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North Miami adopts $234 million budget, sets millage at 7.4 mills; budget ordinance passes 3-2
Summary
After a public hearing, the North Miami City Council on Sept. 25 approved a $234,000,173 city budget and a 7.4‑mill levy. The millage resolution passed unanimously; the ordinance adopting the budget passed 3-2. Council also approved two CRA budgets.
The North Miami City Council adopted a $234,000,173 budget and set a final millage rate of 7.4 mills for fiscal year 2025–26 during its Sept. 25 meeting, after a public hearing and debate over departmental adjustments and reserve rules.
The vote on the millage rate was unanimous; the ordinance adopting the budget on second reading passed 3-2. Council also approved two Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) budgets related to the CRA’s amended FY24–25 budget and its FY25–26 budget.
CFO Angela Reyes presented the proposed numbers at the start of the hearing, saying the proposed revenues total $234,000,173 and that the proposed general fund share is about 43.55 percent of total revenues. Reyes told council the proposal assumes a millage rate of 7.4 and lists across‑the‑board cost pressures including a 10 percent increase in employee health insurance and general liability/property insurance, higher pension contribution rates, and negotiated pay impacts for public safety employees. Reyes also walked the council through line‑item adjustments by department and fund.
Key budget changes cited in the presentation included a $354,970 increase for the police department (budgeted at about $39.36 million), a $150,000 increase for code compliance, a $232,500 increase for housing and social services, and various capital and proprietary fund adjustments including a $4,356,378 transportation fund and a $67,342,032 enterprise fund. Reyes also flagged a proposed annual transfer from the water and sewer fund to the general fund, calculated at 7.5 percent of fixed assets as of Sept. 30, 2024.
During a prolonged council discussion members pressed staff on: items moved in the change memo; a $95,584 reduction to an advertising/clerks line item; centennial event spending; and several capital items in the CIP (including a $4,000,000 line for water transmission lines and other water‑system upgrades). Council also received public comments calling for restoration of programs (seniors, food pantry, and cultural organizations) and for full funding of the Arch Creek East (ACE) Preserve; those comments are summarized in a separate article.
Votes at a glance
- Final millage rate (Resolution, Tab B): Adopted 7.4 mills. Motion by Councilwoman Esta Irvin; seconded by Councilman Charles. Vote: 5–0 (Desilme — yes; Vice Mayor Timothy — yes; Councilwoman Irvin — yes; Councilman Charles — yes; Councilman Burns — yes).
- CRA FY24–25 amended budget (Resolution, Tab C): Approved. Motion by Councilman Charles. Vote: 5–0.
- CRA FY25–26 budget (Resolution, Tab D): Approved. Motion by Councilwoman Est a Irvin; seconded by Councilman Charles. Vote: 5–0.
- City budget ordinance, second reading (Ordinance, Tab E): Ordinance adopting FY25–26 budget approved on second reading. Motion by Councilman Charles; second by Councilwoman Esta Irvin. Vote: 3–2 (Yes: Councilman Charles, Councilwoman Irvin, Vice Mayor Timothy. No: Councilman Burns, Mayor Desilme). The ordinance becomes effective immediately on passage.
What the budget means in plain terms
- Total proposed revenues: $234,000,173. - General fund share: 43.55 percent of total revenues. - Notable department adjustments: police +$354,970; code compliance +$150,000; housing & social services +$232,500; IT +$250,000; parks & recreation –$200,000 (as presented by the CFO). - Proprietary/capital highlights: $4,000,000 for water transmission lines (CIP), $1,300,000 increase for water mains, transportation fund increases and an enterprise fund budget of roughly $67.3 million.
Council directed staff to finalize scrivener corrections noted by the CFO (corrections to line items for invasive plant removal at Enchanted Forest and Arch Creek) and to continue routine budget work. The council also discussed the city’s reserve policy and restrictions on access to the reserve; that discussion is reported in a separate article.
The council scheduled follow‑up and implementation work with managers and directors on department‑level questions, and staff confirmed standard authority language allowing the city manager to implement technical budget amendments during the fiscal year as needed.
