NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — During the last budget meeting on Tuesday in North Miami, Becky Jones told the city’s council that the Friends of the North Miami Library’s request to help teens had been ignored.

Jones, the president of the nonprofit advocacy organization, said she and other members had been requesting that the city hire a full-time library specialist.

“We have so many teens coming into the library every day that we really need a person just to handle the load of students,” Jones told council members.

The council of Miami-Dade County’s sixth-largest city voted unanimously to approve the proposed $238.9 million budget — without addressing Jones’s request.

“I do see the need for additional help,” Kassandra Timothe, the vice mayor, said about the job opening at the library.

The city council’s vote to keep the 7.4 millage rate, which has remained flat since 2022, was also unanimous during the final budget meeting.

Councilman Kevin A. Burns, a former mayor who represents the city’s District 1, said he disapproved of the long list of “overpriced” special events included in the budget.

“We have such other crucial needs out there,” Burns said.

The budget authorized 18 new full-time and 22 new part-time positions, but not the library job Jones asked for.

“We are going to look mid-year to see if we can add someone part-time,” Theresa Therilus, the city manager, told the council about the compromise on a job opening at the library.

Councilman Pierre Frantz Charles thanked Therilus and her team for the “balanced” budget, which included a combined 5% merit and cost-of-living adjustment for PBA employees and 3% for general employees.

Deborah Davis, a resident, said she was grateful for the city’s support of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

“I think it’s a real star that puts North Miami on the map,” Davis said.

The budget’s major investments included $5.96 million for water and sewer improvements; $2.65 million for the Building Inspections facility; $1.52 million for sidewalks and roadway resurfacing; $1.27 million for parks and recreation improvements; $1.14 million for priority stormwater projects; and $591,000 for general government facility improvements.

Alix Desulme, the city’s mayor; Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin; and Timothe have been campaigning for re-election on Nov. 3.

Desulme is running against George Morgan. Timothe is running against Brian Jinks. Estimé-Irvin, who represents District 3, is running against Joban Jules and Carolina Matamoros.

Related document: Here is the 369-page proposed budget

Watch the meeting

Related reports

North Miami council approves $238.9 million budget, keeps 7.4 millage rate

About The Author

Andrea Torres