Fort Lauderdale and Broward County

The area attracts more than 10.5 million visitors a year.

Quality of Life

Financial

The county’s general obligation bonds receive a “AA” rating from Standard & Poor’s, and its portfolio is the highest S&P-rated portfolio in the state. The county’s port and airport, critical to economic development and also to the county’s finances, are well managed.

Biggest Strengths

Climate, youth, movement toward downtown living, a well-seasoned cadre of business leaders such as Wayne Huizenga, Terry Stiles and the Millers (of Miller Construction), who know how to get worthwhile things done in the community.

Biggest Needs

Because the county hasn’t developed in any way that mass transit will be of much help, road infrastructure remains critical.

Property Taxes

On property with a $200,000 taxable value, combined property taxes, municipal taxes and fees for communities in Broward ranged in 2008 from $522 in Hillsboro Beach to $1,619 in Fort Lauderdale to $2,254 in Margate.

Crime

Broward County has less crime than the state average and less than any large-population county in Florida, based on the FDLE’s crime rate-per-100,000 index. Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties all have higher crime rates.

Amenities

Fort Lauderdale’s famous beachfront has been recently renovated and landscaped. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world’s largest, celebrates its 50th year in 2009. It occurs at six locations around the city. The Riverwalk arts, entertainment, dining and shopping center is in downtown Fort Lauderdale along the New River. Nearby is the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, one of the state’s leading venues and a leader in integrating cultural offerings with county school curriculums. In Sunrise, the Sawgrass Mills mall, at 2.1 million square feet of retail space, is the second-largest mall in Florida and one of the state’s leading tourist destinations. Also in Sunrise is the BankAtlantic Center, home arena for the Florida Panthers NHL team. The county’s park system includes 18 regional parks, four nature centers and 21 natural area sites encompassing more than 6,500 acres.