Paying for college

Broward has $2 million fund.

Broward County’s proposed budget has more deputies in it, extra money to open more shelters if a hurricane comes along, $5 million to support future affordable housing partnerships — and even money to hire another attorney to go after deadbeats who don’t pay their county taxes.

It’ll all be paid for without raising the county’s tax rate. But the county will still be getting more property taxes from homeowners because property values continue to increase.

Keeping the tax rate flat means a homeowner with a home valued at $200,000 last year would pay about $24 more this year in county taxes if the property has a homestead exemption and about $70 more if it doesn’t. The county taxes are only a portion of the property tax bill homeowners will receive in October, which will also include city, school and special district taxes.

Some of the new items covered by the county’s proposed $1.3 billion operating budget — up 4 percent from last year — include:

■ Thirty additional deputies

and staff members to handle the sheriff’s increased responsibilities to take guns away from people who are deemed threats, which was part of a new state law passed following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were killed and 17 others injured. Another six deputies are being added to the aviation unit and five to courthouse security. The sheriff’s portions also includes an added jail position and a school resource officer in Central Broward.

A $750,000 reserve for emergencies such as hurricanes, to be able to purchase additional stockpiles of supplies before an event and to expand shelter operations during the event.

For the second consecutive year, commissioners will put aside $5 million to support developers willing to include affordable housing in their projects — and plan to add another $5 million in 2019. County voters in November are being asked to approve an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, where this money could be placed.

An additional $1.2 million for programs being created by a public and private

group to solve problems of homelessness in the county.

The county attorney’s office is on tap to get six new attorneys, including one to increase legal filings against people who haven’t payed their county taxes.

The sheriff will also be adding 69 deputies, paid for through contracts for services with cities, the port and airport. Those city positions are not paid for with county funds.

Commissioners will discuss the budget at an August workshop before holding public hearings and setting a final tax rate in September.