Aventura adopts 1.7261-mill rate and $66.3 million budget for FY 2025—6

The Aventura City Commission on Sept. 9 adopted a 1.7261 ad valorem millage rate and approved a $66,300,000 operating and capital budget for fiscal year 2025—6, both measures passing on unanimous roll call votes.

City Manager (unnamed) recommended the millage and budget, saying the 1.7261 mills "represents no increase from the prior year and continues the city of Aventura's proud record of maintaining the same property tax rate for 30 consecutive years." The manager said the rate will generate approximately $23,270,000 in ad valorem revenue, "about $1,050,000 over last year due to an overall" increase in assessed values. The clerk had earlier noted the proposed rate is 5.48% above the computed rollback rate of 1.6365 mills as required by state law.

The approved budget is balanced at $66.3 million, the manager said, about 4% lower than last year's amended budget. Major capital items cited in the manager's presentation include $5.7 million in capital improvement projects, $600,000 for new police vehicles and equipment, $395,000 for HVAC replacements at city facilities, $270,000 for a new police boat (the manager said half of that will be funded through a state grant), $250,000 each for improvements to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center and the Government Center, $100,000 for Biscayne Boulevard landscape improvements, $125,000 for Country Club Drive landscaping and pedestrian improvements, $73,000 to upgrade lightning-detection systems at parks, and $95,000 to transition the police department to body-worn cameras. The manager also noted ongoing investments in community recreation and the finance ERP system move.

Former Mayor Weisman, speaking during public comment, called the document "an outstanding budget" but said the city lacks final cost information on a proposed new high school and anticipated that any required funding adjustments would come later as budget amendments once final numbers are available. The commission closed public comment and several commissioners expressed support for adoption, noting the city's fiscal restraint and no increase in the property tax rate.

Both the millage ordinance (first reading) and the budget ordinance were approved on roll call votes. Commissioners voting "yes" were recorded in the transcript as Commissioner Ayn, Commissioner Blachman, Commissioner Bloom, Commissioner Friedland, Commissioner Cruz, Vice Mayor Orlinski and Mayor Weinberg.

After the votes, commissioners discussed other concerns that could not be acted on at the special budget hearing. An unidentified commissioner urged the city manager to reach out to county and state officials and the city's lobbyists to pursue legislation regulating electric bicycles, calling them "a serious safety issue." Attorney Oliver advised the meeting was limited to budget items and that no formal direction could be given at the special hearing; the mayor said the e-bike matter would be placed on the commission's next workshop agenda. A separate request to support the county's Bike305 program and to explore mobile registration services for residents was noted; the city manager said he was already in contact with county staff about mobile registration.

The commission adjourned after completing the budget hearing.