MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Commissioners approved Miami-Dade County’s $14.26 billion budget while keeping operating property tax rates flat at 4.57 mills, after a meeting from Thursday afternoon to Friday morning at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center in downtown Miami.
While the county’s new budget kept public bus service before 6 a.m., it did not bridge the gap between Miami-Dade’s Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz’s request and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s proposal for commissioners.
Related story: Miami-Dade sheriff asks commissioners for bigger budget: ‘Anything less is defunding the police’
Cordero-Stutz told commissioners that she was concerned that Levine Cava’s proposal, which includes about $1 billion to fund the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, did not meet the county’s law enforcement agency’s staffing needs.
“The proposed budget is not a responsible investment in public safety,” Cordero-Stutz said, adding MDSO currently operates below the Florida average.
During the process, Levine Cava told commissioners that property value growth had “returned to more moderate levels,” the cost of living continued to rise, and the county needed to prepare for the possibility of statewide property tax reform.
“At least these $11.5 million gets them to their contractual obligations,” Anthony Rodriguez, the commission’s chairman, said about adding to the sheriff’s budget.
Commissioner Keon Hardemon, who represents District 3, said it was likely that the sheriff was still going to appeal.
“I want to be supportive, but I just think that the money could be better served in other ways,“ Hardemon said.
Related story: Miami-Dade commissioners raise concerns about county’s ‘Welcome to Vice City’ deal with Rockstar Games
Rodriguez said he wanted commissioners to allocate $5 million to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, a marketing organization, to “reinvest” in the community.
Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert, III, and six other commissioners were supportive. Commissioners Raquel A. Regalado, Micky Steinberg, and Juan Carlos “JC” Bermudez opposed it. Bermudez suggested adopting a conflict-of-interest clause.
Commissioners plan to reconsider raising funds to avoid the budget’s cuts on the late-night public bus service.
Related link: Miami-Dade approves $14B budget, late-night buses cut, Miami Herald reports
Watch the meeting
Related proposed budget
Related documents
Related reports
- North Miami council approves $238.9 million budget, keeps 7.4 millage rate
- Fort Lauderdale commissioners adopt $1.28 billion budget, keep same millage rate for 19th year
Related social media
Miami-Dade Chair Anthony Rodriguez said he wants to send $5M in mostly property-tax dollars to Miami-Dade’s tourism bureau. The GMCVB gave Rodriguez’s PAC $38K worth of World Cup skybox tickets in June. The board already gets $37M from county hotel taxes https://t.co/Tl6uVskyHt
— Doug Hanks (@doug_hanks) September 18, 2026
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
