Miami-Dade County Commission Holds First Budget Hearing for Fiscal Year 2024-25 on September 9, 2024

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners convened on September 9, 2024, at 1:45 PM for the first of two public hearings to adopt proposed millage rates and tentative budgets for Fiscal Year 2024-25. Chair Oliver Gilbert presided, with nine members present constituting a quorum. The hearing included presentations from County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Budget Director David Claude Velter, public testimony from nearly 200 residents, and a series of amendments and votes on eight budget ordinances.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Arts and Culture Funding: Over 30 speakers urged the board to restore an 11% cut ($2.475 million) to the Department of Cultural Affairs budget. Speakers included representatives from the Arts & Business Council of Miami, City Theatre, Miami Light Project, New World Symphony, and individual artists. They argued that the cut, compounded by the state's elimination of arts funding, would force layoffs, reduce programming, and harm Miami-Dade's $2.1 billion arts economy. Many cited a 9:1 return on investment.
• Eviction Diversion and Mobile Home Residents: Dozens of residents from Palm Lake and Soar Park trailer parks spoke about facing mass evictions after new owners purchased the land. They requested continued funding for the Eviction Diversion Program, which has handled nearly 2,000 cases. Speakers from Miami Workers Center and Legal Services of Greater Miami emphasized that the program prevents homelessness, especially among seniors and families.
• Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program: Several speakers asked for increased EEL funding—$2 million for staffing and $50 million for land acquisition—to protect pine rocklands, mangroves, and enhance climate resilience. They noted the program has not added staff since 1992 and covers only 0.06% of the $12.7 billion budget.
• Transit and Heat Resilience: Residents and groups like Transit Alliance Miami and Engage Miami called for full funding of transit reserves, restoration of the $16.3 million TID deposit, expansion of bus shade coverage, and more cooling centers. They cited 43 days of extreme heat in 2024 and over 26,000 heat-related ER visits (2018-2022).
• Housing and Homelessness: Multiple speakers supported the Eviction Diversion Program and urged additional funding for affordable housing, peer navigators in libraries, and preservation of public housing. Some spoke about personal experiences with homelessness and rising rents.
• Other Issues: Speakers also addressed the need for community violence intervention programs ($10 million requested), mental health services (NAMI and Jewish Community Services requested $250,000 each), homeless facility funding, and water/sewer infrastructure.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Remarks: Mayor Levine Cava highlighted the county's largest transformation—separation of five constitutional offices by January 2025, costing $30 million in the first year. She proposed a flat millage rate, funding for transit reserves (TID), eviction diversion continuation, and noted a $300,000 philanthropic commitment for arts from George Perez. She acknowledged the challenge of reduced tourist development tax revenues.
• Budget Director's Statements: David Claude Velter read millage rates for each fund: Countywide General Fund (4.574 mills, 9.77% above rollback), Fire Rescue (2.3965 mills, 9.89% above rollback), Library System (0.2812 mills, 9.72% above rollback), and others. He also read scrivener's errors for items E and H.
• Commissioner Higgins' Amendment: Moved to amend items C and H to appropriate $16.3 million to the Transportation Infrastructure Improvement District (TID) trust fund, using updated carryover revenues. The amendment passed after debate.
• Commissioner Bermudez's Amendment: Proposed directing $100,000 for a 5K event at the decommissioned landfill near a regional soccer park in District 12. After discussion, the amendment was withdrawn to be included in a broader change memo.
• Bifurcations: Multiple commissioners requested separate votes on specific allocations to vote 'no': Commissioner Cohen Higgins on the $10.5 million to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (passed 12-1); on the $15.9 million for homeless facility acquisition (passed 12-1); on solid waste fee increases; on water and sewer rates.
• Commissioner Regalado's Proposed Bifurcation: Sought to bifurcate 23 positions for the Office of Enterprise Strategies to instead restore funding for Save Our Seniors. Amendment withdrawn after Mayor agreed to explore options before the second hearing.
• Commissioner Garcia's Concerns: Questioned the increasing police overtime (from $59.5 million actuals to $71.6 million projected) and the creation of a new County Emergency Communications Department for 911 calls. Mayor responded that overtime reflects officer shortages and that 911 transition will be negotiated with the elected sheriff.

Key Outcomes

• Item A (Countywide General Fund Operating Millage): Passed unanimously (13-0).
• Item B (Countywide Bonded Debt Service Millage): Passed unanimously (13-0).
• Item C (Countywide General Fund Budget): Amended to deposit $16.3 million into the TID trust fund and passed 11-2. Commissioner Cohen Higgins voted no on the CVB portion.
• Item D (UMSA Operating Millage): Passed unanimously (13-0).
• Item E (UMSA Budget): Passed 10-3 after amendments.
• Item F (Fire Rescue Millage): Passed unanimously (13-0).
• Item G (Library Millage): Passed unanimously (13-0).
• Item H (Proprietary Budgets, Special Assessment Districts, and Other Budgets): Passed 9-4 after amendments, including deletion of Section 9 per the TID amendment, scrivener's corrections, and changes to the solid waste capital project description. Bifurcated sections on solid waste fees (passed 8-5) and water/sewer rates (passed 8-5) were approved separately.
• Next Step: The final budget hearing is scheduled for September 19, 2024, where the board will adopt the final millage rates and budget.