Miami Gardens workshop reviews FY2026 budget after $864 million property-value gain

Deputy City Manager Craig Clay told the Miami Gardens City Council at a July 23 workshop that a $864 million increase in taxable property value since fiscal 2025 would bring the city roughly $5.7 million in additional revenue and leave the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at about $122 million.

The increase in taxable valuation — reported by the property appraiser as $9.618 billion as of July 1 — and other revenue and cost changes shaped the presentation, which outlined personnel changes, infrastructure spending, new service pilots and next steps in the budget calendar. Clay said staff expect to return with state revenue figures before the council’s September hearings.

Clay summarized the key fiscal inputs and pressures: the operating millage rate remains at 6.9363 mills; the debt‑service millage has fallen to about 0.4331 mills, and the average homestead taxpayer would see an estimated $76 annual increase (about $6 per month). He said the city’s combined millage has declined over recent years even as assessed values have climbed.

The presentation listed personnel and operating highlights: a recommended 6% salary increase for all employees, new labor agreements covering police and many general employees (references made to an FOP contract and AFSCME), added positions and operating funds to support Scott Park (expected to open around March), and funding for a replacement enterprise resource planning (ERP) financial system. Clay also noted an anticipated rise in pension contribution requirements set by the Florida Retirement System and an expected health‑insurance premium increase “up to 32%” for FY2026, with ongoing negotiations aimed at reducing that projection closer to 15%.

On the revenue side, Clay said municipal revenue sharing matched projections at about $3.88 million; the half‑cent sales‑tax estimate came in roughly $500,000 below projections; and communication services tax figures were still pending from the Florida Department of Revenue. He said the city had received two of the three state estimates it awaited and would circulate the remaining number when available.

Budget enhancements presented included a citizen request management platform called CityCares, funding tied to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (Clay said the city anticipates roughly $390,000, while noting federal program funding was subject to change), and a homelessness prevention approach that includes shared‑housing partnerships (identified in the presentation as "House with Heart Homes") to help residents facing eviction with temporary relocation and wraparound supports. Clay said the presentation also added a proposed on‑demand electric transit pilot, Freebie, to complement the city trolley; the planned operating window at launch is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

Clay described infrastructure and development totals shown in the materials: roughly $36 million in infrastructure projects, about $750,000 for community services projects, and $500 million in private development tied to projects the presentation said would create about 2,300 residential units, 4.9 million square feet of light industrial space and approximately 4,500 jobs. The presentation included a claim that every dollar of public investment had generated $31 of private investment over the last two years.

Council members questioned details during the workshop. A council member asked which unions cover parks and public works; Clay said most parks and recreation and public works employees are represented by the Federation of Public Employees (FPE) and that supervisors are covered by the Teamsters, with Teamsters negotiations ongoing and the FPE agreement negotiated last year covering 2023–26. Council members also pressed whether funds exist for renovations of non‑park public facilities; Clay said departmental maintenance line items and other budgeted amounts cover repairs and larger projects when needed.

Clay closed by reminding the council of the budget calendar: the council would consider a not‑to‑exceed millage item that night, hold a first budget hearing on Sept. 9 (moved from Sept. 10 to avoid a school board conflict), and a final hearing on Sept. 24, with the city aiming to adopt a FY2026 budget before the Oct. 1 start of the fiscal year.

No final budget vote or ordinance adoption occurred at the workshop; council members asked for follow‑up information and confirmation of union negotiation timelines, state revenue figures and implementation steps for proposed pilots before the September hearings.