Miami-Dade County Commission Second Budget Hearing – FY 2026-27

On September 17, 2026, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners held its second and final public hearing to adopt millage rates, fees, and budgets for fiscal year 2026-27 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027). The meeting began at 5:01 p.m. and lasted until the early morning of September 18. Commissioners voted on eight ordinances covering countywide general fund, debt service, unincorporated municipal service area (UMSA), fire rescue, library, proprietary budgets, and special assessment districts. Extensive public comment and board debate focused on public safety funding (Sheriff’s Office), transit service cuts, environmentally endangered lands (EEL) funding, water and sewer rate increases, and community-based organization (CBO) support.

Consent Calendar

• All eight budget ordinances (Items A–H) were approved after various amendments, with the following final votes:
  • Item A (Countywide General Fund Millage): Passed 11–1.
  • Item B (Bonded Debt Service Millage): Passed 12–1.
  • Item C (Countywide General Fund Budget): Passed 8–3 after multiple amendments.
  • Item D (UMSA Operating Millage): Passed 9–2.
  • Item E (UMSA Fund Budget): Passed 10–3.
  • Item F (Fire Rescue Service District Millage): Passed unanimously.
  • Item G (Library System Millage): Passed unanimously.
  • Item H (Proprietary and Other Budgets): Passed 10–3 (including bifurcation of water/sewer rate increase).

Public Comments & Testimony

Over 100 residents spoke, with positions on the following key issues:

• Arts & Culture: Speakers (e.g., Heaven Jones, Mark Fahet, Pedro Diaz) urged continued and increased funding for the Department of Cultural Affairs, citing economic impact ($2.1 billion annually) and youth development.
• Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL): Dozens (e.g., Melissa Ortega, Rachel Silverstein, Andrea Miró) requested restoring EEL funding to $20 million, emphasizing flood protection, storm surge reduction, and biodiversity. Some noted a 54% budget cut over two years.
• Public Transit: Riders and advocates (e.g., Shakquis Floyd, Cathy Dos Santos, Thomas Bussey) opposed cuts to early morning and late-night bus service, warning that 45 routes before 6 a.m. and 38 after 10 p.m. would be eliminated. Many noted reliance on transit for work, school, and medical appointments.
• Water & Sewer Rate Increase: Several speakers (e.g., Elizabeth Boone, Steven Vargas, David Putt) supported the proposed 6% rate adjustment, arguing it is needed for infrastructure compliance with federal consent decree and ocean outfall requirements. A few opposed, citing cumulative burden on families.
• Sheriff’s Office Funding: Multiple speakers (e.g., Sharon Frazier, Keith Biggins) urged full funding for the Sheriff’s Office, emphasizing low starting salaries and understaffing relative to other Florida agencies.
• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): Representatives (e.g., Amanda Altman, Maria Giamont) requested a 3% increase in funding to sustain safety-net services, pointing to rising demand.
• Illegal Dumping: Employees (e.g., Michael Estavillo, Jose Escobar) opposed cuts to the illegal dumping unit, noting 9 positions would be eliminated, impacting neighborhood cleanliness and public health.

Discussion Items

Sheriff’s Office Budget: Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz presented a request for a $55 million increase (total $1.2 billion), stating that $62.5 million is a mandatory collective bargaining obligation that the mayor’s proposed $55 million increase does not cover. She warned of canceling 6.5 academy classes, resulting in ~180 fewer deputies by end of FY 2026-27. Mayor Levine Cava’s administration countered that the proposal funds all requested positions with a 6% attrition assumption, and that the Sheriff’s Office could hire as many as possible with carryover funds. After debate, Chairman Rodriguez offered an amendment allocating an additional $11.376 million from tax collector surplus to the Sheriff’s Office for personnel uses. The Sheriff declined to rule out appealing to the state if not fully funded.

Transit Cuts: Mayor Levine Cava announced restoration of early-morning service (before 6 a.m.) on 45 routes costing $12.5 million. Late-night and eliminated routes remained unfunded. Commissioner Bastien proposed restoring her district’s eliminated routes, which evolved into a broader discussion. Ultimately, the board directed the administration to prepare a model for a 50-cent fare increase (by resolution on October 6) and to return with a plan to restore evening and eliminated routes, funded by the fare increase and other savings.

EEL Funding: Commissioner Cohen Higgins moved to transfer $12 million from the utility service fee reserve to EEL for land acquisition and restoration. The motion passed 11–2. Additional EEL funding came from Commissioner Regalado’s motion to create a 501(c)(3) for EEL and explore naming rights and public donations.

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB): Chairman Rodriguez proposed $5 million to GMCVB for attracting major events, with a requirement for matching funds and clawback provisions. Passed 8–4 after debate.

Illegal Dumping: Chairman Rodriguez moved $3.2 million from solid waste interest earnings to fully fund the illegal dumping unit, code enforcement, and litter pickup. Passed unanimously.

Clerk of Court Funding: Commissioner Bastien’s motion to allocate $1.536 million from future services reserve to restore 14 positions in the Comptroller Finance Department passed unanimously.

Hialeah Reverse Osmosis Plant: Commissioner Milian Orbis’s motion to continue dispute resolution with Hialeah and provide updates every 60 days passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Millage Rates Adopted: All millage rates approved as proposed (countywide, UMSA, fire, library, debt service).
• Additional Sheriff Funding: $11.376 million from tax collector surplus allocated to Sheriff’s Office for personnel.
• Transit Restoration: Early-morning bus service restored ($12.5 million); administration directed to prepare fare increase (50 cents) and return with plan to restore evening and eliminated routes by October 6.
• EEL Funding: $12 million from utility service fee reserve allocated to EEL; also directed creation of 501(c)(3) and naming rights program.
• Illegal Dumping: $3.2 million restored from solid waste interest earnings.
• GMCVB: $5 million allocated for major events, contingent on matching funds and clawback provisions.
• Community-Based Organizations: Funded at flat level (same as prior year); no increase approved.
• Water & Sewer Rate Increase: Section 22 of Item H (6% rate adjustment) was bifurcated and approved 7–6.
• Future Reserves: Remaining future services reserve balance after amendments approximately $5.8 million.
• Amendment 3 Contingency Plan: Commissioner Orbis’s motion passed unanimously requiring a report within 60 days of election certification detailing projected revenue losses.
• Next Steps: The board will consider a fare increase resolution and transit restoration plan at the October 6 meeting.