Just 36 hours before Florida’s new DOGE team arrived in Broward County, on the prowl for questionable local government spending, North Lauderdale city commissioners pondered a spending issue — and voted to triple their own salaries, to $57,094 a year.
They also voted themselves an $8,400-a-year car allowance.
The mayor will get more: an annual salary of $68,800 and $9,600 car allowance.
North Lauderdale’s move outraged state Rep. Chip LaMarca, R-Lighthouse Point, who called it “brash” and “ridiculous.”
LaMarca said it was especially galling coming at a time of heightened attention to the way local governments are spending.
Voters may be asked in the 2026 election whether they want to cut, or even eliminate, property taxes that fund the bulk of local government operations. And the state has just embarked on its DOGE effort to ferret out wasteful spending.
“How about asking the taxpayers that foot the bill?” LaMarca asked in a social media post questioning North Lauderdale commissioners’ priorities.
One resident, Carol Cheyne, spoke about the issue when commissioners considered it at their July 29 meeting.
“My main question is, ‘Where is this money coming from,” she said, adding that commissioners “deserve raises,” but not so large.
“What programs are being disbanded or not being funded because of these huge increases?… Are taxes being raised? Do we have some kind of revenue coming in that nobody knows about?” she asked.
Mayor Samson Borgelin, who was presiding, said “thank you” to Cheyne and asked if anyone else wanted to speak on the issue.
The city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 projects $19 million in property taxes, 7.8% more than the current fiscal year. General fund spending, which covers most operating expenses, would total $52.9 million, up from $49.8 million. The tax rate could be lowered, and the spending levels could change before the budget is finalized.
City Manager Michael Sargis said commissioners had been paid about $19,000 a year. They also shared in a joint account for expenses, had 100% of their health insurance cost paid by the city, and received a $60 monthly cellphone allowance.
The new salaries go into effect Oct 1. They maintain the health insurance benefit, will receive $75 a month in a cellphone allowance unless they have a city-issued phone, and get the new car allowance, according to the ordinance implementing the raises. Sargis said the account for expenses is ending.
Most city employees, with the exception of the Fire Department, are getting 5% raises, Sargis said.
The commission voted 4-1 in favor of elected officials’ raises.
Borgelin, who voted “yes,” didn’t respond to messages seeking comment. Commissioner Dee Lewis-Ricketts, who currently serves as vice mayor and also voted “yes,” said “no comment” via email.
Commissioner Luke Lewis, the only “no” vote, said via email he “did so because I believe City resources should be dedicated to aiding our residents, not lining the pockets of politicians. Our residents are facing all sorts of insecurities — from economic challenges to public safety concerns — and as their elected representatives, we need to set the example by putting them first. In these times, fiscal responsibility demands that we prioritize the needs of our community over personal benefits for those in office.”
The July 29 action was the second reading of the salary ordinance. A city memorandum said it had received first reading approval on June 10.
North Lauderdale voters gave the City Commission, which includes the mayor and four commissioners, salary authority in a November 2024 referendum. The referendum eliminated a previous 5% annual cap on commission raises. It stated that the charger amendment “will have no financial impact to the city.”
Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
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