Miami commission amends budget: $3 million from fire/EMS revenue for new rescue unit and tutoring program; Bayfront $9M deferred

The Miami City Commission on Sept. 25 approved an amendment to the fiscal-year 2025–26 budget that increases recognized fire/EMS fee revenue by $3,000,000 and directs $2,000,000 of that amount for an additional rescue unit to serve the Melreese/Freedom Park area and $1,000,000 for a tutoring program for children in the urban core.

Commissioners debated public-safety staffing and broader budget priorities during the hearing. Commissioner Gavella raised data from Fire Rescue showing that fee collections had grown markedly this year and proposed recognizing more revenue conservatively: "Being conservative... I would respectfully suggest... $15,000,000 on the budget," referencing staff'reported collections. Fire Chief Robert DeBauch confirmed that certain service areas, including the area around Freedom Park and Station 10 (40 First Avenue/NW Seventh Street), experience prolonged EMS response times and described the territory covered: "We conduct heat maps, and some areas... are 12 minutes because it's kind of like in a dead zone." Chief DeBauch and other staff said adding a rescue unit would reduce long response-time gaps and relieve nearby stations and the Beacon Boulevard unit that frequently covers the area.

The amendment recorded by staff increased Fire/EMS-fee revenue and specified the new rescue unit would include funding for 13 new positions (to staff three shifts). The commission discussed logistics and the need to fold the capital and station planning into an overarching public-safety capital recommendation; the City Manager said staff will return with a capital plan and location recommendations and that larger capital needs will be considered for a bond proposal.

Councilmembers also discussed a previously proposed $9,000,000 allocation from the Bayfront Park/Bayfront Trust reserve. The City Manager explained that commissioners had agreed the $9,000,000 should be held and considered as a midyear budget item once the commission decides the future structure or governance of Bayfront Park (for example, a city department, enterprise fund or conservancy). "No funds will be transferred," the manager said, "until it comes for reconsideration in a year."

Separately, Commissioners agreed to allocate $1,000,000 from the $3,000,000 amendment to a tutoring program described in the meeting as a "Leave No Kid Behind" tutoring initiative to provide out-of-school tutoring hours for students; the scope and provider details were to be determined by staff and through later budget actions.

Commissioner Rosado and others discussed police staffing. Commissioner Rosado said she would be comfortable scaling the proposed 100-officer annual hiring plan down, recommending 50 per year instead, citing declining Part 1 crime statistics reported this year. Police Chief Manny Morales reported recent declines in Part 1 crimes and explained the timeline and attrition dynamics for achieving net staffing gains.

The commission also discussed MiamiCoin funds: staff confirmed the city received $5,250,000 in donations from MiamiCoin proceeds and that the original resolution allocated $2,000,000 for senior rental assistance and $3,250,000 to districts for affordable-housing initiatives; commissioners directed staff to return with a resolution formalizing distribution by district and CDBG rules.

The amended BH10 package and accompanying administrative updates (including an updated exhibit and today's date on the resolution) were approved by voice vote with unanimous support. The clerk recorded the final motion "as amended" and staff noted administrative edits to the resolution text would be made before finalization.