Board Workshop - September 29, 2026

Broward County Board workshop, September 29, 2026, focused on the County’s budget and public-safety arrangements with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO). Staff reported that the adopted FY2027 budget increases BSO funding by $52.6 million, or 6.4%, including about $8.4 million for jail utilities shifted to the County. BSO requested an additional $5.85 million to close out the current fiscal year, with about $2.5 million associated with a retroactive 4% cost-of-living increase. Commissioners questioned the request and BSO’s financial transparency, including its separate $73 million salary-study request (estimated at roughly $100 million with benefits); staff said the budget appeal was unlikely to be heard before the fiscal-year deadline. No new funding decision or procurement award was made at the workshop. Staff also discussed jail utility and inmate-medical-billing transitions, noting a prior true-up of approximately $11–12 million related to delayed medical bills.

For the airport and Port Everglades, existing feasibility studies found that separate law-enforcement agencies could be created but identified the need for further analysis. Staff anticipated bringing in a consultant for workload and staffing studies and a fully loaded cost comparison; commissioners stressed that the scope should compare a new agency with a renegotiated BSO arrangement. The Board had previously voted not to renew BSO fire-rescue service after September 30, 2028, and staff described transition planning, with a target start no later than October 1, 2028, potentially sooner. The County also has authorization for necessary procurement to support the jail transition. A commissioner proposed bringing forward a discussion of County control of 911, but no action was taken on that proposal at this workshop.