Scoop: Broward sues tax collector over $17 million windfall
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Broward County is suing Broward Tax Collector Abbey Ajayi for allegedly distributing more than $9 million that the county says it was entitled to.
Why it matters: The lawsuit, which was filed on Sept. 30, comes after attempts to resolve the dispute out of court.
Catch up quick: In 2024, voters chose Ajayi to be Broward's first elected tax collector, a position now required by state law.
- To help transition tax collection duties from the county to the newly created independent agency, the county let the tax office temporarily use its financial systems and personnel, according to the complaint.
- As a result, the complaint alleges, the county paid the tax collector's first-year operating costs of close to $16 million through its existing system.
- The county says the Tax Collector's Office was responsible for paying that money back from revenue it generated.
By the numbers: However, the county says the tax office claimed $0 in expenses on its 2025 annual report, leaving $17 million of revenue available to be distributed to taxing authorities and more than a dozen cities.
- Miramar received nearly $374,000, and the North Broward Hospital received almost $5 million, for instance.
- In a November 2025 press release, the office celebrated the $17 million that was returned.
- "Returning over $17 million demonstrates our commitment to using taxpayer dollars wisely," Ajayi said.
Friction point: While Broward received $7.5 million, the county says it's owed more than $9 million to cover the rest of the operating costs.
- The county maintains that only $2 million should have been distributed had the office had "properly accounted for" its actual operating expenses.
The other side: In a letter to the Broward Commission last month, Ajayi said the interlocal agreement stated that the funds wouldn't be reimbursed and two independent audits recorded the costs as county expenses.
- "The county is asking this office for money this office does not have," the letter reads.
- The Tax Collector's Office didn't respond to Axios' requests for comment.
Zoom out: It's been a rocky start to Ajayi's tenure, which began in January 2025.
- In May, the Broward School Board approved taking legal action against the Tax Collector's Office for withholding $5.5 million in school referendum money.
- A month before, Ajayi agreed to a $4,000 fine after Broward's Office of Inspector General accused her of using county resources during her 2024 campaign.
- At the time, she was the operations manager of the county's Records, Taxes and Treasury Division.