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Miami Gardens adopts 6.9363‑mill rate and roughly $121 million budget; council orders outreach after tax confusion
Summary
On Sept. 24, 2025, Miami Gardens City Council unanimously approved a 6.9363 operating millage (unchanged for 13 years), a 0.4331 voted debt millage, and an approximate $121 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2025–26. Council directed staff to publicize the tax facts and consider additional community outreach and signage.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Gardens City Council on Sept. 24 unanimously approved a final operating millage rate of 6.9363 mills and a voted debt service rate of 0.4331 mills for fiscal year 2025–26, and adopted a general fund budget the city described as approximately $121,000,000.
The council voted 7-0 to approve the millage resolution and later voted 7-0 to adopt the budget after a brief period of discussion and public comment. The fiscal year runs Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026; the combined aggregate millage is 7.3694 mills.
City officials said the operating millage rate has not increased in 13 years. During public comment, resident Carol Jones asked whether property taxes were rising after seeing a report in a local paper. "I've read in the Miami Times where you guys are going up on the property tax," Jones said. Mr. Clay, a city staff member, responded: "We are not increasing our property tax rate. We have not increased it for the last 13 or 14 years. If you are seeing an increase in your taxes, it may be because some of the other taxing authorities have raised theirs, or it may be because the value of your property has increased."
Council members praised staff for preparing the budget and discussed steps to correct public confusion about taxes. Mayor Harris and members of the council endorsed issuing a press release and additional outreach explaining the adopted rates and what the budget funds. "We'll work on issuing a press release, and get that out to the various media outlets, and hopefully that'll clear up some of the confusion," the mayor said.
Council members also requested more local explanations in the community newspaper and suggested front‑page coverage summarizing frequently asked questions. One council member asked that staff consider expanding the electronic marquee/signage outside City Hall to make public notices more legible to passing drivers; city staff said they would assess sign code constraints and report back and that funds may be available if the work complies with the code.
The council briefly deferred action to recall the millage resolution until after the budget discussion; that procedural step preceded the formal roll‑call adoption. The roll call on the millage and on the budget each recorded seven "yes" votes: Councilwoman Baskin, Councilwoman Leon, Councilwoman Powell, Councilwoman Wilson, Councilwoman Julian, Vice Mayor Stevens and Mayor Harris.
The deputy manager reported the proposed general fund budget and highlighted new services the administration plans to roll out in the coming year but did not present a formal line‑by‑line slideshow during the hearing. No written public comments were presented with the clerk at the hearing.
Votes at a glance
- Millage resolution (final operating millage 6.9363; voted debt service 0.4331; aggregate 7.3694): Passed, 7-0 (Baskin, Leon, Powell, Wilson, Julian, Stevens, Harris). - City budget ordinance (FY2025–26 general fund ~ $121,000,000): Passed, 7-0 (Baskin, Leon, Powell, Wilson, Julian, Stevens, Harris).
What the council said and did
- Discussion only: public comment from Carol Jones expressing concern about a reported tax increase; staff and council members clarified the millage rate was unchanged. Council members expressed interest in more public explanation of the budget after adoption. - Direction/assignment: council directed staff to issue a press release explaining the millage and budget, to pursue articles in the community newspaper, and to evaluate the City Hall marquee for improved legibility. - Formal actions: council adopted the millage resolution and the budget ordinance by roll call, each 7-0.
Why it matters
The adopted millage and budget set tax rates and spending priorities for city services, infrastructure and public safety for the coming fiscal year. The council's outreach direction aims to reduce resident confusion about tax bills that may vary because of other taxing authorities or changing property valuations.
