Miami-Dade Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee Meeting - April 15, 2026

The Miami-Dade Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee met on April 15, 2026, at 10:30 AM in Commission Chambers. The committee heard a presentation on a new budget dashboard, discussed state legislative bills, and voted on several resolutions and ordinances. Key topics included the county budget discrepancy (approved $13.2 billion vs. dashboard's $17 billion), a requirement to rotate veterinary services, and a floor motion for a 10-year financial plan for the Lifeman building.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kenneth Brown (12300 NW 17th Ave, Miami) spoke on item 1G1 (board vacancy notification), advocating for public notification and community involvement. He also raised concerns about a local organization (the Mac) and alleged non-compliance with housing regulations at a development on 62nd and 12th Avenue. He called for funding release for community projects.
• During the public hearing on 1G1, Mr. Brown reiterated the need for commissioners to inform the public about board vacancies and community activities.

Discussion Items

• Presentation by Commission Auditor (Yinka) on the County Budget Dashboard: The dashboard, created per Resolution 108725, provides real-time data on budget, revenue, expenditures, and personnel for 30 county departments. It is a named-user system updated daily. Key features include budget health indicators (on track, monitor, monitor closely), revenue/expense drill-downs, and personnel vacancy tracking (currently pending). The auditor noted the dashboard reflects total departmental expenditures (~$17 billion) versus the approved operating budget ($13.2 billion), leading to extensive discussion. The administration (Chief Carla Denise) explained the $4 billion difference includes interdepartmental transfers, debt service, reserves, and trust fund distributions, all previously approved in the budget book. Committee members expressed concern over the discrepancy and emphasized the need for transparency. The auditor will work with the clerk/controller's office to validate data.
• Discussion Item 1F1 (State Bills): Vice Chair Lopez reported that the Florida legislature has not yet passed a budget, and a special session on property taxes or congressional redistricting remains uncertain. The committee will wait for further developments.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1G1 Substitute (Board Vacancy Notification) – Ordinance requiring the clerk to notify all county commissioners and the mayor when a board position becomes vacant. Amended to include the mayor's office. Forwarded to Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with a favorable recommendation (vote 4-0).
• Item 2A (Standardized Budget Requirements for CRAs) – Resolution passed 4-0. Commissioner Cohen Higgins added as co-sponsor.
• Item 2B (Economic Advocacy Trust Board Reappointments) – Forwarded to BCC with favorable recommendation (4-0).
• Item 2C (Resolution on Cuba) – Congratulating Costa Rica and Ecuador for severing diplomatic ties with Cuba; urging other nations to follow. Passed 4-0.
• Item 2D (Report on Fiscal Intermediaries) – Directed the mayor to identify all fiscal intermediaries/agents used by the county. Passed 4-0.
• Item 2E (Amazon Property Restrictions) – Directed the mayor to enforce job requirements from property conveyance at 13200 SW 272 Street and provide a status report within 30 days. Passed 4-0.
• Item 3A (Veterinary Services – Non-Competitive Bid Waiver) – Amended to require rotation of veterinary services among providers considering rates, availability, urgency, proximity, and specialization. Directs continued work with small/local veterinarians. Passed with two-thirds vote.
• Item 3C (North Miami CRA Budgets) – Approved 4-0: FY 2024-2025 $80,112,973; FY 2025-2026 $84,312,786.
• Item 3D (Florida City CRA Budget) – Approved $16,131,007 for FY 2025-2026 (4-0).
• Item 3E (North Beach CRA Budgets) – Approved: FY 2024-2025 $4,981,000; FY 2025-2026 $6,035,000 (4-0).
• Items 3B, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3I, 3J, 3K – All forwarded to BCC with favorable recommendations (4-0). Items 3F and 3G were waived to the next BCC meeting (April 21) per administration request.
• Floor Motion by Commissioner Cohen Higgins – Directed the administration to prepare a 10-year financial projection for the Lifeman building, identifying specific funding sources and trade-offs, and report back at the next committee hearing. Motion passed.
• Adjournment – Meeting adjourned after completing all agenda items.