Miami-Dade mayor: Explore targeted property tax reform, not one-size-fits-all | Opinion

In recent months, Tallahassee has debated sweeping legislative proposals to reduce or eliminate property taxes across Florida. As mayor of Miami-Dade County, I understand why the idea of tax relief resonates. Families are feeling the strain of rising housing costs and inflation. Small businesses are navigating higher insurance premiums and workforce shortages. No one takes lightly the responsibility of asking residents to contribute their hard-earned dollars to support government.

But I am deeply concerned that broad, one-size-fits-all property tax cuts — crafted far from our neighborhoods — could unintentionally undermine the very services our community depends on every day.

Property taxes are not abstract line items. They are the foundation of local government. In Miami-Dade County, they fund police officers who keep our neighborhoods safe, firefighters who respond when disaster strikes and paramedics who arrive within minutes during medical emergencies. They sustain our public libraries, parks, senior centers and cultural institutions. They help maintain drainage systems and roads in a region uniquely vulnerable to sea level rise and stronger storms.

When we talk about cutting property taxes without a clear, sustainable replacement, we are talking about cutting these services.

Local government is closest to the people. We see firsthand the challenges facing our residents — from affordable housing to climate resilience to transit connectivity. That proximity is not incidental; it is essential. It allows us to tailor solutions to the specific needs of our community rather than applying broad policies that may work in theory but fall short in practice.

In recent years, Miami-Dade has worked hard to earn the public’s trust. We have strengthened financial transparency, built record reserves and maintained strong bond ratings that save taxpayers money. We have invested federal and state dollars responsibly to expand affordable housing, improve water and sewer infrastructure and enhance public safety. These are not partisan achievements — they are practical ones.

Trust in local government is built not only on promises, but on performance. Residents expect reliable trash pickup, safe drinking water, responsive emergency services and well-maintained public spaces. They expect us to prepare for hurricanes before they form and to help rebuild after they pass. These are not optional services. They are core to public health, economic stability and quality of life.

I share the goal of affordability. We should absolutely explore targeted relief for seniors on fixed incomes, working families and small businesses struggling to stay afloat. We should pursue meaningful property insurance reforms to address one of the largest drivers of housing costs in our state. We should streamline government, eliminate waste and innovate wherever possible. My administration is committed to doing exactly that.

But we must approach tax reform thoughtfully and collaboratively. Any proposal must preserve the fiscal stability that allows counties and cities to deliver critical services. It must respect the constitutional role of local governments and the voters who entrust us with managing community resources. And it must recognize that what works in one region of Florida may not work in another.

Miami-Dade is home to more than 2.7 million residents and one of the most dynamic economies in the nation. Our diversity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit are our strengths. Protecting those strengths requires a stable foundation.

Property tax reform should strengthen communities — not weaken the services that bind them together. I urge state leaders to work with local governments, not around them, to craft solutions that provide relief while preserving the trust and capacity of the institutions closest to the people.

Our residents deserve both affordability and accountability. With careful collaboration, we can deliver both.

Daniella Levine Cava is mayor of Miami-Dade County.