Budget FAQ

Budget FAQ

1. Where can I find a copy of the City’s budget book?
   • The Budget Office can provide a copy of the Operating and Line Item Budget Books upon request.
   • Both Operating and Line Item Adopted books are published online within 30 days after the final adoption https://pompanobeachfl.gov/government/budget
   • Residents, businesses and visitors can access the budget through OpenGov Financial Transparency that allows you to visualize the City’s annual budgets from FY 2013 to present: https://pompanobeachfl.gov/government/budget/financial-transparency-opengov
   • For short animated budget videos please visit our budget webpage: https://pompanobeachfl.gov/government/budget
   • For News and OpenGov Stories follow please visit our budget webpage: https://pompanobeachfl.gov/government/budget
   • The residents can also access the City’s Strategic Plan Reports online: http://pompanobeachfl.gov/government/budget/strategic-plan
2. Annual Budget Process

   How can the public educate themselves and be part of the Annual Budget Process? Residents and businesses are encouraged and have the opportunity to serve in approximately twenty-eight (28) different advisory boards and/or attend all monthly or quarterly advisory board meetings. To access the Advisory Boards and Committees please follow the link: https://www.pompanobeachfl.gov/government/city-clerks-officeEach year, residents, non-profit agencies and businesses have the opportunity to participate in the June and July budget workshops, Special City Commission meetings, as well as in two Public Budget Hearings in September.

   Each year, residents, non-profit agencies and businesses have the opportunity to participate in the June and July budget workshops, Special City Commission meetings, as well as in two Public Budget Hearings in September.

   Throughout the year, residents may also voice themselves at any of the twenty (20) public City Commission meetings or may contact the City Manager’s Office, the Mayor, Vice-Mayor or their District Commissioners with any questions or comments.

3. What is the Budget?
A budget is a plan for using the City government’s financial resources. The budget discloses proposed expenditures for a given period and the proposed means of paying for those expenditures. Two basic components of a budget are the revenue or sources section and the expenditures or uses section.


• What is the General Fund?
  A budget is a plan for using the City government’s financial resources. The budget discloses proposed expenditures for a given period and the proposed means of paying for those expenditures. Two basic components of a budget are the revenue or sources section and the expenditures or uses section.
• What are Internal Service Funds?
  Internal Service Fuds are used to account for central stores, information technologies, central services, health insurance, risk management (general) and vehicle services that are provided to other departments or agencies of the government, on a cost reimbursement basis.
• What are Enterprise Funds?Enterprise Funds are used to account for operations and services recovered through customer charges – whether to outside customers or to other units of the City.
• What are Special Revenue Funds? Special Revenue Funds are used to account for central stores, information technologies, central services, health insurance, risk management (general) and vehicle services that are provided to other departments or agencies of the government, on a cost reimbursement basis.
4. Property Valuation
   
   
   • What is the 2021 Tax Roll valuation for Pompano Beach?
     

     As of July 1, 2021, the City’s taxable value is 15,313,447,100

   • How much additional property taxes did this valuation levy in the General Fund?
     Approximately $4 million.
   • How much was new construction valuation in 2020 Tax Roll?
     

     Approximately $177 million or -28% over 2020 Tax Roll new construction of $247 million.

   • What is the average taxable value by category?

     Average Taxable Value	Tax Roll (July, 2021)
     Type	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	Variance	% Change
     Residential	$157,752	$169,965	$181,674	$193,435	$208,515	$15,079	7.80%
     Commercial	$1,022,154	$1,165,627	$1,219,988	$1,286,522	$1,283,371	-$3,151	-0.24%
     Industrial	$1,141,972	$1,242,221	$1,302,647	$1,415,436	$1,528,680	$113,243	8.00%
     Agricultural	$12,063,200	$12,226,253	$12,227,803	$12,035,155	$8,891,150	-$3,144,005	-26.12%
     Institutional	$791,632	$527,034	$567,560	$585,104	$611,585	$26,480	4.53%
     Government	$1,235	$1,613	$2,302	$2,154	$3,415	$1,261	58.53%
     Miscellaneous	$21,117	$20,299	$20,083	$20,755	$19,569	-$1,186	-5.72%
     Non-Agricultural	$4,425,990	$4,425,990	$4,868,580	$5,355,430	$6,110,320	$754,890	14.10%

5. Legislative Session

   There were no significant legislative changes impacting FY 2022 budget projections. However, revenue projections in the General Fund for FY 2022 include $10.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding to cover public safety expenditures.

   
   
6. TRIM (Truth in Millage Law)
   
   
   • TRIM is an acronym for the Truth in Millage Law, passed in 1980 by the Florida State Legislature. It was designed to keep the public informed about the taxes as proposed by local taxing authorities.
   • What is a TRIM notice?
     The TRIM notice is the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes required by this law. All property owners should receive a TRIM notice each year in mid-August.
   • When and where are the public budget hearings?

     State law requires that two public hearings be held to discuss the budget. These hearings occur every September. Dates vary from one year to another, depending on the scheduled Broward County Commission and School Board Public Budget Hearings.

7. Tax Bill Explanation
   
   
   • When do I get my tax bill?
     The Broward County Revenue Collection Division sends out the tax bills by November 1 of each year. If you have an escrow account with your mortgage company, the bill is sent directly to the mortgage company and you are sent a courtesy copy. After November 1, you may also pay your property taxes online to the Revenue Collector.
     
     If you do not receive a bill, it is your duty under the law to go to the Revenue Collector's office, find out the amount of taxes owing, and to pay them. If you don't pay them by April 1 of the following year.
   • Who sets my taxes?The amount of your tax bill depends on two factors. The first is the assessed value of your property, which is the responsibility of Broward County Property Appraiser. The second is the tax rate, expressed as dollars per thousand, for each taxing body in which your property is located. For example, your property might be subject to taxes by Broward County, the School Board, a City, a Hospital District and multi-county districts such as the South Florida Water Management District. The sum of each of these tax rates is multiplied by your assessed value and equals the amount of taxes you are called on to pay. Please see the list below.
   • What % of the resident’s tax bill is from Pompano Beach (example of the tax bill taxing authorities)?

     COUNTY COMMISSION	5.6690	27.43%
     BROWARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS	6.4621	31.27%
     SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT	0.2675	1.29%
     FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION	0.0320	0.15%
     CHILDREN'S SERVICES COUNCIL	0.4699	2.27%
     CITY OF POMPANO BEACH
     POMPANO BEACH OPER	5.1875	25.10%
     VOTER APPROVED DEBT LEVY 2018	0.3969	1.92%
     VOTER APPROVED DEBT LEVY 2021	0.3072	1.49%
     POMPANO EMS	0.5000	2.42%
     NORTH BROWARD HOSPITAL DISTRICT	1.277	6.18%
     HILLSBORO INLET	0.0995	0.48%

8. Ad-Valorem Taxes (Property Taxes)
   
   
   • What is the ad-valorem tax?
     Ad-Valorem taxes are calculated as a percentage of the value of real or personal property. The percentage is expressed in mills. Tax based upon the value of the property. It is commonly referred to as “property tax”.
   • How do I calculate my property tax (Example – City’s portion of the Tax Bill)?
     

     The taxes due on a property are calculated by multiplying the taxable value of the property by the millage rate. For example, the property taxes on a home with a homestead exemption of $50,000 and a tax rate, of 6.1069 mills can be calculated in this manner:

     • Determine the taxable value of the property:
     • Assessed Value of Home: $100,000
     • Less Homestead Exemption (If the property owner is eligible for the homestead exemption): -$50,000
     • Taxable Value: $50,000
     • Divide the taxable value by 1,000 and multiply by the City’s aggregate millage rate. Please note that the City’s aggregate millage rate is set annually:

     (50,000/1,000) X 6.3916= $320

   • Why have my property taxes increased?
     Property taxes account for approximately 43% of the City’s General Fund budget for FY 2022 and are utilized to pay for the City’s most essential services to its residents, such as fire, emergency transport and police services.
     
     In the event that your tax bill may increase, here are some of the most common reasons:
     a) A loss of homestead exemption or other change in exemption status
     b) An increase in assessed property value (i.e. increase in market value)
     c) An increase in millage rate by one or more taxing authorities
   • Can I pay my tax bill in installments?
     Yes. The City of Pompano Beach does NOT send out the tax bills -- nor do we collect the tax payments. The office you need to contact is the Broward County Revenue Collection Division at 954.831.4000. The Revenue Collection Division does have an installment plan for taxpayers. The office explains the process and how to apply.
9. The City’s Millage Rates
   
   
   • What is the millage rate?
     The millage rate is the amount of property tax charged per $1,000 of taxable property value. For example, the City’s aggregate millage rate is 6.1069 (General Fund millage rate 5.1875; EMS millage rate 0.5000 and voted debt service millage rate (2018) is 0.4194) per $1,000 of taxable value.
   • What is the rolled-back rate?
     Rate that would generate prior year tax revenues less allowances for new construction, additions, deletions, annexations, and improvements increasing value by at least 100% and tangible personal property value in excess of 115% of the previous year’s value.
   • What is the current Operating Millage Rate?
     

     General Fund operating millage for FY 2022 is (5.1875)

   • What is the current EMS Millage Rate?
     The EMS millage rate for FY 2022 is .5000.
   • What is the current Debt Service Millage Rate?
     

     The (2018) debt service millage rate for FY 2022 is 0.3969.

     The (2021) debt service millage rate for FY 2022 is 0.3072.

   • Where does Pompano Beach rank with other cities for its aggregate millage rate?
     When compared to 30 other municipalities in Broward County, the City of Pompano Beach’s aggregate millage rate is ranked the eleventh (11th) lowest.

   • FY 2022 Final Millage Rates Table:

     
     
10. Fire Assessment Program
    
    
    • The City’s Fire Assessment Program
      

      Since 1997, the fire assessment has helped to support the City’s fire service program, which includes fire prevention and suppression, hazmat response, fire safety education, as well as emergency disaster preparedness and response. The program allows the City to levy an annual fee on residential, commercial, warehouse, and institutional properties. The amount charged to each building category depends on the overall amount to be levied to cover fire-service costs. The decision as to what percentage is covered is up to each individual city. The fee and call volume associated with each category is usually analyzed around every five to ten years (there is no requirement as to how often the call volume data is updated). Not all the municipalities in Broward County are enrolled in the program.

    • What is the fire assessment fee (non-ad valorem fee)?
      

      A special assessment is a charge levied on properties for the cost of providing a certain service or improvements, such as the Fire Assessment Fee. It is called a non-ad valorem assessment because it is on the property tax bill but is not based upon property value.

    • Is the Fire Assessment a Tax?
      

      While both the ad-valorem tax and the fire assessment fee generate revenue to pay for fire services, the fire assessment must benefit property. Taxes and the assessment are mandatory and can be collected on the tax bill. Authorization for the fire special assessment come from the City’s Home Rule powers.

    • How can I appeal my non-ad valorem assessment?
      The short answer is that there is no "appeal" of the non-ad valorem assessments and fees. Examples of these non-ad valorem items include city fire/rescue assessment, city solid waste assessment, storm water assessment, and so on.
    • Where does Pompano’s residential fire assessment fee rank compared to other municipalities?
      When compared to 26 other fire residential fees assessed in Broward County, the City of Pompano Beach’s residential fee is ranked the sixth (6th) lowest.
    • Do we have a goal that our fire assessment fee should cover?
      Approximately 90% of eligible fire operations.
    • FY 2022 Final Residential Fire Assessment Fee Table
      
    Historical Fire Assessment Fees Table
    

    Fire Assessment Rates	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	Variance
    Residential	$210	$220	$220	$220	$0
    Rates Per Square Feet
    Commercial	$0.30	$0.314	$0.314	$0.314	$0
    Industrial	$0.16	$0.168	$0.168	$0.168	$0
    Institutional	$0.37	$0.388	$0.388	$0.388	$0
    Estimated Gross Revenues	$20,426,593	$22,210,972	$22,419,361	$22,605,688	$186,327
    Discounts	-$1,021,330	-$1,110,549.00	-$1,120,968	-$1,130,284.40	($9,316)
    Net Total	$19,405,263	$21,100,423	$21,298,393	$21,475,404	$177,011

11. What is voter approved debt, or bonds?

Florida law allows a city to levy separate property tax rates to pay for long term bonds. Bonds using property taxes to guarantee the payment of cost of principal and interest are known as “general obligation” (G.O.) bonds. The City issues the bonds only after the voters have approved the bonds. Details on the City’s outstanding debt can be found in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: https://pompanobeachfl.gov/government/finance-department

Additional Information:

For more information on your property taxes, exemptions, millage rates, and other additional information please check the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Website:

http://www.bcpa.net/FAQ.asp