Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava recently presented her proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, holding the county’s operating property tax rate flat for a fourth consecutive year, its lowest level since 1982, while protecting the services residents rely on most.

The budget is built around five priorities: healthy and safe communities, an economy that works for all, fiscal responsibility and efficiency, infrastructure investment, and risk reduction and resilience.

“Every year, presenting a balanced budget is one of my most important responsibilities as your mayor,” Mayor Levine Cava said. “This budget protects essential services and prepares responsibly for the future.”

Amid slowing revenue and rising costs, the mayor directed county departments to reduce their budgets and helped ensure further savings through WISE305, the county’s efficiency initiative she spearheaded last year. The program helped save $42 million in efficiencies, helped reduce costs by $79 million and eliminated more than 400 vacant positions.

The budget provides Constitutional Offices, including the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s, $66 million above last year’s operating budget, while asking them, like county departments, to find efficiencies and limit spending.

Transit remains a top priority with the mayor’s proposal calling for an increase of $66 million in spending. Despite the increased investment, the mayor believes transit is facing long-term funding challenges, made worse by state budget cuts that have led to reductions in dedicated revenues.

The proposal includes targeted reductions to low-ridership, early-morning and late-night service routes while protecting Special Transportation Services and MetroConnect, and avoiding a fare or fuel tax increase. The mayor is committed to creating a sustainable plan for public transportation in Miami-Dade County.

The budget also prepares Miami-Dade for potential statewide property tax reform, which could cost the county an estimated $385.8 million in General Fund revenue in the first year alone. That is more than 10 percent of the county’s General Fund. Those cuts increase to nearly $697 million in the second year.

The mayor’s presentation opens public discussion ahead of several town halls throughout the county in August. Final budget hearings will be held in September before the budget is passed by the Miami-Dade County Commission.

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