Photo: KeanoManu · CC BY-SA 4.0Fort Lauderdale spent more per resident in 2022 than 81% of similar cities
Fort Lauderdale’s city government spent $586.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $3,205 per resident. Water and other utilities ($141.1 million) and the airport ($12.3 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Fort Lauderdale is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$2,837 per resident in 2022: more than 81% of them
Fort Lauderdale’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,837 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $2,042, and the middle half spent $1,488–$2,594. Fort Lauderdale spent more than 81% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($27.3 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Fort Lauderdale itself left out).
About $3,205 per resident a year, or $8.78 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 28%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 12% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Fort Lauderdale reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $2,837 · 2023: $3,007 · 2024: $3,205.
full-time in March 2025, up from 2,326 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,516 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.93% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Fort Lauderdale’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Fort Lauderdale’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Fort Lauderdale →
Who’s in charge in Fort Lauderdale
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Fort Lauderdale’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on fortlauderdale.gov ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 72 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (183,146).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Broward County School District
Fort Lauderdale’s K–12 school district, shared with Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Davie and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $13,412 per pupil, $8,250 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Florida districts overall: 55% local, 29% state, 15% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Fort Lauderdale’s votes are counted by county
Florida reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fort Lauderdale alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Broward County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat57.8%507,328 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican40.9%358,952 votesOthers: 1.3% (10,982 votes).
Most votes in Broward County: Kamala D Harris
Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%
100% of Fort Lauderdale lies in Broward County. Every 2024 race in Broward County is on the county’s page.
Broward County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Fort Lauderdale sends 5 representatives to the Florida House alone.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: fortlauderdale.gov ↗
- 2Florida HouseFort Lauderdale is split between 5 districts
- 3Florida SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseSplit between districts
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Florida
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Fort Lauderdale compares with the towns next door
Fort Lauderdale spent $2,837 per resident in 2022; the 9 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $959 to $2,620. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| North Lauderdale | $959 | $2,355 |
| Plantation | $1,559 | $4,416 |
| Davie | $1,582 | $4,551 |
| Tamarac | $1,647 | $2,663 |
| Oakland Park | $1,903 | $2,930 |
| Dania Beach | $1,997 | $2,837 |
| Pompano Beach | $2,330 | $3,193 |
| Wilton Manors | $2,490 | $4,342 |
| Hollywood | $2,620 | $3,563 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $2,837 | $4,516 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Fort Lauderdale’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Fort Lauderdale’s government
How much does Fort Lauderdale spend per resident?
About $3,205 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,837 was more than 81% of 16 Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Fort Lauderdale?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,516 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.93% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see fortlauderdale.gov.
Who runs Fort Lauderdale’s government?
See fortlauderdale.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Fort Lauderdale yet.
How did Fort Lauderdale vote in 2024?
Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Fort Lauderdale alone. Broward County, where 100% of Fort Lauderdale lies, voted Harris 57.8%, Trump 40.9% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Fort Lauderdale?
2,547 full-time and 455 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $22.8M (about $273.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Fort Lauderdale in the state legislature?
Fort Lauderdale is split among 5 State House districts and 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The Florida Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Fort Lauderdale’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →