Miami-Dade Commission First Budget Hearing - September 4, 2025
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Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners First Budget Hearing
On September 4, 2025, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners held its first public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, which covers October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The meeting began at 5:01 PM and continued into the early morning hours, featuring lengthy public testimony, commissioner debate, and votes on millage rates and budget ordinances. The proposed budget initially faced a $402 million gap, which was partially closed through efficiencies, restored constitutional officer funds, and amendments adopted during the hearing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Over 200 residents spoke, many advocating for full restoration of arts and culture grants, citing a $42 return on every $1 invested and 32,000 jobs supported. Speakers urged maintaining an independent Department of Cultural Affairs.
- Representatives from Lotus House and other shelters pleaded to restore 50 domestic violence and trafficking beds, warning cuts would shutter critical services.
- Multiple speakers opposed transit fare increases (proposed 50¢ bus/rail and 25¢ STS hike), arguing it would cost daily riders up to $325/year and harm vulnerable populations.
- Advocates for community-based organizations (CBOs) and the eviction diversion program requested full funding, noting a 95% success rate and a $3–$6 return per $1 invested.
- Several speakers criticized the county's $151 million investment in Israel bonds, demanding divestment and redirection to local services.
- Firefighters and union representatives opposed shifting air rescue costs from the general fund to the fire rescue district, arguing it burdens district taxpayers and reduces resources for fire response.
- Supporters of the Underline park defended public-private partnership and argued it enhances property values and transit ridership.
Discussion Items
- Air Rescue Funding: Commissioners debated a proposal to move air rescue costs from the fire district back to the countywide general fund over two years. Fire union representatives argued the shift violates the voter-established fire district and harms response times. After extensive debate, the board passed a directive (voice vote) to fully restore funding by the second budget hearing, with the administration to identify sources.
- Community-Based Organization Funding: Vice Chair McGee proposed a motion to restore $5.3 million for legacy CBOs by delaying hiring of vacant positions for 90 days, excluding critical roles and ongoing recruitments. The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
- Underline Park: Commissioner Gilbert pressed for a timeline to end county subsidies, noting the original agreement was $400,000/year but current contributions are much higher. The board adopted a directive (voice vote) requiring the administration to work with the Underline to present a long-term operating plan by summer 2027.
- MetroConnect: Commissioner Higgins reported that the administration is developing a lower-cost model to preserve service, with a solution expected by the second budget hearing.
- Budget Transparency: Several commissioners called for line-item budgets and detailed vacancy reports. Commissioner Gonzalez requested extensive data on various departmental expenditures.
Key Outcomes
- Item A (Countywide General Fund Millage): Adopted on first reading, 10–2.
- Item B (Countywide Bonded Debt Millage): Adopted on first reading, 10–2.
- Item C (Countywide General Fund Budget): Amended (gas tax increase removed; directive on air rescue and CBOs included). Passed 9–3.
- Item D (UMSA Operating Millage): Adopted on first reading, 9–3.
- Item E (UMSA Fund Budget): Amended (includes $1.925 million UMSA carryover to contingency; $1.272 million library carryover; $2.163 million fire carryover). Passed 7–5.
- Item F (Fire Rescue District Millage): Adopted 12–0.
- Item G (Library System Millage): Adopted 12–0.
- Item H (Proprietary/Special Assessment Budgets): Amended (includes directive for Underline operating plan; Commissioner Higgins' school zone camera funds reallocation). Passed 8–4.
- Solid Waste Fee: The board adopted a lower rate (0.7%) than proposed, requiring $700,000 reduction in Solid Waste Collection Operations Fund.
- Eviction Diversion: The mayor identified additional federal funds to bring the program to $3 million.
- Zoning/Code: The board approved creation of the Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) and transfer of functions from RER.
The second budget hearing is scheduled for September 18, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Clerk, if you can call a roll, please, thank you. Good evening to all. The clerk's office has received notification that Commissioner Bermudis will be absent from today's meeting. Commissioner Bastien. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. Good evening, President. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner Gonzalez. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Higgins. Hello, I am here. Commissioner Milian Orbis. Here. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Steinberg. Vice Chairman McGee. Here. Chairman Rodriguez. I'm present. We have eight members present. We have a quorum. All right, guys. If I can please ask everyone to stand up for the prayer led today by Commissioner Gilbert, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by our Vice Chair Keoni McGee. Bow your hairs and reverence yourself before God. Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior today, we come first just saying thank you. Thank you for another opportunity just to borrow a little bit of your oxygen and feel a little bit of your sunshine. Thank you for an opportunity to make manifest your will on this planet, specifically in this community for this people. These people. The ordinances to be considered today are item A, ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for countywide general fund operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026, levying all taxes so provided, providing severality exclusion from the code and an effective date, and the budget director has a statement. The proposed countywide operating millage is 4.574 mills, which is 7.57% above the state defined rolled back rate of 4.252. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support services included in the proposed budget, including a planned cost of living adjustment, an increase from the Florida retirement system, and increase to the maintenance of effort for funding for Jackson Health Systems. Item B is an ordinance approving, adopting and ratifying the millage for countywide bonded debt service for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026, levying all taxes so provided, providing severability exclusion from the code and an effective date, and the budget director as a statement. The proposed countywide debt service millage rate is.4171 mills.0943 mills for the public health trust Jackson Miracle Building Bond Program. Item C is an ordinance approving and adopting the countywide general fund budget for Miami Dade County, Florida for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Providing a short title, incorporating the fiscal year 2025-26 proposed budget as amended, appropriating all budget of revenues and expenditures, authorizing the investment of county funds in the time warrants of Miami Dade County, authorizing the transfer of funds as cash advances, pending receipt of taxes or other revenues, authorizing deposit of interest earned to the general fund, ratifying, confirming and approving implementing orders and other actions of the board, which set fees, rates, and charges, authorizing fees, rates and charges consistent with appropriations, and providing for their amendment and authorizing subsequent amendments by resolution, authorizing the mayor or designee to negotiate and execute certain funding agreements, waiving for fiscal year 2025-26 provisions of the code and resolutions requiring execution of county affidavits for nonprofits receiving certain county funding, authorizing additional levy of capital improvement local option, gas tax pursuant to Section 3360251B, Florida statutes, effective January 1, 2026, and amending Article 14 of Chapter 29 of the Code of Miami Dade County, Florida. Amending, waiving, or rescinding if necessary, various sections of the code, applicable implementing orders, and other legislative enactments to conform such enactments to the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, superseding conflicting provisions of prior legislative enactments, and providing severality exclusion from and inclusion in the code and an effective date. Item D is an ordinance approving, adopting and ratifying the millage for unincorporated municipal service area operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026, levying all taxes so provided, providing severality exclusion from the code and an effective date, and the budget director as a statement. The proposed unincorporated municipal service area operating millage is 1.909 MILLs, which is 7.37% above the state-defined rollback rate of 1.7779. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the services included in the proposed budget, a planned cost of living adjustment, and an increase in the Florida retirement system. Item E is an ordinance approving and adopting the unincorporated municipal service area fund budget for Miami Dade County, Florida for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Providing a short title, incorporating the fiscal year 2025-26 proposed budget as amended, appropriating all budgeted revenues and expenditures, authorizing the investment of county funds in the time warrants of Miami Dade County, authorizing the transfer of funds as cash advances, pending receipt of taxes or other revenues, authorizing deposit of interest earned to the general fund, ratifying, confirming and approving implementing orders and other actions of the board which set fees, rates, and charges, authorizing fees, rates and charges consistent with appropriations, and providing for their amendment and authorizing subsequent amendments by resolution. Recognizing and continuing the unincorporated municipal service area, authorizing the mayor, mayor's designee to negotiate and execute certain funding agreements, waiving for fiscal year 2025-26 provisions of the code and resolutions requiring execution of county affidavits for nonprofits receiving certain county funding, amending, waiving or rescinding if necessary, various sections of the code, applicable implementing orders and other legislative enactments to conform such enactments to the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, superseding conflicting provisions of prior legislative enactments, providing severality exclusion from the code and an effective date. Item F is an ordinance approving adopting and ratifying the millage for Miami Dade Fire and Rescue Service District operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026. Levying all taxes so provided, recognizing and continuing the Miami Dade Fire and Rescue Service District, providing severality exclusion from the code and an effective date, and the budget director as a statement. The proposed Miami Dade Fire Rescue Service District operating millage is 2.3965 mills, which is 7.99% above the state defined rolled back rate of 2.2191 mills. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the services included in the proposed budget, including additional units, a planned cost of living adjustment and contractual adjustments, and increase and an increase from the Florida retirement system. Item G is an ordinance approving adopting and ratifying the millage for Miami Day Library System operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Levying all taxes so provided, recognizing and continuing the Miami Day Library System, providing severability exclusion from the code and an effective date and the budget director's ass statement. The proposed Miami Dade Library System operating millage is.2812 mills, which is 7.78% above the state defined rollback rate of.2609 MILS.
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