Miami-Dade County commissioners voted in committee to approve the Naranja Lakes Community Redevelopment Agency fiscal year 2025–26 budget of $41,861,108 and suspended board Rule 5.06(a) so the CRA could begin expenditures without further delay.

The action, presented by Commissioner Keon McGee, was framed as time-sensitive. “This item is simply to vote out the Noranda CRA’s budget. That's the item, madam chair,” Commissioner McGee said when introducing the item. McGee said delaying approval would halt about $40 million in redevelopment and infrastructure investments and that the CRA's board had already vetted and adopted the budget on Sept. 11.

Commissioner Lenny Cohen Higgins asked why the rule waiver was necessary. County attorneys and the sponsor said the waiver was sought not to avoid scrutiny but to avoid delay: the CRA's interlocal agreement requires county approval before expending the funds, and the agency’s board had already adopted the budget months earlier. The administration told commissioners that without county approval the CRA could not expend monies pursuant to its interlocal agreement.

Some commissioners pressed for better coordination when a member has a legislative hold. Commissioner Cohen Higgins said legislative holds exist for a reason and asked colleagues to consult before attempting to move items around. McGee and other supporters said the waiver mechanism (Rule 5.06[a]) exists precisely to avoid operational stalls for time-sensitive redevelopment projects.

Committee members voiced support for the budget after the explanations and the item passed by voice vote in committee. The sponsor additionally requested that the item be placed on the full Board of County Commissioners agenda on Oct. 18 for final action.

The committee record shows discussion about the inclusion of transit funding in the CRA budget and several commissioners reiterated the need for timely coordination between sponsor offices and commissioners who represent areas within CRA boundaries.

The county attorney and administration also clarified that, for this CRA, the interlocal agreement bars the CRA from expending funds without prior county approval.

The committee did not provide a roll-call tally in the transcript; the outcome was recorded as approved by voice vote.