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Commissioner’s Message

Neighbors,

ast month, the Fort Lauderdale Commission officially adopted the Fiscal Year
2026 budget and millage rate. I am pleased to share that this year’s budget
Lmaintains the current millage rate, with no increase. The City’s total operating
budget for all city services is about $1.2B. Approving the annual budget is one
of the Commission’s most important responsibilities, as it sets the foundation for
how we invest in our community. I am grateful for the valuable input provided by
neighbors and the Budget Advisory Board, which helped ensure that this budget
reflects the priorities of our community.
Have you heard that the construction for the Broward County Convention Center
and the Connector Road is finally complete? A few weeks ago, I was proud to
stand by my colleagues on the City Commission and Broward County leaders at
the grand opening for these two major milestones. The Convention Center is now
1,200,000 square feet and is expected to generate $450 million annually for
the local economy. The new Connector is a two-lane road with security fencing,
a bridge with barrier wall, a roundabout, sea turtle friendly lighting, traffic
signals, intelligent transportation systems, and more. Please join me in thanking
neighborhood advocates who, since 2018, played a key role on the 17th Street
Mobility Working Group. Their feedback, ideas, and collaborative efforts helped
make this an alternative route through Port Everglades possible. A big thanks
to Fort Lauderdale staff, Broward County, the Port Everglades team, and all
community partners who worked together to make these projects successful.

Hurricane season ends on November 30th. Review the preparedness tips below in
case you are impacted by King Tides.

Hurricane and King Tide Preparedness
The remaining Kind Tides for this year are predicted for the following dates:
1. November 2-10 2. December 2-7

Be Proactive!
1. Inspect your seawall and provide regular maintenance. If it is overtopping during
King Tide events, be proactive in elevating it to the City’s current standard.
2. Be prepared with flood protection measures such as sandbags,
which are a useful tool to secure door thresholds.
For details, visit fortlauderdale.gov/stormready.

3. It is crucial to understand your flood insurance coverage. Review your policy
and visit fortlauderdale.gov/flood for more information on flood insurance,
rate maps, and property protection ideas.
4. Visit ftlcity.info/seawall to familiarize yourself with the City’s tidal barrier
ordinance, which may impact your property.
5. To learn more about how to stay safe, review flood safety tips at
fortlauderdale.gov/kingtides.

Please reach out anytime - you can contact me at bsorensen@fortlauderdale.gov,
my cell at (954)-270-2302, or my office at (954)-828-5028.
Thank you!

Ben Sorensen
City Commissioner
District 4 Fort Lauderdale

26 rio vista civic associartion • www.riovistaonline.com

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