Every year when property tax notices arrive, most of us feel a familiar twinge of frustration. It’s easy to focus on the bottom line, the amount due, and forget what those dollars make possible. But for the more than 2 million residents of Broward County and its 31 municipalities, property taxes are not just another bill. They are an investment in the quality of life, safety and sense of community we all depend on.
Think about what makes Broward such a desirable place to live. From the shaded playgrounds and sports fields our kids enjoy, to the clean streets and reliable trash collection we take for granted, to the first responders who show up when life takes an unexpected turn, all of that is supported by property tax dollars.
Your local tax dollars fund the services that touch every aspect of your daily life. They pay for police and fire departments and emergency medical services to keep our neighborhoods safe. They support public works crews who repair roads after a storm and the utilities workers who maintain the infrastructure that carries clean drinking water to our homes and businesses. They fund the community centers, libraries and parks where we gather for city festivals, summer camps and family picnics. They make possible the concerts, art shows and holiday parades that knit our communities together.
In other words, property taxes are what transform a collection of homes into a true community.
Now, imagine for a moment what would happen if we did away with property taxes. How would those services be paid for? Would we be willing to pay tolls on every road, fees for every park visit, or private subscriptions for police and fire protection? Without property taxes, the very things that make Broward’s neighborhoods vibrant and safe would begin to unravel.
The reality is there’s no magic alternative revenue stream waiting in the wings. Sales taxes and user fees could only go so far, and they tend to hit working families hardest. Without property taxes, local governments would face deep cuts to essential services. Police and fire response times could lengthen. Parks might fall into disrepair. City events that bring neighbors together and foster local pride would disappear. The Broward County we know and love would begin to look and feel very different.
Yes, it’s fair to demand accountability and transparency in how those tax dollars are spent. Every resident has a right to expect efficiency and good stewardship from city and county leaders. But it’s also fair to recognize the value we receive in return. Property taxes aren’t simply a cost of living here, they are the foundation that supports our safety, our infrastructure and our shared quality of life.
So, the next time that property tax bill arrives, instead of simply thinking “This is just one more bill to pay,” we should also consider “How do these tax dollars help create the community I want to live in?” Most of us want a Broward County that’s safe, vibrant and full of opportunity. And that’s exactly what our property taxes help make possible.
Denise Horland is a Plantation city councilmember and the 2025-2026 president of the Broward League of Cities.
