Miami Lakes workshop previews preliminary general fund; council set to consider tentative millage July 28

Budget director Melissa Hernandez told the Town of Miami Lakes council at a workshop that staff prepared a balanced preliminary general‑fund budget based on a flat millage and that the council will be asked to set a tentative millage on July 28. Hernandez said the meeting was a working session and stressed the council was not approving a millage tonight: "This is not tonight's meeting is not approving the millage," she told members in opening remarks.

Hernandez explained that ad valorem (property) tax is the town's largest revenue source and walked the council through an example property that paid $695 last year and would pay about $715 next year assuming a flat millage. She illustrated the rollback alternative that would lower that same property's tax to roughly $676 — about a $40 annual difference — and told council the rollback would reduce town ad valorem receipts by an estimated $626,000. She also outlined a schedule: the property appraiser certified values July 1, the council will set tentative millage July 28, staff will transmit data to the property appraiser August 4, TRIM notices go out August 24, and final budget adoption is set for September.

The presentation included a side‑by‑side comparison of a "fully funded" service budget and the balanced flat‑millage budget the council will see next week; staff said the fully funded approach would require roughly $1.1 million in additional resources to restore all trimmed services. Hernandez also noted state and federal developments that could change revenue projections and emphasized staff will bring updated estimates in August when more state figures are available.