Miami-Dade officials present budget outlook showing roughly $387 million shortfall for FY 2026

Carla Denise Edwards, Miami‑Dade County chief administrative officer, told the Appropriations Committee on the morning of the meeting that the county is facing a “perfect storm of economic challenges” and currently projects a general‑fund shortfall for fiscal year 2026 of about $387,000,000.

The county’s budget presentation, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, shows Miami‑Dade as a $12.7 billion organization with roughly 63% of that earmarked for operating expenses. OMB’s forecast projects countywide revenues and carryover for FY 2026 of about $3.2 billion against projected expenses of roughly $3.6 billion, leaving the $387 million gap. Edwards said that if constitutional officers receive additional funding beyond the administration’s 6% growth assumption, the deficit would grow to an estimated $473,000,000.

Why it matters: a gap of this size would force the county and the commission to choose among cutting services, raising fees, using one‑time reserves or changing planned spending. Edwards listed three principal…