Miami-Dade mayor proposes $14.2 billion FY2026-27 budget, keeps county tax rate unchanged
Key Points(5)
- Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has proposed a balanced $14.26 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27, keeping the county’s operating property tax rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive year while prioritizing public safety, transit, infrastructure and essential services.
- Levine Cava presented the proposed budget on Wednesday, saying the plan maintains fiscal responsibility while preparing the county for potential statewide property tax reforms that could significantly affect future revenues.
- "Every year, presenting a balanced budget is one of my most important responsibilities as your Mayor," Levine Cava said.
- "This budget protects essential services and prepares responsibly for the future." The proposed $14.26 billion total operating and capital budget includes a $9.02 billion operating budget and a $5.24 billion capital budget .
- The operating budget supports approximately 31,942 county employees.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has proposed a balanced $14.26 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27, keeping the county’s operating property tax rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive year while prioritizing public safety, transit, infrastructure and essential services.
Levine Cava presented the proposed budget on Wednesday, saying the plan maintains fiscal responsibility while preparing the county for potential statewide property tax reforms that could significantly affect future revenues.
"Every year, presenting a balanced budget is one of my most important responsibilities as your Mayor," Levine Cava said. "This budget protects essential services and prepares responsibly for the future."
The proposed $14.26 billion total operating and capital budget includes a $9.02 billion operating budget and a $5.24 billion capital budget. The operating budget supports approximately 31,942 county employees.
The budget is built around five strategic priorities: healthy and safe communities; an economy that works for all; fiscal responsibility and efficiency; infrastructure investment; and risk reduction and resilience.
Levine Cava said the county has taken steps to control costs amid slowing revenues and rising expenses. County departments were directed to reduce spending, while the mayor’s efficiency initiative, WISE305, generated $42 million in savings, reduced costs by $79 million and eliminated more than 400 vacant positions.
The proposal also includes increased funding for constitutional offices, including the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, providing $66 million more than the previous year’s operating budget. Those offices, like county departments, will also be expected to identify efficiencies and limit spending.
Transit receives additional funding
Public transportation remains a key focus of the proposed budget, with an additional $66 million allocated to transit.
However, Levine Cava warned that transit faces long-term financial challenges, including reductions in dedicated revenues caused by state budget cuts.
The proposal includes targeted reductions to low-ridership, early-morning and late-night routes while maintaining funding for Special Transportation Services and MetroConnect. The mayor said the plan avoids fare increases and does not include a fuel tax increase.
She said the county must develop a sustainable long-term funding strategy for public transportation.
Preparing for possible property tax changes
The proposed budget also accounts for potential statewide property tax reform, which county officials estimate could reduce Miami-Dade’s General Fund revenue by $385.8 million in the first year alone — more than 10% of the fund.
The impact could grow to nearly $697 million in the second year, according to the county.
Capital investments and funding priorities
The proposed capital budget totals $5.24 billion, with the county’s multi-year capital plan totaling $46.7 billion across 519 programs.
The largest portions of the capital budget are allocated to:
- Infrastructure investment: $1.96 billion (37%)
- An economy that works for all: $1.56 billion (30%)
- Risk reduction and resilience: $961.6 million (18%)
- Healthy and safe communities: $461.7 million (9%)
- Fiscal responsibility and efficiency: $218.7 million (4%)
- Constitutional offices: $81.1 million (2%)
The operating budget is funded primarily through proprietary sources ($3.93 billion), property taxes ($3.30 billion), miscellaneous revenues ($724.8 million), sales taxes ($494.1 million), federal and state grants ($358.5 million), miscellaneous state revenues ($154.9 million) and gas taxes ($66.3 million).
Spending priorities include healthy and safe communities, which receives the largest share of the operating budget at 34%, followed by infrastructure investment at 25%, an economy that works for all at 19%, and constitutional offices at 15%.
Levine Cava’s budget presentation begins a period of public review, with community town halls scheduled across Miami-Dade in August. Final budget hearings will be held in September before the proposal goes before the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners for approval.
