A Budget Advisory Board member delivered a wide-ranging fiscal roadmap Dec. 10 outlining steps he said the board should investigate to prepare Fort Lauderdale for projected fiscal pressures in fiscal year 2027.

Olivier framed the presentation as a high-level diagnostic and roadmap drawn from eight months of review. He said the city has become more reliant on ad valorem (property tax) revenue—rising from roughly 46% of general fund revenue in recent years to an expected 53% under current forecasts—and that many department-level revenues have stagnated. He referenced Stantec forecasting that staff shared: a projected $11 million deficit in 2027 that could grow to $77 million by 2035 if trends do not change.

"Increase revenue and decrease expenditures," Olivier said, summarizing the twin priorities of his plan. He outlined several levers the board could analyze: revising business-tax brackets within state law limits, reassessing city event fees and private-event pricing, reexamining CRA performance and criteria, expanding sponsorship opportunities, and piloting AI and procurement optimization to reduce recurring costs.

Olivier suggested concrete exercises: department-level rate reviews to capture under‑priced services (for example recreation classes and permit fees), pilot projects to quantify AI-driven efficiency gains, and evaluation of signature-event fee structures (he cited concern that large increases could drive promoters away). He also proposed a work plan to prepare options for the City Commission by April 2027 and recommended that the board consider forming focused assignments (subject to Sunshine Law constraints) so individual members could work with staff on specific topics and report back.

Board response: Staff and other board members generally received the presentation as a conceptual roadmap. Staff noted it had already begun some of the rate and fee reviews and planned to bring additional revenue-enhancement ideas to the board in January. Board members expressed interest in assigning volunteers or liaisons to dig into discrete areas and asked staff to provide targeted data (for example, property tax contributions by district and department cost/revenue breakdowns).

What’s next: Olivier asked for time to refine the suggested work plan and proposed topic buckets; staff encouraged members to volunteer for focused inquiries and said many of the items (fee reviews, optimization targets) will be part of the January work plan and the commission budget workshop in mid‑January.