Broward County’s new proposed budget offers the Broward Sheriff’s Office a 5.3% increase over last year’s outlay, less than the 12.4% requested by the agency but higher than the 3.1% increase that was passed a year ago.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office accounts for about half of the county’s roughly $2 billion operating budget, the portion paid for mainly by property tax revenues.

With other income sources and funding responsibilities taken into account, the county budget for fiscal year 2027 is about $9 billion. The fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

The Sheriff’s Office has been assertive about seeking more money from the county and the cities it serves, hoping to raise enough to pay deputies and support staff enough to keep them from leaving for local police departments and nearby law enforcement agencies.

Broward County submitted its spending agenda to its nine-member County Commission late Wednesday.

“This budget has been developed with careful consideration of evolving fiscal conditions and uncertainties, including potential future impacts on property tax revenues,” said County Administrator Monica Cepero, noting that the governor is looking for a statewide property tax cut local governments worry will be devastating.

This will be the first budget passed with the specter of a massive property tax cut hanging over local governments, and the first passed since a statewide “Department of Government Efficiency” audit accused the county of outpacing population and inflation trends in its spending priorities.

The state’s DOGE analysis never got around to identifying specific examples of waste, but local officials in turn passed a modest tax rate decrease last year.

The county’s tax rate is projected to remain the same in 2027, which means tax revenues will go up in proportion to property value increases, with adjustments for homestead exemptions.

The County Commission is scheduled to hold an informational budget workshop on Aug. 20, followed by a second workshop on Aug. 25. The budget will pass on two votes — the first scheduled for Sept. 10 and the second for Sept. 22.

The new budget takes effect Oct. 1.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.