per person.
