Miami Lakes reviews budget options as manager proposes millage increase and optional FPL franchise-fee hike

Town Manager presented two budget scenarios for the coming fiscal year at a Miami Lakes council workshop: a fully funded proposal funded by a proposed general-fund millage of 2.6372 and a flat-millage option that keeps the current rate but would require service reductions.

The manager said the higher millage would restore staffing and recurring programs cut in prior years and fund the town’s infrastructure sinking fund. He told the council the fully funded scenario would generate roughly $13.13 million for the general fund and noted the difference between the two scenarios is about $2.8 million. “For $13.81 a month, you can fully fund the budget,” the manager said, using the example of an average homesteaded taxable value he provided.

The manager outlined what a fully funded budget would preserve: regular police staffing plus traffic and burglary enforcement details, a fully funded infrastructure sinking fund for capital replacement, full park and median maintenance (including tree trimming, mulch, pressure washing and athletic-field upkeep), three daily litter crews, committee and events funding, and a cost-of-living adjustment for staff. In contrast, he said a flat millage would require cuts including eliminating traffic enforcement details and holiday policing details such as the Grinchbusters program, zeroing the infrastructure sinking fund (more than $300,000 annually in his example), reduced park and median maintenance cycles, eliminated mulch replenishment and some athletic-field maintenance, no funding for park-equipment replacement, reduced litter-crew schedules (from three crews seven days a week to a smaller schedule), elimination of most committee budgets and events except major town events, and no staff cost-of-living adjustment.

To help close the gap without immediately increasing property taxes, the manager proposed one option: raising the Florida Power & Light (FPL) franchise fee the town levies on electricity use from 3% to 6%. He said the first additional 3% would stay in the general fund and a second 3% could be earmarked for infrastructure (about $1.5 million annually, in his estimate). He noted a current FPL hurricane surcharge of roughly 10% is set to expire in December and that an increase in the town’s franchise fee would reduce the net decline customers see when that surcharge is removed.

Residents who spoke during public comment emphasized parks and senior services, litter and tree trimming, economic development and the pending legal cost of a blasting-related dispute. Carlos Under (resident) and several committee representatives urged maintenance and event funding. Felicia Salazar spoke for the Cultural Affairs Committee about preserving major events. Lourdes Corvo and Maria Borges, representing Elder Affairs concerns, stressed the importance of the senior center and social programs that include meals. The Economic Development Committee asked for a larger marketing budget to attract businesses and visitors; Carlos Padilla (Economic Development Committee) requested a $100,000 increase to pursue a marketing/positioning campaign.

Boris Foster, a resident who addressed special taxing districts, urged the council to recognize legal limits on altering services paid for through special taxing districts and said additions to district services require owner petitions and referenda. “When discussions arise about district services, the district ordinances must serve as the starting and ending point,” Foster said.

Council members signaled a mix of positions and next steps. Mayor Degas framed the meeting as a working session; several council members said they want full line-item budget detail before setting a tentative millage next week and asked staff to provide the expense-level spreadsheets for review. Councilmember Fernandez and Mayor Degas said they are open to the franchise-fee option as a targeted way to fund infrastructure while limiting the direct tax impact on homeowners. Councilmember Cuadra Garcia and Councilmember Herzberg expressed reluctance to raise millage without exhausting budget efficiencies. Vice Mayor Moreira requested line-item comparisons and asked for additional time to “take a pencil” to the budget before Tuesday’s special-call vote to set the tentative millage cap.

The manager reminded the council that next week’s special call will set the tentative (maximum) millage; final adoption of the fiscal-year 2025–26 budget and the final millage rate are scheduled for the two September budget hearings. He also described the statutory TRIM notice schedule and explained how taxable value, homestead exemptions and the Save Our Homes cap affect residents’ bills. The manager said the town’s current millage is among the lower municipal rates in Miami-Dade County and showed a historical chart of prior millage changes.

No formal votes were taken at the workshop. Councilmembers requested the detailed budget documents and scheduled follow-up briefings; the manager offered to meet with any councilmembers for a multihour line-by-line review before the next meeting. The workshop adjourned after public comment and council remarks.

Ending: The council will meet in a special call next week to set a tentative millage cap; staff will publish line-item budget attachments in advance and hold two formal budget hearings in September to adopt the final millage and the fiscal-year 2025–26 budget.