The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners held its second and final budget hearing on September 18, 2025, at 5:01 PM in Commission Chambers, to adopt the FY 2025-26 budget. The meeting included public testimony, commissioner discussion, and votes on millage rates and budget ordinances. The mayor presented a balanced budget closing a $400 million gap without raising property tax rates, relying on efficiencies, returned constitutional office funds, and adjustments.
Awesome. All right. If um, if everyone could please stand up so that we can be led in prayer by Rabbi Yossi Harlig, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by uh Commissioner Miliano Orbis. Rabbi. Do we have a vote to do an invitation? Yes. Thank you. Almighty God. We thank you for bringing us together this evening as one community. Leaders, commissioners, nonprofits, first responders, families, and neighbors, united with the purpose of serving Miami Date. We thank you, Almighty God, for blessing us with Mayor Daniel Levine Carvalho and with the commissioners who give so much of themselves, led by Chairman Anthony Rodriguez, and joined by all the commissioners here tonight. They sit and deliberate how to help this county to make it truly a beacon of light to the world. We also thank you for the devoted staff of the Office of Management and Budget who labored tirelessly to turn vision into action. May we know your wisdom and fulfill your purpose. Tonight every segment of our communities represented. First responders, communities leaders, nonprofits, families with special needs. And it's so harm heartwarming to see this unity, this love, and this compassion. Bless our leaders with wisdom, integrity, and strength. May they always remember that behind every number in the budget is a person, a family, a life. And we want to thank you for your strong support for everyone to live in freedom and peace and tranquility. And now we close the words with the blessings from the priestly blessings. May God bless you and guard you. May God shine his face upon you and be gracious to you. May God lift his face to you and grant you peace, and let us say Amen. All right. Yes. We have a number of um procedural things we need to deal with, Mr. Chair. The mayor has issued a memorandum titled Supplemental Information for Second Budget Hearing Fiscal Year 2025-26 proposed budget. This memorandum has been added to the agenda. You all should have received copies. Which is 7.57% above the state-defined rollback rate of 4.252. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support services, including in the proposed budget, including a planned cost of living adjustment, an increase from the Florida retirement system, and an increase to the maintenance of effort 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. The proposed countywide debt service millage rate is 0.4174 MILS, 0.328 MILS for countywide debt service, including the Building Better Communities Bond Program and Safe Neighborhood Parks Program and 0943 MILS for the Public Health Trust Jackson Miracle Bond Building Bond Program. Item C is an ordinance approving and adopting the countywide general fund budget for Miami Day 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 Day 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, mayors designate 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 section 1-4.3 of the code relating to reorganization of county administrative departments, 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 several exclusion from the code, 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 severability exclusion from the code and an effective date, and the budget director's a statement. The proposed unincorporated municipal service area operating millage is 1.909 MILS, which is 7.37% above the state-defined rollback rate of 1.779. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the services included in the proposed budget, a planned cost of living adjustment, and increase for the Florida retirement system. Item E is an ordinance approving and adopting the unincorporated municipal service area fund budget for Miami Day 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 Day 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 or mayor's designee to negotiate and execute certain funding agreements, waiv 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 severability exclusion from the code and an effective date. Item F is an ordinance approving adopting and ratifying the millage for Miami Day 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's statement. The proposed Miami Dade Fire Rescue Service District operating millage is 2.3965 MILS, which is 7.99% above the state-defined rollback rate of 2.2191 MILS. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the services included in the proposed budget, including additional units, a planned cost of living and contractual adjustments, and an increase for the Florida retirement system.