Miramar moves residential solid waste fees to property tax roll to reduce delinquencies

The Miramar City Commission approved a resolution on Nov. 5 to change how residential curbside solid‑waste fees are billed — moving collection from monthly utility bills to the annual property tax roll as a non‑ad valorem assessment, effective November 2026.

Ralph Trapani, Solid Waste and Recycling Manager, told the commission the change is intended to improve collections (current collection rate ~92% on utility billing versus ~96% when collected on the tax roll) and to simplify payments for property owners. Trapani said the move will not change the fee amount and will not increase the city’s millage rate.

Vice Mayor Yvette Colburn asked about timing and duplication of payments; finance staff responded that there will be no overlapping charges and that newly constructed homes will be billed via finance and then updated on the tax roll. Trapani said the city will notify affected properties through multiple media channels and that multifamily properties with dumpsters or commercial customers are not impacted.

Commissioners discussed renter impacts and transparency. One commissioner noted that landlords could pass the annual cost to tenants through rent increases, and finance staff pointed out that utility bills itemize sanitation charges, which should help renters verify passthroughs. The commission approved the resolution after clarifications that the change affects only curbside service and not commercial or multifamily dumpster service.

The change requires the city to submit the approval resolution to the tax collector, property appraiser and the State Department of Revenue by Jan. 10, 2026, and to bring initial and final assessment resolutions in mid‑2026 as part of the FY2027 budget process.