News Politics

Property Appraiser Shows Fiscal Impact for Margate if Property Taxes Are Cut

by David Volz January 26, 2026

122Shares

Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar during the Margate City Commission Meeting. {Marty Kiar}

Margate will lose substantial revenue if property taxes are reduced.

During the January 21 meeting, Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar gave a presentation to the commission, showing the projected loss if the city’s voters approve a property tax cut.

Legislators are considering an amendment to the state constitution to exempt homesteaded property from all ad valorem taxation other than school district levies. It would prohibit counties and municipalities from reducing overall law enforcement funding. There are now 15,316 homesteaded properties in Margate that pay $40,078,468 in total taxes. If this amendment is approved, the property owners would save an average of $1,910, but the city would lose $14,554,531, a 36.3 percent decrease, according to Kiar.

An alternative phase-out of non-school property tax for homesteads proposes an amendment to the constitution that would increase the exemption for homestead property from all ad valorem taxation, other than school district levies, for 10 years. This would eventually make homestead property exempt from ad valorem taxation. It would mean an average savings of $1,021 for property owners, but the city would lose $7,777,141 or 19.4 percent.

Another alternative is the elimination of non-school property tax for homesteaded property for persons age 65 or older, which proposes an amendment to the constitution to exempt homesteaded property from all levies other than school district levies for persons age 65 or older. This would involve 6,579 properties and an average savings of $858. The city would lose $2,805,632 or 7 percent.

A property insurance relief homestead exemption of non-school property tax proposes an amendment to the constitution to increase by $200,000 the exemption for homesteaded property from all ad valorem taxation. This would involve 15,316 properties and an average savings of $1,560. The city would lose $11,884,960 or 29.7 percent, according to Kiar.

If the legislature approves any of these amendment options, they will appear on the November 3 election for voter approval.

The commission accepted the presentation with little discussion. Mayor Antonio Arserio expressed concern about the possible loss of revenue for the city.

Got News in Margate? Send it to Margate Talk. Don’t Miss Reading NW Broward County’s #1 News Sites: Coconut Creek Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.

Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.