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Homestead council clears $84M bond referendum, reduces parks ask by $8M
Summary
Council voted to place two general-obligation bond questions on the November ballot — parks ($44.4M) and roadway improvements ($39.6M) — and approved an $8 million reduction to the parks portion at the meeting.
The City Council of the City of Homestead on Aug. 5 voted to place two separate general-obligation bond questions before voters in November: one not to exceed $44,400,000 for park projects and a second not to exceed $39,600,000 for roadway improvements. Council also approved a motion to reduce the parks proposal by $8,000,000 before finalizing the ballot language.
City staff said the total authorization being proposed is about $84,000,000, a figure that includes an estimated 1.25% cost of issuance. The administration estimated a projected annual debt service impact of approximately $5,281,000 if the full amount were authorized. Staff explained that the property-tax impact, expressed as mills, would average about $0.87 per $1,000 of taxable value citywide; staff further broke that down to about $0.45 per $1,000 for parks and $0.42 per $1,000 for roadways.
During discussion council members debated priorities and specific line items. Councilwoman Avila moved — and Councilman Cannonball seconded — a motion to reduce the parks total by $8,000,000 (the motion description identified removing a $7,000,000 recreation center at Roscoe Warren Park and a $1,000,000 South Dade Trail item). The motion carried on roll call.
Council asked staff to prepare voter education materials explaining the two-question format and the tax impact; staff said education campaigns are permitted but not advocacy. In public comment and later discussion council also referenced the citywide average taxable value figure published by the Miami-Dade property appraiser ($171,317) and used a sample taxable value of $218,000 in internal calculations to illustrate voter impact (that sample produced about $189.66 per year at full indebtedness using $0.87 per $1,000).
Staff cautioned the council that bond sales could be structured in tranches and need not be sold in a single issuance. The council directed staff to finalize ballot language consistent with the dollar amounts approved that evening and to return with any required follow-up resolutions when the sales are scheduled.
Council vote on motion to approve bond package subject to parks reduction: Councilman Davis — yes; Councilman Cannonball — yes; Councilman Roth — yes; Councilwoman Bailey — yes; Councilwoman Avila — yes; Vice Mayor Fletcher — yes; Mayor (presiding) — yes.
