Miami-Dade County Passes Budget, but Hurdles Remain
by Thomas Schaffer
At 4:22 a.m. on Thursday, while most of Miami-Dade County was asleep, the Board of County Commissioners approved the county budget for the fiscal year 2026–27. Following more than 11 hours of public comments, discussions among commissioners, and voting, the board adopted a budget totaling $14.26 billion. Despite the budget's approval, uncertainties persist regarding Miami-Dade County's financial outlook.
Mayor's Proposal
The budget process commenced in July when Mayor Daniella Levine Cava released her county budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposal maintained property tax rates while providing additional funding for the sheriff's office and public transit, largely financed by the efficiency initiative Wise305 and the elimination of vacant county positions. However, the proposal also included cuts to 12 Metrobus routes with low ridership, as well as reductions in off-peak and late-night transit lines. The Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program also experienced a million-dollar funding reduction in the budget proposal.
The Board of County Commissioners responded to the proposal with a mix of pushback and support. Board members expressed their support for maintaining steady property taxes but opposed decreases in transit funding.
Commissioners like Raquel Regalado of District 7 opposed cuts to early morning Metrobus lines, saying in the first budget hearing, "we should not cancel the early buses or fire our employees."
The Sheriff's Dispute
Miami-Dade County Mayor's budget allocated nearly $1 billion for the sheriff's office, which includes a $55 million increase over fiscal year 2025–26. However, Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz argued Thursday that this amount still falls short of the necessary funding. Cordero-Stutz requested an additional $45 million to hire and train recruits, repair facilities, and cover binding union contracts, among other commitments.
During the hearing, the mayor and her office maintained that their proposal was sufficient, highlighting a 6% increase over the previous fiscal year and a total 36% increase from four years ago. The mayor's team also asserted that their budget provided adequate funding to fill existing vacancies within the sheriff's office.
Ultimately, the Board declined to fully accommodate the sheriff's requests but approved a partial $11.5 million increase for binding union obligations.
Amended Budget Approved
The Board of County Commissioners continued to modify the mayor's proposal in several areas. Commissioners reinstated early morning Metrobus services, funded by utilizing transit reserves. This decision faced criticism from one member. Additionally, the Environmental Education and Leadership (EEL) program, which had experienced significant cuts in the proposal, will remain operational by waiving a $10 million reserve requirement, allowing it to use existing reserve funds.
Ultimately, the Board of County Commissioners voted 8-3 to approve the final budget, with Commissioners Roberto Gonzalez, J.C. Bermudez, and Natalie Milian Orbis voting in opposition.
Uncertain Budget Future
Under Florida law, sheriffs have the authority to appeal county budgets to the Florida Administration Commission, which consists of the governor and the cabinet. During the final budget hearing, Sheriff Cordero-Stutz indicated that she was considering this option.
That willingness left some commissioners concerned, including Chairman Rodriguez, who said “ it does give me heartburn to get $11.5 million and put it into the sheriff's budget and still have her go and appeal to the state."
Should the sheriff escalate the budget dispute to the state commission, the Board of County Commissioners would have to reconvene and find cuts elsewhere to compensate for the additional sheriff's funding. That could mean further cuts to transit, parks, or libraries, leaving uncertainty about the future of the county's finances.
Amendment 3
While the sheriff's funding dispute was a focal point Thursday, Amendment 3, an initiative on the November ballot to increase the homestead property tax exemption, loomed large. The amendment, placed before voters by the state legislature, aims to raise the tax exemption on homesteaded properties (primary residences) from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027, and eventually to $250,000 in 2028.
Since property taxes are collected by counties and municipalities rather than the state, Miami-Dade County could experience significant reductions in tax revenue under the amendment's provisions. This reduction may lead to substantial cuts in public transportation, libraries, and law enforcement, although funding for schools is protected from any potential impacts under the initiative.
"Should [Amendment 3] pass, we'll be right back to the drawing board, and we will have a lot of adjustments to make," Levine Cava warned earlier this month.
Comments