Miami City Commission First Budget Hearing - September 10, 2026
Miami City Commission First Budget Hearing - September 10, 2026
The Miami City Commission held its first budget hearing for fiscal year 2026-2027 on September 10, 2026 at Miami City Hall. The meeting included presentations on the proposed city and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) budgets, public comments, and votes on tentative millage rates and budgets. The commission set a total millage rate of 7.3616 mills and approved a $1.862 billion operating budget and a $1.8 billion capital plan, along with budgets for outside agencies. A final budget hearing is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chris Watson (District 2 resident) opposed funding for automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in the capital budget, requesting that appropriations #24 ($465,000 for camera expansion) and #25 (investigative tech upgrades) be struck. He cited similar suspensions by Governor DeSantis and other local governments.
- Laura Okamura (downtown resident) criticized the DDA budget, arguing that downtown and Brickell should not rely on the DDA for basic services like police and sanitation. She noted that the population increased 670% to 101,000 but only two more police officers were added, and that downtown generates a disproportionate share of property tax revenue.
- Tomas Kennedy (NW 1st Place resident) noted that nearly 80% of the budget goes to salaries, benefits, and pensions, and opposed spending on surveillance infrastructure. He linked ALPR expansion to police ICE collaboration.
- James Torres (President, Downtown Neighbors Alliance) opposed the DDA budget, highlighting a 100% increase from $18.865 million to $22.3 million, a 15% increase in carryover, and a 67% increase in legal services. He requested that $2 million be redirected to the Miami Police Department for safety and that residents receive immediate tax relief.
- Stanley Young (chaplain) commented that the $2 billion budget seemed small for an international city and suggested generating more revenue through marketing and venues.
- Billy Corbin (Miami Beach resident) criticized budget growth—general fund doubled, salaries and benefits doubled, police/fire spending up 105%, fire pension tripled, and $1.85 billion in unfunded capital needs. He argued that residents' wages only grew 2-3%.
- Silvio Pupo (District 1, economist for Climate Resilience Committee) recommended a 1% budget cut, noted a potential multi-billion dollar loss from Amendment 3, and urged a stress test of cash reserves.
- Chris Alger (SW 29th Ave resident) advocated for more park funding for swimming lessons to prevent child drownings, citing 11 deaths per day in Florida from drowning.
Discussion Items
- Budget Director Presentation: The city's proposed millage rate is 7.1080 mills (operating) plus 0.2536 mills for debt service, total 7.3616 mills—the same as the current rate. The rollback rate is 6.7097 mills, meaning the proposed rate is 5.94% above rollback. The average homestead property assessed at $457,258 would pay $3,368 annually. The city receives 37 cents per property tax dollar (33 cents operating, 4 cents debt). The proposed operating budget is $1.862 billion, with a capital budget of $1.8 billion (new capital $89.3 million). The general fund is $1.3 billion, with property taxes contributing 53.2%. Salaries and wages account for 46.9% ($609 million), employee benefits 29% ($384 million). The budget includes step increases but no cost-of-living adjustments pending Amendment 3, and freezes vacant positions saving $10.5 million. Police and fire make up the largest spending categories.
- DDA Presentation: Acting Executive Director Michael John Green presented a tentative DDA millage of 0.38 mills, 1.47% above the rollback rate of 0.3745 mills. Backup documents were submitted for the record.
- Commission Discussion on Millage and Budget: Commissioner King asked about the impact of Amendment 3 on services; the budget director noted it would not affect the city until FY2027-28 and that fee increases would be considered. Commissioner King also inquired how freezing positions would affect service delivery; the director clarified that police, fire, and 911 dispatchers are exempt from the freeze.
- Solid Waste Assessment (BH18): Commissioner Gabella asked about the general fund subsidy for solid waste—$24.75 million on a total operation of $62.73 million. Commissioner Escalona compared Miami's spending to Tampa and Orlando: Miami has 489,000 residents and spends $515 million more than the other cities for only 77,000 more residents. The subsidy has been in place for 16 years. Commissioners expressed concern about the high percentage of spending on salaries and benefits (76%) and planned to discuss further at the final hearing.
Key Outcomes
- BH1 and BH2: Presentations on city and DDA budgets were received and discussed; no vote required.
- BH5 through BH17 (Outside Agencies): Approved as a block with technical amendments (adding resolution numbers to BH11, BH12, BH17). Vote: unanimous.
- BH3 (DDA Tentative Millage): Approved at 0.38 mills. Vote: unanimous.
- BH4 (DDA Tentative Budget): Approved as amended (adding resolution number). Vote: unanimous.
- BH20 (City Millage Rate Ordinance, First Reading): Approved total tentative rate of 7.3616 mills for FY2026-2027. Vote: unanimous.
- BH21 (City Tentative Budget): Approved $1.862 billion operating budget. Vote: unanimous.
- BH19 (Multi-Year Capital Plan): Approved 6-year capital plan with $89.3 million in new appropriations. Vote: unanimous.
- BH18 (Solid Waste Assessment): Approved, with direction for additional analysis on comparisons to other cities and the implications of the general fund subsidy. Vote: unanimous.
- Next Meeting: Final budget hearing and public hearing set for September 24, 2026 at 5:05 p.m. at Miami City Hall.
Meeting Transcript
Quick we appreciate all the changes. Um should we get started? Pledge of allegiance it's really um the prerogative of the board. We should pledge allegiance. Commissioner Pardo, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Sure. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States which it stands. All righty. Well, welcome to the first budget hearing. Um starting tonight at September 10th, 2026. I believe the city attorney has a statement to read. And just to the clerk, note that there are three commissioners present, although we know we will end up with all five. Um Commissioner Escalona, Commissioner Um Pardo, and Commissioner Rosado. Um, also City Manager James Reyes, George Weisson, our attorney, and of course, you, our city clerk are present. So Mr. City Attorney, if you would read the statement. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Avialbon Deputy City Attorney for City Miami. This evening, the City of Miami is holding its first budget meeting and the related first budget public hearing for the purposes of fixing the proposed millage rate, adopting a tentative budget, and approving various agency budgets for the fiscal year beginning October 1st, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2027. There will be a final budget meeting and final budget public hearing held on September 24, 2026 at 505 p.m. at Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida 33133. These hearings were set in compliance with Chapter 200 and Section 166.241 of the Florida statutes and all other applicable codes, rules, and regulations. Detailed information about the processes, order of business, rules of procedure, and scheduling of re or rescheduling of city commission meetings can be found in Chapter 2, Article 2 of the City Code, a copy of which is available online at WW.com. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuing chapter 2 articles uh six of the city code must register with a city clerk and comply with related city requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the city commission. A person may not lobby a city official, board member, or staff member until registering. A copy of Chapter 2, Article 6 of the City Code entitled Lobbyist is available in the City Clerk's office or online at Municode.com. Any person making a presentation or formal request or petition to the city commission concerning real property must make the disclosures required by the city code in writing. A copy of the city code is section is available at the office of the city clerk or online at Municode.com. The City of Miami requires anyone requesting approval relief or other action from the city commission must disclose before the public hearing. Any consideration provided or committed directly or on its behalf to anyone for agreement to support or withhold objection to the requested approval relief or other action pursuant to city code section two-eight. Any documents offered to the city commission that have not been provided at least seven days before the meeting as part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record at the city commission's discretion. In accordance with section 2-3 subsection F and G of the City Code, the agenda and the material for each item on the agenda is available during business hours at the city clerk's office and online 24 hours a day at W. MiamiGov.com. The meeting of the Miami City Commission is a limited public forum. Any person may be heard by the city commission through the chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the city commission unless modified by the chairperson. Public comment will begin at approximately 5.05 p.m. and remain open until the public comment is closed by the chairperson. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in the commission chambers will be barred from further attending city commission meetings and may be subject to arrest. No clapping, applauding, heckling, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or his or her remarks shall be permitted. No signs or placards shall be allowed in the city commission chambers. Persons exiting the commission chamber shall do so quietly. Members of the public wishing to address the body may also do so by submitting written comments via the online comment form. Please visit www.miamigov.com forward slash meeting instructions for detailed instructions of how to provide public comment using the online public comment form. The comments submitted through the comment form uh portal have been and will be distributed to the elected officials and city administration throughout the day so that the elected officials may consider the comments prior to taking any action. Additionally, the online comment form will remain open during the meeting to accept comments and distribute to the elected officials and city administration up until the chairperson closes public comment. Public comment may also be provided live at City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, 33133, subject to any and all city rules as may be amended from time to time. If the proposition is being continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the city commission takes action on such proposition. When addressing the city commission, the member of the public must first state their name, their address, and what item or items they are speaking on. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and services for this meeting may notify the city clerk. The city has provided different public comment methods to indicate, among other things, the public support, opposition neutrality on the items and topics to be discussed at the city commission meeting in compliance with section 286.0114 subsection four subsection C of floor statutes.
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