3 min read November 2023 — Lamar Fisher, mayor of Broward County, sat for an interview with Invest: and highlighted the developments planned for Broward County, emphasizing the air and seaport sector, how soccer star Lionel Messi’s arrival and our Florida Panther’s road to the Stanley Cup Finals has reinvigorated the sports sector and outlined initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% for the county by the year 2030.
What have been some major highlights and milestones over the last year?
There are two significant economic engines driving Broward County’s growth: Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). This year, Port Everglades was rebranded to reflect the “Mighty Trident,” representing the cargo, energy and cruise segments. This initiative aligns with our core values of strength, resilience and sustainability. A related noteworthy achievement is our new cargo route to Southeast Asia, which recently launched with an inaugural stop at Port Everglades.
We also have the exciting addition of the Disney Cruise Lines to our port. The first ship will launch in November 2023 and the second one is planned for 2025. Additionally, we estimate that our international airport of just 1,400 acres will cater to 35 million passengers; thus, FLL is truly a national and international hub, facilitated by a master plan that includes an automated people mover and intermodal center projects.
With all this movement, naturally, public safety and transportation are our priorities. The Board of County Commissioners has infused nearly $14 million to ensure adequate call center staffing for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
The newly implemented Premium Mobility Transportation (PREMO) Plan adds about 200 miles of new premium transit services to the existing service network, including commuter rail, light rail and rapid transit. We’re also working on Solid Waste Authority initiatives for sustainable waste management.
Lastly, addressing homelessness and housing affordability is vital. Our efforts have impacted 90% of the homeless through various programs offering rapid housing solutions. Additionally, we’ve allocated substantial funds, with $12.9 million in gap financing in just 2023 to create about 340 new affordable homes, providing about 2500 affordable units since 2018 to the community.
How are you strategically harnessing South Florida’s demographic and business growth for the county’s benefit?
Our amazing partnerships with organizations like the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Broward Workshop, just to name a few, have truly made a difference. While I contribute ideas as a board member, the execution of these concepts rests largely on the shoulders of our corporate partners. Thus, it is a testament to their efforts that there are more than 200 international and regional corporate headquarters now situated in Broward County, including names like AutoNation, Chewy, Citrus LL, El Al Airlines, and many others.
Zooming out to the broader Tri-County area encompassing Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and even Monroe Counties, we recognize the immense potential there. With a combined population of around six million and a workforce exceeding three million, we stand as a dominant force in the Southeast. It’s our attractiveness that lures corporations, given our low taxes, operational efficiency and a diverse, multilingual and multicultural workforce.
Education plays a pivotal role too, with around 300,000 scholarly students annually, shaping our future workforce. The influx of C-level executives and supervisors cements our status as a top metropolitan area. All these ingredients, when combined, bake a recipe for success. Moreover, our focus on capitalizing on demographics and business catalysts underscores our marketing prowess, making us thrive in both business and tourism.
Could you elaborate on the budget priorities for 2023 and 2024, specifically the strategic allocations you envision for the county?
Our budget maintains its upward trajectory annually, with our budget for the upcoming year, specifically 2023-24, set at a robust $8.6 billion. While our millage rate stays the same, taxes are set to rise due to the increase in property values. The proposed increase stands at approximately 23%, which is a significant jump. Nonetheless, the good news is that we’re holding steadfast in not raising our millage. Interestingly, the real estate market in South Florida seems to defy national trends, such as those seen in California and Texas as our housing market remains robust.
To bridge the gap without resorting to a millage increase, we’ve allocated several million dollars to reserves. This financial cushion is critical for weathering economic downturns and ensuring that tax hikes don’t disproportionately affect those already facing difficulties. Affordable housing is another area we’re addressing with diligence, earmarking around $20 million for this purpose.
Turning to matters of public safety, the Broward Sheriff’s Office is poised to experience growth, with plans to fill over 70 positions. We’re focusing on enhancing regional communication and bolstering mental health initiatives. The latter holds particular significance as we’re working to divert individuals away from the criminal justice system and toward the assistance they truly need.
In the realm of economic growth, we’re introducing a strategic job creation incentive program. With a million dollars allocated for this endeavor, the focus is on generating high-wage employment opportunities. Additionally, The board is allocating funding for the film industry, a growing sector in our community as we seek to bring more high-wage paying jobs back to Broward County.
Our dedication to improved services extends to our parks and libraries as well. We’re also channeling our attention to resilience, earmarking funds for energy projects in our county buildings. Collaborations with companies like Siemens hold promise for future returns on investments, particularly in power and water savings. This commitment to sustainability echoes across all our county systems and properties, positioning us for a more resilient future.
How is Broward County addressing resilience and sustainability?
Over the past decade, our concerted efforts have centered on modernizing our infrastructure’s design standards. This drive stems from the crucial need to safeguard against the looming threats posed by floods due to rainfall, rising sea levels, storm surges and king tides. A recent rainfall event, where we experienced an astonishing 26 inches in a mere 24 hours, brought these issues into stark focus. What was considered to be a once-in-a-thousand-year storm has shown the potential to recur with alarming frequency. In light of this, our preparedness strategy encompasses the augmentation of our drainage systems, the elevation of buildings and the fortification of our sea walls. When we undertake the replacement of these walls, we are bound by our ordinances to raise them to a certain height, in line with our sea level rise projections to minimize future impacts.
2023 has seen a substantial influx of grant funds, amounting to $92 million, which have been channeled toward bolstering the resilience of our infrastructure. In a parallel endeavor, the County has secured an impressive $66 million in funding. These resources are dedicated to advanced flood mitigation strategies, water management improvements and critical infrastructure projects.
Lastly, we’ve set our sights on a remarkable target: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an ambitious 50% by the year 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. Our swift and focused actions are already evident in the integration of additional electric buses and vehicles into our county’s expanding transportation network.
What is your outlook for Broward County in two to three years and how does this inform your priorities?
Our focus remains steadfast on bolstering our economic engines, with prime attention directed toward Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. A pivotal moment occurred as we broke ground for Terminal 5 in October 2023. This development will be a game-changer, largely attributed to the automated people mover, which is poised to revolutionize operations. Investing in our airport’s economic vitality reaps numerous advantages, forming a cornerstone of our strategic approach.
The significance of our port cannot be understated, especially as a notable enhancement, the South Point Turning Notch, will significantly augment cargo ship capacity, a move to address the thriving cargo sector’s needs. This endeavor is reinforced by our investment in three additional gantry cranes, underscoring our commitment to future-proofing our operations.
Moreover, a pivotal endeavor is our Convention Center expansion, spanning 1.2 to 1.3 million square feet. This transformative project aligns us with major convention destinations across the country.
The future is bright for Broward County, our residents and those who visit this amazing region. We offer amenities and a lifestyle you won’t find anywhere else.
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