The Sunny Isles Beach City Commission on Sept. 11 adopted a final ad valorem tax millage of 1.7 mills per $1,000 of taxable assessed value and approved the city’s operating and capital improvement budgets for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025.

The votes implemented a commission direction to lower the millage from the city manager’s initial recommendation and removed proposed new programs from the draft budget to reconcile the lower rate. The capital improvement ordinance references Section 200.65 of the Florida Statutes and covers the fiscal year 10/01/2025 through 09/30/2026.

Commission debate focused on the size of the reduction, the accuracy of financial estimates and the transparency of the budget process. Commissioner Joseph said he helped lead the push for the 1.7‑mill rate and repeatedly questioned the numbers supporting cuts, saying, “I don't believe that these numbers are true in any regard” and later, “For me, I don't trust these numbers.” He asked that Tiffany, the city’s director of finance, be present at future meetings so commissioners can question her directly.

City Manager (name not provided) defended the process and timeline, saying the budget was developed over multiple months and “built the budget based on the visioning of the Commission” and on the commission’s direction to target a lower millage. The manager said staff removed proposed new programs after the commission directed the 1.7 rate.

Public speakers raised procedural and analytical concerns. Steven Hirsch, a resident of 17201 Collins Avenue, urged the commission to adopt performance‑based budgeting, arguing it would “give both the city manager and the commission a data driven framework for making smart, transparent, targeted reductions whenever revenues are constrained.” Lyle Brouse asked for an update on the city’s reserve balances and questioned a proposed increase in authorized positions, saying, “From what I can see there's no immediate plans to hire that many additional people. That raises the question why are we allocating funds for 12 more positions than we've historically had?” The city manager and commissioners responded that the 60 positions in the proposed budget reflect authorized headcount and that actual hiring will be variable.

On the millage resolution (agenda item 3A), a motion to adopt the 1.7‑mill rate was moved and seconded and carried with three affirmative votes; roll call recorded votes in favor by Commissioner Joseph, Vice Mayor Lamo and Mayor Svachin. Two commissioners were absent when the first roll call was taken; the record includes inconsistent roll‑call notations in the transcript but the resolution was approved and implemented in the adopted budget package.

On the ordinance adopting the operating and capital improvement budgets (agenda item 3B), the commission again moved and seconded the ordinance. The roll call recorded Vice Mayor Lamo, Commissioner Viscara and Mayor Svachin voting yes and Commissioner Joseph voting no; the ordinance passed with a 3–1 tally. The capital budget ordinance authorizes expenditures and encumbrances for fiscal year 2025‑26 and cites compliance with Section 200.65 of the Florida Statutes.

Commissioners discussed process improvements for future budget cycles, including producing multiple revenue‑scenario models (for example 1.7, 1.65 and 1.6 mills) to show program impacts under different rates and offering more opportunities to question staff during workshops. Several commissioners said they supported reducing the millage to benefit residents while also urging that future commissions be left with a sustainable baseline.

The ordinances take effect per their stated effective dates in the adopted documents, and the budget covers the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2025. The commission adjourned with no further business on the agenda.