What got cut from Miami-Dade County’s 2026 budget? Here are 5 takeaways

Miami-Dade commissioners on Thursday decided against a planned increase in transit fares, opting instead to maintain current rates as part of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s $12.9 billion budget proposal for 2026. The decision came amid a broader effort to balance the budget without imposing significant new costs on residents.

FULL STORY: Transit fares stay flat as Miami-Dade leaders scrap austerity and pass budget

Here are the highlights:

• The commission voted to use reserve funds to avoid a proposed 50-cent fare increase for bus and Metrorail rides, as well as a 25-cent increase for rides provided to individuals with disabilities. That move was part of a broader effort to eliminate austerity measures initially suggested to close a $402 million revenue gap.
• Mayor Levine Cava’s budget proposal maintains property tax rates but includes modest increases in trash and water fees. The budget also forecasts a $94 million deficit in 2027, highlighting ongoing fiscal challenges for the county.
• The budget includes increased funding for the Sheriff’s Office and preserves funding for community services, such as the MetroConnect ride service. However, some cuts remain, including the elimination of lifeguards at natural swimming holes and the closure of the Office of New Americans.
• Tensions flared during the final budget hearing Thursday, with Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez criticizing the administration for a lack of transparency, while Mayor Levine Cava defended her budget decisions. The meeting concluded with the passage of the budget after extensive public input and debate.
• Some commissioners expressed concerns about relying on one-time financial solutions, warning that more sustainable fiscal strategies are needed as economic conditions change. Commissioner Oliver Gilbert likened the approach to using a “Band-Aid for an amputation.”

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.