In a context of public pressure and political negotiations, the mayor announced adjustments that incorporate about 66 million dollars in new identified revenues, which allows partially restoring funds in sensitive areas. However, the controversy remains open. The commissioners, with positions found, have taken advantage of the audiences and workshops to fix their positions, some claim structural changes, others directly accuse the administration of “negligence.”
Amendment under pressure
In a meeting with the press, this Wednesday, August 20, Levine Cava explained the origin of the 66 million in newly found funds. “We put all that together, we join the internal efforts of the County to make the operation more efficient, and I am happy to inform that we have assured almost 66 million dollars.” The mayor said that 26 million come from the tax collector’s office, 33.2 million constitutional offices that did not execute their items in the fiscal year and 6.6 million in internal savings. That money, he said, will be used to strengthen reservations, public security, cultural programs, non -profit organizations, community parks and the reopening of a center for the elderly.
With this announcement, collected in a memorable, Levine Cava sought to respond to weeks of protests by artists, social organizations and residents who claimed before the cuts. “We have already heard people in more than 12 public meetings, and they want more funds for art, culture, social services, parks and it is also very necessary to put more funds in reservations.”
The president celebrated that with these resources he could almost completely restore cultural subsidies and around half of the funds of social organizations. But he acknowledged that these are non -recurring income: “This is a financing at once, it is not recurring. We will have to prepare for a narrower future.”
Discipline and sustainability
Among the strongest voices in the discussion is Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who has questioned for months the sustainability of county finance. For her, the problem is not only of income, but of structure. In the budget workshop, as president of the County Assignments Committee, he warned that the same pattern of temporary deficits and adjustments cannot be repeated. “We cannot be in the same situation every year,” he said, “because that means what we have is a structural problem.”
Regalado insisted on the need for a “lean and realistic” budget that does not depend on last minute extraordinary resources. In its wide presentation, he stated that the county must focus on the efficiency of spending and reduce duplication, in addition to opening a serious discussion about priorities. To illustrate its point, he mentioned that vital programs such as special transport or services for the elderly cannot be at the mercy of temporary decisions. “People need certainties, no patches,” he said.
On the other hand, Galado was receptive to the corrections introduced by the mayor, but stressed that they do not solve the underlying problem. “We have recovered funds for culture and for non -profit organizations, which is positive. But we still have no clear plan to prevent this from being repeated next year,” he said. His position is in tune with the sectors that demand greater fiscal discipline, and projects it as one of the critical voices with more weight within the hemicycle.
In his presentation, he talked about how to make cuts in contracts and cost overruns in the prison system, the optimization of water use in the county, proposed adjustments to critical services such as firefighters, parks, and the cremation service provided by the county, among others. His goal, he insisted is to change the culture and mentality of the county, focusing on the essential services that must be provided efficiently. The proposals of the Registered Commissioner would reach to cut about 20 million dollars.
94 mm more for security
Another of the hot points of the debate was the County Sheriff’s claim, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, who with a budget of 936 million dollars requested a budget increase of 94 million dollars for his office. The mayor, aware of the political sensitivity of security, announced that she would allocate additional 7.5 million to the departure of the Sheriff’s office, although she clarified that it was funds returned for not having executed in the previous cycle. Levine-Cava defended his commitment to public safety recalling that “during my administration we have increased the budget every year by 8%” and presumed that the county has “one of the lowest crime rates in the country.”
Lamb-Stutz clarified that of the 94 million dollars that are requesting, 63 correspond to labor agreements signed by the mayor, before her mandate. And he explained that the rest of the money will be used to create five training academies, necessary to replace the 140 agents who retire every year. Some 3.6 million will be paid during overtime for personnel. And the other part of the money will be aimed at hiring civil personnel for administrative tasks, replacement of expired equipment and a vehicle rebranding plan (8 million in three years).
The matter generated friction. Some commissioners supported the idea of strengthening the Sheriff’s office, while others warned that the problem is not of funds but of management.
Coherence, first of all
The commissioner Oliver Gilbert III He called for political coherence. He recalled that most of the current budgetary obligations – from union agreements to service contracts – were approved by the commission itself.
“We cannot vote for increases in spending for a year and then complain about the deficit to the next. We are also responsible,” he warned of his colleagues.
Although Gilbert acknowledged the need to reinforce the police staff, he proposed to do so in a staggered manner. Instead of five academies, approve two and evaluate results before expanding the program. At the same time, he stressed that he agrees to reinforce programs to prevent crime. In this context, he stressed that cultural and community programs are part of the crime preventionand that should not be sacrificed in the exclusive name of security.
“No deficit, negligence”
Commissioner Roberto González adopted one of the toughest positions against the administration of Levine Cava. “There is no deficit, there is negligence.” With this statement, González wanted to make it clear that, in his opinion, the county problem does not lies in the lack of money but in the mismanagement of resources. “The numbers are there, the income is there,” he said. “What is missing is the willingness to manage with responsibility.”
For González, the 402 million deficit announced by the mayor are actually the result of inefficient management and wrong political decisions. As he explained, the evidence that 66 million dollars “out of nowhere” appeared confirms that it is not a structural deficit, but about planning failures. Her criticism also extended to the way in which the mayor handles priorities: “Culture cuts are announced, in social programs, while other items remain untouchable. That is not transparency, it is a selective use of cuts.”
González’s frontal tone has positioned him as one of Levine Cava’s main counterweights in the commission. His phrase became a summary of the discomfort of those who consider that the county needs a more rigorous administration and less dependent on last minute adjustments.
Misused funds
The commissioner René García It coincides in part with González, although with a more technical approach. Ensures that the deficit is not 402 million, but it could be from some 150 millionbeing inflated by the misuse of federal and non -recurring funds that were allocated to permanent programs.
Its proposal is clear: build a budget on the basis of fixed and sustainable income, avoiding the dependence of extraordinary funds that disappear every year.
Transportation and Community Services
The budget also includes sensitive decisions in transport. The mayor announced that she will reduce from two to a penny per gallon the proposal to increase the gasoline tax, which means an income of five million dollars, instead of ten. He also modified the update proposal in the rates of the Special Transportation Service (STS), which will go from an increase of 75 cents to only 25 cents. “We know that will help many of those who depend on these services,” said Levine Cava.
One of the most discussed points was the elimination of the Metroconnect program, a service that has been key to low -income and elderly users. Asked about it, the mayor replied that the most used routes are being reviewed and that an investment plan of between 3 and 6 million dollars is evaluated, although she acknowledged that these resources are not currently in the base budget. “We know that Metroconnect has been very useful, especially during the transition to Better Bus Network. We are looking for alternatives and support so that those who qualify can access other transport programs,” he said.
In addition, the mayor in her proposal would restore 5.6 million dollars for programs in community parks, which allows to maintain activities that were initially going to be eliminated. A center for older people was also preserved with an allocation of $ 400,000, a decision that was well received after resident criticism.
The political backdrop
This year’s budget debate is marked by a particular political background. Mayor Levine Cava faces a crucial stage of her administration by facing citizen discontent, the criticism of commissioners and tensions with new constitutional offices such as that of the Sheriff, in a scenario where greater austerity, transparency and accountability is required.
The Commission establishes an internal counterweight dynamic not seen in a long time. While commissioned as Regalado propose the urgency of structural reforms, and González accuses the Executive of negligence, others have opted for more moderate positions, seeking to negotiate adjustments without openly confronting the mayor. The result, until now, is a amended budget that partially relieves tensions, but still does not dissipate uncertainty about the sustainability of public finances.
September will be the decisive month. The budget must be approved before the start of the new fiscal year. What is at stake is not only the distribution of billions of dollars, but also citizen confidence in Miami-fly to administer with transparency, efficiency and vision of the future those 13 billion dollars treasured in public coffers.
