Doral council adopts $118 million FY2026 budget, sets 1.7166 millage rate in 3–2 votes

DORAL, Fla. — The City of Doral City Council adopted a balanced fiscal year 2026 budget and approved a final millage rate of 1.7166 mills at its Sept. 17 meeting, voting 3–2 on the millage and later approving the budget ordinance and related personnel changes.

The council approved an FY2026 general fund budget with total proposed expenditures of $118,001,151 and an identified use of reserves of $18,970,368 for capital outlay and transfers to capital-improvement funds, Finance Director Solangell Perez told the council. The adopted millage of 1.7166 mills is 8.13% above the rollback rate of 1.5875 mills; debt service is set at 0.481 mills for outstanding general-obligation bonds tied to parks projects from 2019 and 2021.

Why it matters: The millage and budget determine property-tax obligations for Doral homeowners and fund police, parks, infrastructure and new positions the city says are needed to serve a growing population.

Council debate centered on competing priorities: supporters said the rate preserves services and invests in public safety, parks and programming; opponents said the council should pursue a rollback to provide immediate tax relief and pressure for broader state-level reform. Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso argued keeping the millage would allow continued investment in public safety and services, saying, "Deciding on a millage rate is 1 of the most important roles and responsibility we have as council." Vice Mayor Morin Porras said she supported rolling back the rate and continued advocacy for property-tax relief.

Key figures and proposals discussed by the council and administration include:

- Total proposed general fund expenditures: $118,001,151 (as presented by Finance Director Solangell Perez).

- Use of reserves for capital outlay and transfers: $18,970,368 (finance presentation).

- New or reclassified positions tied to parks expansion, code compliance and in-house trades (including an in-house electrician) identified through a job-analysis process by Evergreen; the council approved the updated pay plan and job descriptions as part of the FY2026 package.

- Investments referenced by council members and staff: conceptual design work for a parking garage at Central Park, a modern police headquarters, additional park staff (the presentation referenced 25 full-time park positions and various part-time roles), and roughly $1,000,000 newly allocated for programming for seniors, special-needs residents, arts and culture.

Council votes and procedure:

- Millage rate (Resolution, item 5a): Motion to approve made by Councilman Rafael Pinedo, seconded by Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso; roll call recorded Yes — Pinedo, Reynoso, Mayor Christie Fraga; No — Councilmember Cabral (recorded variously in the transcript), Vice Mayor Morin Porras. Motion passed 3–2.

- Budget ordinance (Ordinance No. 2025-36, item 5b): After earlier tabling and taking the ordinance from the table, the council voted to approve the ordinance on second reading. Motion to approve made by Councilman Pinedo and seconded by Councilwoman Reynoso; recorded vote: Yes — Pinedo, Reynoso, Mayor Fraga; No — Councilmember Cabral, Vice Mayor Porras. Motion passed 3–2.

- Positions and pay plan (Resolution, item 5c): Council approved job descriptions, pay scales and performance metrics for positions included in the FY2026 budget. Motion to approve was recorded as passing with the same 3–2 pattern (Yes — Pinedo, Reynoso, Mayor Fraga; No — Cabral, Vice Mayor Porras).

Administration’s presentation and context: City Manager (name not specified in the public transcript) described the budget as aligned with the city’s strategic priorities and called it a balanced budget. Perez said updates to revenue projections and expenditures were detailed in an exhibit the council reviewed at workshops on Aug. 13 and during first-reading hearings on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17.

Several council members praised the administration and finance staff for the work undertaken to produce the budget. Supporters said the adopted budget preserves and expands services as the city’s population and commercial base grow; opponents reiterated support for reducing the millage and asked staff to identify cuts that would achieve a rollback without reducing essential services.

What the votes mean: With the council approving the millage and ordinance, the budget as adopted will go into effect for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025. The debt-service millage was set separately to cover outstanding general-obligation bonds related to parks projects.

Next steps: The council adopted the budget and related personnel actions. Staff directed to implement the budget will carry out procurement, hiring and capital projects in accordance with the appropriation and the city’s administrative processes.

Ending: The mayor closed the meeting by asking council members and residents to review the published budget documents and to contact city staff with questions; the mayor noted the budget is available online and the next council meeting is in October.