On July 15, 2025, Miami‑Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2025–26 outlining a $400 million deficit, prompting sweeping cuts across county services. With deficits this steep—comparable to the worst periods since the 2008 recession—the county faces tough choices to avoid tax increases while maintaining essential services.
Miami‑Dade's projected shortfall is the largest since the Great Recession—driven by revenue lag, state mandates, and inflation. To address the gap, the mayor’s office recommends reducing departmental funding by 10–35%, merging duplicative operations, eliminating select grants, and cutting jobs.
Potential service-cut areas include:
The mayor seeks to consolidate overlapping functions—restructuring to curb redundancies while refocusing resources toward frontline services. Key programs like the Office of New Americans and the Office of Neighborhood Safety could be eliminated, though Housing Advocacy is spared.
Commissioners will hold hearings in September. The mayor defends the plan as “fair, balanced and resident‑focused,” stressing fiscal restraint without raising the millage rate.
Fares for Metrorail and Metrobus will rise from $2.25 to $2.75, effective October 1—though service hours remain untouched. Local transit advocates warn that fare hikes may disproportionately impact low-income commuters.
Cuts ripple into local economies—reducing funds for small-business grants and park upkeep may affect tourism, recreational venues, and local employment. The fee increases, while generating revenue, could discourage lower-income residents from using community resources.
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