Miami Lakes council directs staff to prepare flat committee budgets, approves several event funding adjustments

Mayor Diegas called a special meeting of the Miami Lakes Town Council on June 8 and the council voted to direct staff to prepare next year's committee budgets at the same levels as the current fiscal year while the town awaits final property-tax estimates and a pending constitutional amendment that could affect revenues.

The vote followed a staff presentation and a motion to "keep the committee budgets at the current level," which was seconded by Vice Mayor Moretta and approved by voice vote. Councilmembers and staff emphasized that the directive is procedural: the flat baseline can still be amended during the public budget hearings, the millage process and the two formal readings scheduled later in the summer.

The council then heard a sequence of committee presentations outlining requested changes and one-time expense items. Rosario, a representative of the Elderly Affairs Committee, asked the council to consider a proposed committee budget of $36,500 for next year (the adopted budget for the prior year was $30,500), noting plans to restart the Senior Olympics and that sponsorships typically offset event costs. Finance staff explained that Exhibit A to the agenda contains committee proposals while Exhibit B shows historical donations; donations are recorded in the amended budget when received.

Elsa Reos, vice chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee, requested modest increases across several events and successfully moved to rename the committee's "Concert on the Fairway" line item to "Town Concerts." Reos outlined a proposal to set the Fourth of July event at a total of $12,000 (an additional $1,000 vs. the current line) and asked that Hispanic Heritage funding be raised. Council approved a motion to carry forward $3,000 from this year's unused Black History Month allocation into next fiscal year's Hispanic Heritage line, effectively increasing the Hispanic Heritage line to $6,000 when combined with next year's request.

Haley Pto, chair of the Youth Activities Task Force, requested an $800 net increase and described new programming and sponsorship efforts; the council approved a request to use the Roberto Alonso Community Center for a proposed field day. William Perez, chair of the Veterans Committee, reported sponsorship proceeds from community events and discussed the veterans memorial account; staff confirmed the town tracks monument proceeds in a capital fund and cited Resolution 252094 as the governing authority for sponsorship carryovers.

Vivian Levy, chair of the Special Needs Advisory Board, presented a new $3,000 allocation to underwrite a pickleball clinic for residents with special needs; the council moved and approved that transfer during the meeting. Public Safety Chair Andreas spoke remotely and asked the council to restore the committee's historical funding level, outlining line items for PSAs, an open house and community events; council and finance staff discussed the mechanics of sponsorship carryforwards and the restriction that general fund dollars are not routinely carried forward.

Council members repeatedly noted the unusual fiscal uncertainty ahead of the town's final millage decisions and said the flat baseline was intended to give staff a reasonable starting point without foreclosing committee requests during the formal budget process. The council adjourned at 7:36 p.m.; staff will return with a proposed budget and any recommended amendments during the scheduled public budget hearings and the millage vote process later this summer.