Hallandale Beach State Of The City Address 2026

Big Easy Casino is undergoing major redevelopment, including demolition, renovation, and planning that can pave the way for its future. And right here at Gulfstream Park, there are exciting opportunities ahead. Under the leadership of Linda Stronach and her new development team, this property continues to explore ways to evolve and remain competitive. We need to work with both these large property owners to help make sure their needs are recognized on the state level.

Gulfstream Park and events such as the Pegasus World Cup have placed Hallandale Beach before an international audience. Development and redevelopment are always a double-edged sword. We will continue to be balanced and strategic when it comes to development and redevelopment. A sustainable resilient community, and I take the stewardship of our city and our resources that are essential components of Hallandale Beach's economic stability.

The importance of fiscal stability and protecting Hallandale Beach’s financial future. Having a balance of residential and commercial is essential to stability and economic vitality. Over the past six years, we have continued to implement our strategic plan to ensure we can roll back taxes while delivering vital services. We continue investing in public safety, which has produced amazing results. Our Police Department having the right tools is critical to prevent crime and, more importantly, to catching bad guys and getting them off the street.

There has been a debate on cameras. It has never been a debate for me; having an extra set of ears and eyes on the road to help fight crime is vital. License plate readers, ShotSpotter and speeding enforcement all help to keep our City a safer place. We cannot have Police officers on every corner, but we can have the best well trained and well-equipped police force in the state. Once again, this year’s Budget has not utilized any Reserves. We have rolled back the Tax Rate, so we are collecting the same revenue as the year before. Every property pays the same Millage Rate but depending on the taxable value your taxes may be the same or increase slightly. For the General Fund Budget it's $135 Billion with a robust reserve of A $42 Million.

There is one budget uncertainty we cannot ignore: property taxes. Hallandale Beach is financially stable. Six years ago, that was not the case. The city was dipping into its reserves and failing to address many of our City's needs. Leadership was unstable, and we continued to go through various city managers. Our goal was stability, fiscal accountability and being extremely transparent about our budget conditions. Fast forward to today. We have seen an increase in property values. This has allowed us to address many projects. I have just sent out a wonderful comprehensive report updating all our stakeholders on this progress.

Property values did increase. That goes back to the national changes we have seen and the cost of living in areas of the country that have driven people out and to other areas of the country. Florida has been one of the many areas for migration. Value increases are economic; they are driven by supply and demand. People have flocked to Florida because of our low taxes. Just a year ago, we were the fourth lowest-tax state in the nation. We are now the sixth lowest. Combine that with great weather, beaches, and simply a great quality of life. Actually, that's why I moved here 34 years ago.

So, the sound bites of all property values doubling are true. The problem is revenue is only part of the balance sheet. While we saw double-digit increases over the past two years, the market has slowed this year. Our property tax values only increased by 2.3% this year. Our mix of properties has helped to keep our budget stable. Growth in values has slowed. When the CRA sunsets, tax increment financing will no longer represent the same general-fund obligation. This too will take some pressure off our budget. The CRA uses our general fund dollars and county dollars.

While we lose the County's CRA contribution, the city will go to Economic Development functions, with additional dollars remaining available for general municipal services. We need to remember the saying, "What a difference a day can make." With global and political uncertainty, just like this year, things can change. So, what about amendment three: While the state government is pushing property tax reform, this statewide proposal is so much more complicated. After a few months of public hearings and testimony, many thought there would be a meeting of the minds during regular sessions. That did not happen.

Producing ballot language created in a special session lasting 72 hours that read more like a political statement is not a plan. We need to remember that even the governor was not happy with the language on the ballot to begin with. It has since changed, and we have a better idea of what we all need to face. As someone said at the Florida League, changing the color of the lipstick on a pig still does not change the fact that it is still a pig. Actually, reducing homestead property taxes and capping non-homesteaded property taxes, without addressing the lost revenue to every city, town, county, and special district, is not fiscally prudent.

It is not a way to address the affordability crisis; some experts even suggest it makes the crisis worse by shifting costs onto both commercial and residential rental properties. Even some of the most conservative think tanks have come out against this proposal. There will be counties and cities within our state that will face bankruptcy. To me, this is a consumer issue. And while, as consumers, we still haven't stopped complaining about insurance and healthcare costs, the state has found its way to avoid that tough discussion and place the burden squarely on local governments.

Property taxes expose what city services truly cost. There has been considerable discussion about reducing property taxes. I understand why. Families are struggling. Insurance has increased. Housing has increased. Groceries have increased. Businesses are watching every dollar. Not everyone's paycheck has increased at the same pace. Cities understand we watch every dollar. Every year we have to balance our budget and live within our means.

But there are several things everyone should understand. The State of Florida does not levy municipal property taxes. Property taxes primarily fund local governments, counties, school districts, and special districts like hospitals, children’s services, water, and flood management districts. So once revenue is cut without any other replacement, like sales tax, local governments have to fill the gap with increased fees or cut services.  People also need to understand that, just like your home or business, costs to provide and purchase services do not suddenly become cheaper.

Police contracts, Fire, EMS, infrastructure, managing water resources, trash, and parks don't disappear. And many government labor agreements span multiple years. So, this is ultimately a consumer question: What are you receiving for your money?

The iPhone test — putting the cost of government services in perspective. Let me give you an example. This whole conversation started with a text message from a resident on the governor's Instagram. I've lived in my home for years and have been paying for it all my life. Why should I continue to pay? I should be able to live here for free. I gave some thought to this premise. Obviously, he paid his mortgage, and I guess he does not need any services. I admit it sounds great! Who wouldn’t want things for free? No taxes. As elected officials, we often forget to explain just what it is we provide and the value of those services, I was thinking about how to explain it. Most phones cost $1100. The top-line iPhone, but without any services it is useless.

We have to buy cellular service. Apps, subscriptions like Amazon Prime. Netflix, maybe security services. Not to mention all the accessories. Suddenly, a household can easily spend several thousand dollars every year on technology and subscription services. Now compare that with what you receive from your city. Let's take an example of an average property with an assessed value of approximately $455,000, apply applicable exemptions, and use a municipal millage rate of approximately 7.3189.

The City's portion of the property tax bill is roughly $2,600 to $2,800 annually, depending upon the property's taxable value and exemptions. Remember, non-homestead will still pay but rather than 10% cap it is now 5%. And what does that help provide? Twenty-four-hour police protection, fire protection for your home, 24-hour emergency medical service, parks, recreational programs, beach maintenance, lifeguards, road maintenance, code enforcement, community programs, planning, Infrastructure and the basic government services that protect the quality of life and property values we sometimes take for granted.

Yes, residents also pay separate utility fees for water, wastewater, stormwater, and sanitation because those are enterprise services. They still take employees to oversee and run an operation. But when we talk about property taxes, we must discuss the real value. If property taxes are dramatically reduced, cities will have to evaluate what services can continue at their current levels. So, I leave you with this question: Would saving several hundred dollars a year be worth sacrificing some of the services that protect your quality of life, your business, and your property? That is a conversation every community in Florida may soon have to answer.

Hallandale Beach at 100, Honoring our past & building our next century. I spoke earlier as well that not every City is the same, there's not one-size-fits-all. But I don't want to end today talking about taxes. I want to end by talking about our future. Hallandale Beach is preparing to celebrate an extraordinary milestone next year: Our 100th year. Think about what that represents. For a century, generations of families, entrepreneurs, educators, public servants, community leaders, and businesses have built this city.

They saw Hallandale Beach through economic changes, hurricanes, wars, population growth, development, and tremendous transformation. Now it is our turn. Our Centennial should be more than a birthday celebration. It should be an opportunity to tell the story of Hallandale Beach — where we came from, who we are today, and what kind of city we want to leave to the generations who will call Hallandale Beach home over the next 100 years.

As we prepare for our Centennial, we want our residents, businesses, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, and community partners to be involved. Our Centennial planning meeting was held at the end of August. I invite our Chamber members and our entire business community to be part of the planning and this historic celebration. There will be opportunities to celebrate our history, recognize the people who helped build this community, highlight our businesses and neighborhoods, and create experiences that bring every part of Hallandale Beach together. But as we celebrate the past, I want to keep looking forward. What will transportation look like in Hallandale Beach 20 years from now?

How will we protect ourselves from flooding? How will technology change the way we live and work? How do we make sure families can still afford to live here? How do we attract businesses and create opportunities? And how do we preserve the character of the community we love while continuing to grow? Those are the questions that will define our next century.

We have accomplished a great deal. We still have work to do. And after nearly 100 years, Hallandale Beach is still moving forward. We are building a resilient city. We are building a connected city. We are building a City prepared for change. And together, we are building Hallandale Beach for the next 100 years. Thank you to our Chamber of Commerce, our businesses, our residents, our City employees, and everyone who continues to believe in Hallandale Beach. Looking forward to Hallandale Beach’s 100th year. Our history brought us here — and our future is just beginning.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at MayorJoyCooperHB. Like! Follow! And share!