Miami-Dade County commissioners approved a substitute item to ratify a reimbursement agreement with Miami Dade College after the college distributed scholarships under a board-approved item while a formal contract remained unsigned.

Commissioner X (pulled item sponsor identified in transcript as Commissioner Milian/Orbis) said the scholarships were launched in 2023 but the formal agreement to reimburse the college was not completed until this year. “This is a hot mess,” a committee member said during the discussion, adding that students have already received awards and the item functions as a cleanup and reimbursement to memorialize the earlier commitment.

When asked how $3,000,000 in scholarships had been paid without an executed agreement, administration representatives explained the college advanced funds to students based on the board vote and is now seeking reimbursement. An administration staff member said, “No monies have been released as a matter of reimbursement grant,” but then clarified that Miami Dade College had advanced the funds and needs the county reimbursement because the county had authorized the scholarships in the budget.

Committee members expressed discomfort about the delay and asked staff to ensure agreements accompany future budget items. After discussion, the committee approved the substitute agreement by voice vote.

The action does not change the fact that the scholarships were already distributed; instead it authorizes the county to reimburse Miami Dade College and formalizes the agreement governing that reimbursement.