Property tax rate stays unchanged as city weighs residents’ financial constraints

Coral Springs residents won’t pay a higher property tax rate next year as commissioners weighed the timing of a homestead exemption amendment this November that could lead to a $40 million budget shortfall over two years.

The city’s budget office proposed raising the millage for fiscal year 2027 from 6.0232 to 6.3132, a .29 increase to help fund the new Sportsplex.

But at a June 24 workshop, commissioners discussed that residents are feeling the financial squeeze right now, and uncertainty lies ahead with the looming November vote when Florida residents will decide whether to expand a property tax break for homeowners.

If the amendment passes, Coral Springs could face a potential $40 million loss in 2028 and 2029 combined.

Mayor Scott Brook and Commissioner Joe McHugh said they were opposed to raising the millage this year.

“My inclination is in the context of just a lot of financial tightness on the part of a lot of families,” Brook said.

McHugh also said the timing is poor with the property tax amendment. With even two members of the current four-person commission against raising the millage, a measure wouldn’t pass, so the conversation turned to what happens next with the Sportsplex project.

Commissioners expressed they would prefer to focus on the relocation efforts of Coral Springs Charter School before focusing on the Sportsplex optimization, as the two are linked. But keeping the current millage will still yield a $3.9 million increase in revenue.

Commissioner Shawn Cerra said he was sensitive to raising the rate but added the charter school and Sportsplex project have both been a long time coming.

“If we want that project in any way, shape or form, which I do, then we would have to vote in my mind, without certainty, next year, so you know, do we raise the millage this year and not next year, or vice versa?” he said.

The millage conversation is tied into the November amendment, which would increase the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028 for homeowners who live in their homes rather than rent them. Some local leaders have argued that it would eat away at key funding for city services and operations.

Commissioner Joshua Simmons expressed that although some people may feel raising the homestead exemption is best for them personally, it’s not a community-oriented mindset.

“We’re supposed to be paying into this idea of a community that we’re building together, that’s what it’s supposed to be,” he said.

He also penned an opinion piece in the South Florida Sun Sentinel advocating against the amendment.

“I have to be optimistic, because for the folks that are saying, ‘I’m going to vote for this, I’m going to vote for this,’ there are actually folks saying, ‘How we’re going to pay for this?’” he said at the workshop.

While raising millage in the future could cover a lot of the deficit if the amendment passes, the city would still likely have to make other changes, according to City Manager Catherine Givens.

Public-private partnerships, facility rental, diversifying revenue streams, special assessments and possibly reducing service levels are on the table.

The preliminary balanced budget of $206.9 million presented at the workshop included the millage increase. Just under half of the budget (46%) was slated for police and emergency services, and 19% for operations, which includes the budget office, legal team and other city services. Public works made up just shy of 15%, while parks, recreation and culture comprised 13%.

It’s unclear what the budget would look like without the millage increase.

During the workshop, the commissioners also confirmed that they don’t plan to have anyone fill the vacant seat of the late Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer until the November election. Five candidates will be running to fulfill the remaining two years of her term.