Miami-Dade commissioners approve 0.7% rise in solid-waste collection fee after long debate

Miami-Dade County commissioners approved a 0.7% increase to the countys solid-waste collection fee on Sept. 3, after a lengthy public and board debate about department staffing, illegal-dumping enforcement and outreach expenses. The roll call vote was 7-5.

Why it matters: The solid-waste fee funds refuse collection and related services for about 360,000 residential accounts in unincorporated Miami-Dade and for the countys collection system. Commissioners and department leaders said the increase was intended to avoid deeper service cuts or a much larger fee hike next year, while critics pushed for steeper internal savings or alternative revenue measures before asking residents to pay more.

The vote and what changed Commissioner Gilbert moved to raise the fee; the board adopted an amendment offered during debate that cut the proposed 1% increase to 0.7%. The amended proposal passed 7-5 on a roll call. The administration said a 1% increase would have raised roughly $2.3 million to $2.4 million. Under the compromise, the county will collect less, but commissioners directed a set of accompanying changes to reduce the net impact on households.

Measures attached to the fee - Advertising and outreach reductions: Department of Solid Waste Management director Anisha Daniel told the commission the departments total outreach/advertising budget…