DERM gets separated, Metro Connect survives
First in a series of county budget coverage stories
Miami-Dade’s $12.9 billion budget squeaked through Thursday night — or, more accurately, early Saturday morning — after another one of those all-night marathons at County Hall that leave everyone bleary-eyed and cranky.
The biggest headline? Bus riders dodged a fare hike. That 50-cent increase Mayor Daniella Levine Cava floated back in July got tossed out like yesterday’s cafecito. Same with the 25-cent bump on paratransit for folks with disabilities.
Instead, Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez waved his magic wand — or, more precisely, dipped into a reserve fund meant for future transit projects — and, just like that, poof! No fare hikes. He even got a unanimous vote on it without a single peep of discussion.
Read related: Miami-Dade budget restores 100% funds to non-profits = self preservation
But if you think that means Miami-Dade is out of the woods financially, think again. As Commissioner Oliver Gilbert put it, this is like slapping a Band-Aid on an amputation. “Eventually we’re going to have to cauterize.”
The county is staring down a $94 million deficit in 2027, which seems small considering this year’s projected shortfall was four times as much. Still, this only means the tough choices just got kicked down the road. Again.
Meanwhile, the meeting wasn’t all hugs and kisses. Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez unloaded on Levine Cava, accusing her of “hiding the ball” and stonewalling him for months. She fired back — voice raised, finger wagging — accusing him of political grandstanding. And in one of those only-in-Miami moments, she pulled out a campaign T-shirt he had his staff handing out earlier that day to prove her point.
La Alcadesa had been silently holding the t-shirt under her desk just waiting for the right moment to shame him. Like a boss!
“I feel my reputation has been impugned,” she said, after he basically called her a liar. “You do need to show some respect.
“This unfortunately demonstrates the lack of knowledge about the budget process by this commissioner,” she said.
Ouch.
By 4 a.m., the commission had rubber-stamped the mayor’s budget mostly intact. That means higher water and trash fees, more than $80 million extra for the new sheriff’s office, and yes, still $46 million in taxpayer cash and in-kind services to subsidize the FIFA World Cup and it’s parties. Priorities, people!
Read related: Madness marathon: Observations from the first Miami-Dade budget hearing
MetroConnect, the neighborhood ride service that was on the chopping block, survives — but with a $3.75 price tag per trip and fewer zones. Some cuts did stick: say goodbye to lifeguards at natural swimming holes and the Office of New Americans, which allegedly helps immigrants navigate the system.
And let’s not forget the sneaky little nugget environmentalists were screaming about: the weakening of DERM, the watchdog that often gives developers headaches. Levine Cava insists the change is just an “administrative shuffle.” Environmental groups say it’s the beginning of the end for meaningful oversight. Guess which side developers are betting on.
Several environmental advocates spoke during the nearly five hours of public comment, which was mostly dominated by a thank you chorus of non-profit heads and arts and culture boosters who got their money after some strong-arming. Other speakers lined up to demand the county divest from Israel bonds, or to blast commissioners for balancing the budget on the backs of transit riders (that was before Rodriguez saved the day).
Read related: Developers get gift-wrapped, weaker DERM in Miami-Dade budget shuffle
Either way, most of the $402 million shortfall is gone now that the money was found in the final version of the budget — proving once again that when enough people yell, the mayor somehow “finds” cash in the couch cushions.
“It doesn’t increase our confidence in the process if when we raise our voices then suddenly you find the resources,” said Commissioner Marleine Bastien, who called the budget saga “taxing on all of us.” Very funny, lady.
It’s not fair to say, however, that the money just magically appeared. It took a lot of work to go through those couch cushions and the only people who really rolled up their sleeves with the mayor to do dive in and find the efficiencies were Commissioners Gilbert, Raquel Regalado and Keon Hardemon. The others pretty much watched from the sidelines and complained.
“The information we had in August was dramatically different from the information we had in July,” Regalado said. “And it was nobody’s fault.”
Gonzalez cried about not being given information but had cancelled or walked out on several meetings with staff and the mayor. He was grandstanding for his Instagram feed (more on that later).
So, bottom line: Riders don’t pay more (yet), nonprofits get their grants, and Daniella gets her budget. But the next mayor — and taxpayers — are going to inherit the hangover from this late-night fiesta.
The post Miami-Dade passes final $12.9 million budget — sans transit fare increases appeared first on Political Cortadito.

Read Full Story