Miami-Dade approves record $1.23 billion budget for Sheriff’s Office
Key Points(5)
- Miami-Dade County has approved a record US$1.234 billion budget for the Sheriff’s Office for fiscal year 2026-27, exceeding the agency’s requested funding by US$186.3 million and providing money for 200 additional positions and the highest overtime allocation in its history.
- Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez announced the adopted budget Thursday, saying it prioritises public safety while maintaining funding for other essential county services.
- The budget is US$186.3 million above the Sheriff’s Office’s certified request of US$1.048 billion.
- It includes funding for all 200 additional positions sought by the sheriff — 80 sworn officers and 120 civilian employees.
- It also allocates approximately US$95 million for overtime and related benefits, covers a proposed cost-of-living adjustment for Sheriff’s Office employees and provides a 3.5% pay supplement for personnel certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Miami-Dade County has approved a record US$1.234 billion budget for the Sheriff’s Office for fiscal year 2026-27, exceeding the agency’s requested funding by US$186.3 million and providing money for 200 additional positions and the highest overtime allocation in its history.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez announced the adopted budget Thursday, saying it prioritises public safety while maintaining funding for other essential county services.
The budget is US$186.3 million above the Sheriff’s Office’s certified request of US$1.048 billion. It includes funding for all 200 additional positions sought by the sheriff — 80 sworn officers and 120 civilian employees.
It also allocates approximately US$95 million for overtime and related benefits, covers a proposed cost-of-living adjustment for Sheriff’s Office employees and provides a 3.5% pay supplement for personnel certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
“We made public safety a priority throughout the budget process, and the final budget reflects that,” Levine Cava said.
The mayor said the funding would help fill existing vacancies and support the additional positions while preserving resources for Fire Rescue, Corrections, Emergency Management, the judicial system and other county services.
The Sheriff’s Office reported approximately 300 vacant positions as of June 2026. County officials said the approved funding should allow the agency to fill those vacancies while recruiting for the additional positions, based on historical hiring, separation and recruitment trends.
Beyond its direct allocation, the county is providing approximately US$21.3 million in General Fund-supported debt service for investments benefiting the Sheriff’s Office. These include vehicles, helicopters, radio systems, law enforcement records and fingerprint identification systems, as well as equipment and facility improvements.
The increased allocation comes as slower revenue growth and rising costs have forced the county to make spending cuts elsewhere in government.
More than 400 General Fund positions were eliminated in other county departments, while the adopted budget does not provide a cost-of-living adjustment for employees under the mayor’s authority. County officials said those decisions helped ensure resources were available to meet the Sheriff’s Office’s funding needs.
General Fund support for the Sheriff’s Office has increased by 37% since fiscal year 2022-23, rising from approximately US$720 million to US$990 million in the adopted 2026-27 budget.
The county said the overall US$1.234 billion allocation represents the largest budget in the Sheriff’s Office’s history.
