How would proposed property tax bill affect Miramar? The city ran the numbers

The City of Miramar is proposing its 2027 budget at the same time a bill to lower property taxes is headed to the ballot.

Your property taxes fund 46% of the city’s general fund, a figure that was the focus of the first budget community meeting on Wednesday, July 15.

About 50% of the general fund goes to public safety, and 20% goes to community and culture.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposal to cut property taxes made it to the ballot, and if it gets 60% of the vote in November, it will hurt the city’s ability to fund those core services, according to Director of Management and Budget Rafael Sanmiguel.

“Where are they going to get that money to expense for some of these proposed projects, or even to sustain the city? So, it is a concern to me,” said Annmarie Cadette, president of The Cottages at University Park HOA.

If approved, the bill will raise the $50,000 homestead exemption on primary residences to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

It would go into effect Jan. 1, lowering the fiscal year 2028 budget by $19 million, Sanmiguel’s presentation showed.

In 2028, there would be a $32.5 million impact on the fiscal year 2029 budget.

“I think the main thing we can do is keep providing great services every day to the citizens, and to make sure that we give the most amount of return for the investment for every single last cent that everybody pays,” Sanmiguel said at the meeting.

Under the current property tax structure, approximately 35% of each property tax contribution goes toward funding the city. This bill not only would reduce overall property taxes, but it also would lower the portion allocated to Miramar to approximately 18%.

“I know there’s a lot of concern,” said Alison Adams, grants manager for the city.

“We all have to be prepared. What we’re not allowed to do is put out suppositions, but we can deal with the facts as they are now. If it passes, these are the facts … but what we don’t want to do is panic.”

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 is $442 million, including the general fund. That is $15 million less than last year’s adopted budget.

Of the proposed $252 million general fund, $126 million would be allocated to public safety, $51 million to community and culture, and $13 million to public works.

Due to a proposed change in the millage rate, used by local governments to calculate property taxes, those likely will increase in fiscal year 2027. For example, the average homesteaded property could pay about $152 more next year.

The first budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14, and the budget is slated to be adopted on Oct. 1.

You can apply for county tax exemptions at www.BCPA.NET/homestead.asp and for fire fee exemptions at www.miramarfl.gov/HardshipExemptApplication.