Appropriations committee blocks proposed card-fee increase, extends processor contract; approves homeless trust funding and large pump-station contract

The Miami-Dade County Appropriations Committee on Feb. 11 declined to retroactively approve a credit-card convenience-fee increase proposed by payment processor ACI, then later voted to renew and extend the vendor's contract without the fee increase to maintain online payment services while the county seeks a new billing system vendor. The committee also deferred an item seeking a payroll audit, approved a $5 million homeless-trust allocation, carried a $4.2 million park land acquisition, and awarded a $48 million construction contract for Pump Station 300 after discussion about a single high bid.

The most contested item involved ACI, the county's payment processor for Water and Sewer. Frances Morris, identified in the record as CFO at Water and Sewer, told the committee that ACI offered to honor the existing $3.95 convenience fee for residential customers only while shifting nonresidential accounts to a percentage rate, which could be higher for businesses. Roy Kohler, on the record as a county attorney, warned: "this service will be discontinued if we don't approve their rate, and no longer would you be allowed to pay by credit card or gift card or reward card at Water and Sewer." Commissioner Steinberg said, "for purposes of not having that option for our residents is worse," and moved to approve a motion that ultimately failed in an initial vote. After administration requested reconsideration, the committee voted to renew the item for further consideration and then approved an amended motion to extend the contract under the existing rates (declining to approve the post‑contract fee increase) so ACI could continue processing payments while the county puts a new billing system and procurement in place.

Why it matters: the committee heard that about 500,000 water-and-sewer accounts exist, with roughly 100,000 customers paying online each billing cycle; losing credit-card payment capability would shift account holders to in-person or ACH options and could disrupt collections for some residents. Committee members pressed the administration for a clear timetable; the administration said it intends to go live with a new cloud-based billing system in May and expected to run a competitive RFP after that. The amended renewal includes vendor agreement to the revised term language; the administration said the underlying contract had expired earlier and ACI continued to provide services while the matter was before the committee.

Separately, Commissioner Gonzales successfully moved to defer item 2A — a request for an independent review of payroll-system errors — until April so she and the comptroller can review audits that both the comptroller and administration said had been undertaken. Gonzales cited individual personnel impacts as the reason for urgency, recounting a case she described from the record in which an employee was paid about $5 extra on each check for roughly 10 years and was later asked to repay about $50,000. Gonzales asked the comptroller and administration to present their findings when the item returns.

On homelessness funding, Vicki Mallett, identified as executive director of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, described how the board would allocate a $5 million state grant: $3,000,000 for rapid rehousing and short- to medium-term rental assistance for families with minor children; $1,500,000 set aside for acquisition and renovation of a property (not yet identified) intended to be leveraged with other state, federal and private funds; and $500,000 for crisis housing, including hotel‑motel use when shelter beds are at capacity. The committee waived a procedural requirement so funds could be expedited and voted to carry the item.

Parks director Maria Nardi said the $4.2 million acquisition (item 3B) will be funded from the county—s park impact/open-space funds and that roughly $1.5 million in park-impact-fee improvement funds are also budgeted for phased development. The committee carried the acquisition item.

Water and Sewer Interim Director Amanda Kinnick explained a recommended award for Pump Station 300, describing the project as a complex industrial facility with a high-risk bypass and specialized scope. Kinnick said a catastrophic failure at the station prompted the work. Several commissioners said the engineer-of-record—s cost estimates have consistently come in well below actual bids; the committee noted prior variances of 62%, 148% and 58% on related projects. Kinnick and members said the market for contractors with this specialty is thin; the department reported it received a single bid for the $48,000,000 award. Commissioner Steinberg moved the item and it carried after discussion about improving estimate accuracy and procurement timing.

Other items: the committee approved, on consent, a subgrant with Fairchild (item 2B) described as resiliency grant work and carried multiple Community Redevelopment Agency budget and staffing items and information-technology OTR spending items (items 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F), each with requests from commissioners that the administration include supplemental detail for the board record. The committee asked that IT and department spending breakdowns be attached as supplements when those items advance to the full board.

What the committee directed: staff were asked to prepare a report on how many customers rely on credit-card payments and to publicize ACH availability promptly; the administration committed to making procurement changes so major departments start procurement before contract expiration, and to report back on whether ACI continues to provide service. Commissioners requested follow-up presentations on payroll audits and on steps to align engineer-of-record estimates with the market for major water-infrastructure projects.

Votes at a glance: 2B (Fairchild subgrant) — moved and carried; 2A (payroll audit request) — motion to defer to April carried; 3A (Homeless Trust $5M allocation to rapid rehousing/acquisition/crisis housing) — moved by Commissioner Gonzales, seconded by Commissioner Cabrera, carried; 3B (Park land acquisition, $4.2M) — moved by Commissioner Steinberg, seconded by Commissioner Cabrera, carried; 3C/3D (CRA budget/staffing items) — carried; 3E and 3F (ITD OTR spending supplements) — carried (supplements requested); 3J (ACI payment processor) — initial motion to approve fee increase failed; committee later voted to renew the item for reconsideration and then carried an amended motion to extend the existing contract without approving the fee increase so online payments would continue while the county pursues a new vendor; 3K (Pump Station 300 construction award, ~$48M) — moved and carried.

The committee adjourned after the final votes; several members asked that the administration return with the requested supplemental reports and timelines at upcoming appropriations hearings.