FIRST BUDGET HEARING - Sep 03, 2026

Where's Stedman? Stedman? Stedman, what's going on? Why is PBA taking up half my chamber here? What's going on? All right, we're going to get started. Clerk, please call the roll. Good evening to all. Commissioner Bastian, Commissioner Bermudez, Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, Senator Garcia, Commissioner Gilbert, Commissioner Gonzales, Commissioner Hardiman, Commissioner Lopez, Commissioner Emiliano Orbis, Commissioner Regalado, Commissioner Steinberg, Vice Chairman McGee, Chairman Rodriguez. Yes, we only have six members present, we don't have a quorum. All right, that does not mean to start socializing, we should get quorum here shortly, so let's get started shortly. All right, call the roll again. Commissioner Bastian, Commissioner Bermudez, Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, Senator Garcia, Commissioner Gilbert, Commissioner Gonzales, Commissioner Hardiman, Commissioner Lopez, Commissioner Emiliano Orbis, Commissioner Regalado, Commissioner Steinberg, Vice Chairman McGee. Chairman Rodriguez. Present. We have eight members present, we have a quorum. All right, ladies and gentlemen, happy budget day. All right, I guess I should, I mean, at this point I feel like I need to say the rules before we even say the pledge or the prayer. So as we approach soon, I think it is appropriate that we are led in prayer this morning by Rabbi Harlick at my invitation. Rabbi Harlick, please lead us in prayer this evening, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by our Vice Chairman. Almighty God, we gather today with gratitude for the privilege of living in this great community of Miami-Dade County, a community strengthened by its diversity, its compassion, and by those who dedicate themselves to serving others. We ask your blessings upon Mayor Daniel Levincavo, Chairman Anthony Rodriguez, and our dedicated, amazing county commissioners. We're also asking for the dedicated professionals of the Office of Management and Budget, and all those who serve Miami-Dade County. We thank them for their commitment to public service, for countless hours they give, and for carrying the responsibility of making decisions that affect the lives of so many. Grant our leaders wisdom to make the right decisions, courage to make the difficult ones, and compassion to remember that behind every number are real people and real lives. May Miami-Dade always be a community that makes room for everyone, for those who are successful and those who are struggling, for individuals with special needs and their families, and for those facing hunger or hardship, for anyone who needs a helping hand. May we never forget that the strength of a community is measured not only by what we achieve, but by how we care for one another. We are especially grateful for leaders who stand firmly against bigotry, hatred, and anti-Semitism, and who work to ensure that people of every faith and background can live and worship here with dignity and without fear. We pray for our police officers, firefighters, first responders, and all those who protect and serve us. Keep them and their families safe. And I conclude with the ancient priestly blessing. Yevarecha Hashem v'yishmerecha. Yared Hashem pannevelecha v'kanaka. Yisa Hashem pannevelecha. V'yasem lecha Hashem. Shalom. May God bless you and protect you. May God shine His countenance upon you and be gracious to you. May God turn His countenance towards you and grant you peace. And let us all say, Amen. United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. You may be seated. All right. Good evening, everyone. And welcome to our first budget meeting for 2026-2027. All right. This is our list. Not bad. All right. Before we begin, I think I feel like I have to say this every year. I'd like to remind everyone of the rules to ensure a respectful and professional environment. There was people here from probably 2, 3 p.m. already lining up to come in and speak. So I want to make sure that we're all respectful so that everyone can have an opportunity to speak their mind and what they're here to advocate for or against. So please, when you're called up to speak, please make sure that you follow the rules, you're respectful, professional in this environment. Be respectful also when addressing the board and others, as well as the mayor. Please follow the time limits when speaking. When I say, or my vice chair says, thank you, that is a nice way of us saying that your time is up. Please be respectful, saying that there is well over 100 speakers registered to speak this evening. Disrupted behavior, as those that follow our meetings know, that will not be tolerated. Signage, threats, or outbursts are not permitted, and all electronic devices must be silenced. I already heard one, I think, even as we were going through the prayer. So let's make sure that we silence our take out your phone and silence your phones. It's the ones that are not taking them out right now that I'm sure will be ringing soon. With that said, let's begin our meeting. Madam Attorney, can you please read your statements prior to opening of public hearing for all of the items that will be heard tonight? Yes, Mr. Chair. Tonight, the board will conduct a public hearing and adopt proposed millage rates, set fees, rates, and other charges, and adopt tentative budgets for Miami-Dade County for fiscal year 2026-27. There are eight ordinances before the board in this regard. Please note, the proposed millage rates adopted at tonight's budget hearing set the ceiling for the final millage rates that can be adopted at the second budget hearing on September 17th. The ordinances to be considered today are item A, ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for countywide general fund operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30th, 2027. Levying all taxes so provided, providing severability, exclusion from the code, and an effective date, and the budget director has a statement to enter into the record. The proposed countywide operating millage is 4.574 mills, which is 5.63% above the state-defined rollback rate of 4.3301. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the operations, services, and programs included in the proposed budget and provided by Miami-Dade County and the constitutional offices, including planned salary increases and an increase from the Florida retirement system. Item B is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for countywide bonded debt service for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30th, 2027. Levying all taxes so provided, providing severability, exclusion from the code, and an effective date. And the budget director has a statement. The proposed countywide debt service millage rate is 0.3937 mills, 0.3042 mills for countywide debt service, including the Building Better Communities Bond Program and Safe Neighborhood Parks Program. And 0.0895 mills for the Public Health Trust Jackson Miracle Building Bond Program. Item C is an ordinance approving and adopting the countywide general fund budget for the county for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30th, 2027, providing a short title. Incorporating the fiscal year 2026, 27 proposed budget as amended, appropriating all budget of revenues and expenditures. Authorizing the investment of county funds in the time warrants of Miami-Dade County. Authorizing the transfer of funds as cash advances pending receipt of taxes or other revenues. Authorizing deposit of interest earned to the general fund. Modifying, confirming, and approving implementing orders and other actions of the board which set fees, rates, and charges. Authorizing fees, rates, and charges consistent with appropriations and providing for their amendment. And authorizing subsequent amendments by resolution. Authorizing the mayor or mayor's designee to negotiate and execute certain funding agreements. Waiving for fiscal year 2026-27 provisions of the code and resolutions requiring execution of county affidavits for nonprofits receiving certain county funding. Commending, waiving, or rescinding, if necessary, various sections of the code applicable implementing orders and other legislative enactments to conform such enactments to the fiscal year 2026-27 budget. Superseding conflicting provisions of prior legislative enactments and providing severability, exclusion from, and inclusion in the code, and an effective date. Item D is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for unincorporated municipal service area operating purposes. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the operations, services, and programs, and for the fiscal year commencing of the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. Levying all taxes so provided, providing severability, exclusion from the code, and an effective date. And the budget director has a statement. The proposed unincorporated municipal service area operating millage is 1.909 mills, which is 6.16% above the state defined rollback rate of 1.7983. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the operations, services, and programs included in the proposed budget, and provided by Miami-Dade County, including the Sheriff's Office and Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department. Planned salary increases and an increase from the Florida retirement system. Item E is an ordinance approving and adopting the unincorporated municipal service area fund budget for Miami-Dade County, Florida for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. Providing a short title, incorporating the fiscal year 2026-27 proposed budget as amended. Appropriating all budgeted revenues and expenditures, authorizing the investment of county funds in the time warrants of Miami-Dade County. Authorizing the transfer of funds as cash advances pending receipt of taxes or other revenues. Authorizing deposit of interest earned to the general fund. Ratifying, confirming, and approving implementing orders and other actions of the board which set fees, rates, and charges. Authorizing fees, rates, and charges consistent with appropriations and providing for their amendment and authorizing subsequent amendments by resolution. Recognizing and continuing the unincorporated municipal service area. Authorizing the mayor or mayor's designee to negotiate and execute certain funding agreements. Waiting for fiscal year 2026-27 provisions of the code and resolutions requiring execution of county affidavits. Nonprofits receiving certain county funding. Amending, waiving, or rescinding if necessary various sections of the code applicable implementing orders. And other legislative enactments to conform such enactments to the fiscal year 2026-27 budget. Superseding conflicting provisions of prior legislative enactments. Providing severability, exclusion from the code, and an effective date. Item F is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Service district operating purposes. With a fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. Levying all taxes so provided, recognizing and continuing the Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Service District. Providing severability, exclusion from the code, and an effective date. And the budget director has a statement. The proposed Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Service District operating millage is 2.3965 mills, which is 5.83% above the state defined rollback rate of 2.2644 mills. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the operations, services, and programs included in the proposed budget and provided by the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. Including planned salary increases, and an increase from the Florida Retirement System. Item G is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for Miami-Dade Library System operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. Levying all taxes so provided, recognizing and continuing the Miami-Dade Library System. Providing severability, exclusion from the code, and an effective date, and the budget director has a statement. Proposed Miami-Dade Library System operating millage is 0.2812 mills, which is 5.71% above the state defined rollback rate of 0.2660 mills. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the operations, services, and programs included in the proposed budget and provided by the Miami-Dade Public Library System. Including planned salary increases, and an increase from the Florida Retirement System. Item H is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying proprietary budgets, special assessment district budgets, and other budgets in Miami-Dade County, Florida. For fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027. Providing a short title, incorporating fiscal year revenues and expenditures, authorizing investment of county funds and time warrants of Miami-Dade County. Authorizing transfer of funds as cash advances pending receipt of taxes or other revenues. Ratifying, confirming, and approving implementing orders and other actions of the board which set fees, rates, and charges. Authorizing fees, rates, and charges consistent with appropriations and providing for their amendment. Approving revised fees, charges, and implementing orders for various departments and agencies. And authorizing subsequent amendments by resolution. Approving fiscal year 2026-27 pay plan. Authorizing allocations and reallocations of bond proceeds and interest earnings. Authorizing mayor or mayor's designee to provide bond issue reserves. Establishing such funds as may be approved during fiscal year and providing for their expenditure. Appropriating grant donation and contribution funds. Authorizing mayor or mayor's designee to negotiate and execute certain funding agreements. Authorizing the mayor or mayor's designee to apply for certain grants, continuing municipal services fund. Rescinding resolution number R122A-89 creating a child care center trust fund and requiring annual appropriations to the fund. Authorizing disbursement from the environmentally endangered lands or eel acquisition trust fund. To supplement the eel lands management trust fund pursuant to section 24-50.5 of the code. Waiving for fiscal year 2026-27. Section 29-7G of the code related to allocation of documentary surtax funds. Resolution number R92408 relating to transit fares, fees, and charges. Provisions of section 24-50.52 related to the required principal balance of the eel lands management trust fund and disbursements there from. Provisions of section 24-40 of the code to allow vessel registration funds deposited in the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund. To be used for certain studies for the county's reasonable assurance plan. Provisions of section 17-132 of the code to allow general fund revenues deposited into the affordable housing trust fund. And to be used for the eviction diversion program and the operation of the Helen Sawyer assisted living facility. And provisions of the code and resolutions requiring execution of county affidavits for nonprofits receiving certain county funding. Repealing sections 2-119 through 2-127 of the code relating to branch offices of auto tag agencies now under the tax collector's jurisdiction. Amending, waiving, or rescinding if necessary various sections of the code, applicable implementing orders, and other legislative enactments to conform such enactments to fiscal year 2026-27 budget. Superseding conflicting provisions of prior legislative enactments, providing severability, inclusion in, and exclusion from the code, and an effective date. Mr. Chair, before opening the public hearing on these items, I understand the county mayor would like to provide some remarks. Of course. I will recognize her in a minute. Thank you. Through the chair. I'll wait until after public comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay. So you want to speak after public comment? And before debate. Awesome. Sounds good. Thank you. Well, once again, first and foremost, I want to, while we are on the mayor's point. Mayor, I want to thank you and your administration for all the meetings, the endless meetings and conversations that we've had throughout this budget process. Thank you very much. I know it has not been easy at times, and at times, even while you're traveling, you're jumping on Zoom calls with me. So I appreciate that. And your team has been very good this year. So I appreciate the work from the director and the entire team at OMB. I also want to, of course, and I mentioned this earlier, but I want to thank all the residents here tonight who have taken the time to be here. A lot of you have come from far. You got here early. You signed up. You registered to speak. And your input matters to us. We are listening. And in that occasion where you see us stand up and perhaps go use the restroom or go grab a snack in the back, we have a very equipped team that, as you see, sits behind us that is listening to everything that you guys are saying and all of your input to make sure that we don't miss anything and we can address it when necessary. Our responsibility is to protect the services residents depend on while responsibly stewarding their tax dollars. And as chairman of the board, I've reviewed the budget as a whole, but I want to highlight a few areas that I believe are especially important to our residents. First is public safety. We need to make sure the sheriff's office, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and our other public safety agencies have the personnel, equipment, technology and resources they need to keep our community safe. Public safety must come first, but we also have to make sure we are fiscally responsible with every dollar we invest. So we've got to make sure we fund them while being fiscally responsible as well. Second is protecting our parks. My request this year was clear, similar to last year's. Do not cut the parks budget as we have in previous years. Parks are much more than grass and open spaces. They are the lifeline to our communities. They maintain our roadways and public spaces while providing programming and recreation for children, adults and seniors. We need to protect that investment and the quality of life our parks provide. That was heightened and highlighted during COVID, just exactly how much we use our public spaces. And that has not died down. It is still that full today. Third is our infrastructure and neighborhood services. One of my pet peeves, something that I'm constantly discussing with the administration. My district for one, and I know District 11 as well, is 100% unincorporated. So our residents rely entirely on the county for basic services. That means continuing to invest in roads, sidewalks, drainage, neighborhood cleanup, neat teams and parks. And I've asked the administration to maintain funding for these critical services. We have identified some resources, but we need to keep looking for more. Director, I see you looking. For our unincorporated communities, these aren't optional. They are essential county services that we depend on. We need to make sure that the grass gets cut, that potholes are filled, that sidewalks aren't damaged. That means people can have slip and falls. That means that people can get flat tires from potholes, cause accidents. We need to make sure that the grass is cut so that there's no illegal dumping. And fourth is efficiency. Before we sit as a board and we ask taxpayers for more, we need to make sure government is working as efficiently as possible. The first step was reforming our procurement process, which we just did earlier this week. These reforms will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, streamline the process and help the county move quicker. But this is only the beginning. We need to continue finding ways to eliminate waste, save money and make government work better overall. I also want to take this moment to thank our tax collector, Dario Fernandez, who is with us here tonight, for working with us and myself personally to waive the commission on collecting voted school millages for fiscal year 2627. That is expected to save the county approximately $13 million. That is just the kind of creative thinking we need throughout this budget. Finding savings and new resources instead of always going back to taxpayers. And at the end of the day, residents want results. They want safer communities, good roads and sidewalks, clean neighborhoods, strong parks, reliable county services. We need to protect those core services while finding efficiencies and new resources. And we cannot always go back to taxpayers. Government has to find ways to do more with the dollars we already have. That is the approach that I will continue bringing to this budget. Protect what matters, invest where it counts, and be responsible with taxpayers' money. With that, once again, thank you to all that came out here. Thank you to all my colleagues. We have a full house today. I think only one missing from their chair, but I saw that he's here already. Commissioner Gilbert, Congressman-elect almost, right? See him in the back. With that, I am going to open up public hearing at this time. And I'm going to start with some of our constitutional officers that are wishing to speak this evening. I think our sheriff may have an actual short presentation. So I may leave her for last of the constitutional officers because you may be the lengthier one. But I want to give an opportunity and start with, of course, I recognize our tax collector for being here this evening. And if you want to say a few words, you can come up now and do so. Good evening. First, I wanted to say thank you, God, for this opportunity. Chairman, commissioners, mayor, and resident of Miami-Dade County, good afternoon. I want to take a moment to reaffirm something very simply. Government must always remember who we work for, the people. At the Miami-Dade County Tax Electoral Office, we have taken greater responsibilities. Expanded service estranged our fight against fraud and, at the same time, found ways to save taxpayers money of dollars, millions of dollars, including more than $30 million in commission that our office choose not to collect, putting that money back where it belongs, with the people of Miami-Dade County. That is the stand I believe government should fall. Before asking taxpayers for one more dollar, we shall first look inside government, eliminate unnecessary costs, improve efficiency, protect essential service, and find every possible opportunity to reduce the burden in our families. We can support school. We can protect essential county service. We can support our sheriff and the critical work of keeping our community safe. And we can still fight for meaningful property tax relief for the people of Miami-Dade County. Our residents work hard for their money. Government has a responsibility to work just as hard to protect it. That is what put in people's first meetings. And that is exactly what we will continue to do. Thank you. God bless Miami-Dade County. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you, Tax Collector Fernandez. I see that there's representation from our supervisor of elections here, but no need to say anything. I'm getting a nod. But thank you for being here representing our supervisor of election, Alina Garcia. I don't see from our property appraisers offices or someone here wishing to speak. I don't see. So imagine not. And I see our chief judge, Chief Judge Orson, if you would like to say a few words. Thank you for being with us this evening, by the way. Thank you for having me. Good evening, everybody. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all of those that I've had the opportunity to meet with in this budget cycle, as well as those of you who took time to read my correspondence. Miami-Dade County is the home to three million residents, as we all know. Nearly one million cases come into the court system every year. As this commission considers public safety, the courts are the guardian of that public safety. Every day, our judges make decisions that protect victims, safeguard constitutional rights, and resolve conflicts and uphold the rule of law. Our judiciary, by December 31st of 2026, will grow from 123 judges to 130 judges. Clearly, our Florida legislature saw that there was a need for services to be provided to our citizens here. But the judges cannot do the work alone. We need the money from the county, okay? Remember, we are your third branch of government, but we don't come with purse strings. We rely on you all to help us be able to provide services for our citizens, our citizens, which are also your constituents. We are responsible with our funds, and fiscal responsibility matters to us. This request is not about waste or excess. We only use what we need to provide for our court system to be able to operate for the citizens of Miami-Dade County and your constituents. It is important that we have proper funding because unfunded courts provide public safety issues and affect the life, liberty, and due process of all of our citizens. I respectfully request that we be provided with the appropriate budget to be able to provide the services to all of your constituents and our citizens. Thank you. Thank you, Chief Judge. Appreciate you being here this evening. And to now our clerk, Juan Fernandez Barquin, while you approach the well, a big congratulations for being a dad for the first time. So I know that you have essentially a newborn at home, and we want to make sure that we get you home on time for the last feeding of the night. Thank you, Mr. Chair. A diaper change is a thing that I'm sure, you know, they have you doing. Catalina will appreciate it very much. Thank you. All right. Go ahead. Good evening, Chairman, Commissioners, and Mayor. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the support you have provided to my office during this initial year of the transition. As your comptroller, my staff and I carefully evaluate the resources necessary to meet the demands of the services I am constitutionally obligated to provide. During this initial year of transition, I was mindful of the county's financial position and limited my funding request to no more than 4% growth, well below the approximately 6% typically seen in a budget year. Unfortunately, for fiscal year 2627, obligations outside of my control have increased personnel costs beyond that level. While every effort was made to maintain the same modest rate of growth, these costs have resulted in a budget requirement that exceeds the level I initially anticipated. The mayor's proposed budget includes a $2.664 million reduction from my initial budget submission. If I'm required to absorb this reduction, I will not be able to hire the staff necessary to fulfill my constitutional duties as county auditor. I would need to eliminate 15 currently vacant positions in my comptroller audit operations department, which I am actively recruiting, as well as an additional 15 positions across my other ex officio functions, including clerk of the board, comptroller finance operations, county recorder, and value adjustment board. I'm not asking for additional funding. I want to repeat that. I'm not asking for additional funding. I'm asking that you allow me to use any additional savings I generate in fiscal year 2526 above and beyond the savings I have already provided to the county to offset $2.664 million reduction that could not be funded in the mayor's proposed budget. Accordingly, I respectfully ask that these savings be incorporated into my fiscal year 2627 budget through the second change memorandum included with the budget hearing documents for September 17, 2026. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued support of my office during this transition. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clerk and comptroller, and make sure that you get home on time. All right. Madam Sheriff, you're up. I understand you have a presentation to share with us. Yes, chairman. I do. All right. Let's make sure that our comps team up there can put it on the TV. All right. We got it. Good evening, chairman, vice chair, commissioners, and Madam Mayor. Thank you for the opportunity to present the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office proposed budget for fiscal year 2627. This budget is about three things, results, responsibility, and readiness. We have proven that our approach to public safety is working. We have also worked hard to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Now, we have to make sure that we are prepared for what comes next. A growing county, increasing demands on our deputies, major international events, and the technology and infrastructure necessary to police effectively in the future. Our request is disciplined. It is strategic. And most importantly, it is focused on keeping Miami-Dade safe. I want to begin with what matters most, results. Since January of 2025, when I became sheriff, we have seen measurable reductions across major crime categories. Homicides are down 26%. Robberies down 16%. Aggravated assaults are down 12%. And burglaries are down 7%. Those numbers represent more than statistics. They represent families who are safer, neighborhoods that are stronger, and crimes that did not happen. This progress did not happen by accident. It comes from strategic deployment, proactive policing, intelligence, strong partnerships, and the hard work of the men and women of the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office. Miami-Dade is safer today than it was in 2024. And my responsibility as sheriff is not simply to celebrate that progress. It is to make sure we have the resources necessary to sustain it. At the same time, the responsibilities placed on this agency continue to grow. Miami-Dade does not simply police a large metropolitan community. We host some of the world's largest sporting and international events in the world. We supported the FIFA World Cup, the World Baseball Classic, the College Football Playoff Championship, Formula One, and the Miami Open, in addition to countless other events throughout the year. Each of these events brings tremendous economic and cultural benefits to Miami-Dade, but each also brings a significant public safety responsibility. Our deputies must protect residents, visitors, venues, transportation corridors, and critical infrastructure, while continuing to answer 911 calls and patrolling neighborhoods throughout the rest of Miami-Dade County. That requires personnel, it requires planning, and it requires resources. There's an important distinction that I want to make when discussing the budget. The total projected increase is $108.7 million. But that does not mean the Sheriff's Office is requesting $108.7 million in new discretionary spending. In fact, 57.5% or $62.5 million is mandatory. Those are the binding financial obligations established before I became Sheriff. And these are the costs that MDSO has no discretion over. The actual Sheriff's Office request is $46.1 million. And that distinction matters. When we talk about the increase in this budget, we need to separate what we are legally obligated to fund from what I'm actually requesting to operate and prepare this agency for the future. Let me break it down further. The mandatory portion includes contractual salary increases, cost of living and merit adjustments, pension contributions, health insurance costs, and other county-approved benefits, which I told this commission last year when I presented. These are commitments the agency cannot simply choose to not pay. I'm asking that the county honor the commitment it made. The portion I am asking you to consider, the $46.1 million Sheriff's request, goes primarily towards staffing, overtime, safety equipment, technology, and operational needs. These are not abstract budget categories. They translate directly into deputies on the street, 911 calls being answered, equipment that protects our personnel, technology that helps us to solve crimes, and operational capacity necessary to protect this community. This slide reinforces why separating mandatory costs from the Sheriff's request is so important. More than $62.5 million of the overall increase comes from the collective bargaining agreements and county-approved benefits. These are binding commitments. They include salary adjustments and overtime provisions that were negotiated under agreements executed in 2023, before there was a Sheriff's office, as well as retirement, health insurance, and other benefit costs. So when someone sees a $108.7 million increase, I want there to be a clear understanding. More than half of that increase was already committed. It is not discretionary spending initiated by the Sheriff. Now I want to get to the heart of my request. $46.1 million supports the operational needs that allows us to keep delivering the results. Approximately $14.9 million supports equipment, technology, and contracted services. Things like tasers, body-worn cameras, and other tools our deputies use to work safely and effectively. Approximately $11.6 million supports overtime and shift coverage, including our responsibilities associated with major events and the preparations for G20. And $9.3 million supports 200 additional positions. Now, I want to emphasize that these positions are not simply administrative positions. The request includes sworn deputy positions and additional 911 communications personnel. It also includes 35 IT positions necessary for MDSO to achieve full technical independence from the county system as part of our transition. Every one of these positions support our ability to put deputies where they are needed and provide infrastructure behind them that makes effective policing possible. This slide explains why these positions are so important. MDSO currently has approximately 3.38 law enforcement employees per 1,000 residents. The Florida average is approximately 3.85. We are operating below the statewide average while serving one of the largest, fastest-moving, and most complex communities in the state of Florida. And Miami-Dade continues to grow. Miami International Airport is expanding. Our population and visitor demand continue to increase every day. Major events continue coming here. The responsibilities of this agency are not getting smaller, so these 200 positions are not about creating excess capacity. They are about beginning to close an existing gap and making sure we have the personnel necessary to meet the public safety demands already in front of us. Fiscal responsibility also requires putting our request into perspective. The proposed Miami-Dade countywide budget grows from approximately $13.2 billion to $14.3 billion, about an 8% increase. The sheriff's discretionary increase is 4.96%. That is an important comparison. We are asking for a percentage increase that is below the growth of the overall county budget, while simultaneously managing major public safety responsibilities, staffing pressures, major events, and a transition to a fully independent constitutional sheriff's office. I believe that demonstrates discipline. We have prioritized what is necessary, and we are asking for what we believe is needed to maintain the level of safety Miami-Dade residents expect and deserve. This budget is not only about what we need today. It is about where Miami-Dade is going. My vision is straightforward. Keep crime down. Prepare for growth. Invest in the future. First, we must protect the progress we have already made against crime. Second, we must prepare for G20 and other major global events that place Miami-Dade on the international stage. Third, we must continue investing in technology that allows our deputies to work smarter, safer, and faster. And finally, our staffing must keep pace with the growth of Miami-Dade County. We cannot wait until those demands arrive and then begin preparing. Public safety requires us to prepare before the need becomes a crisis. So I want to leave you with a larger picture. We have produced results. Crime is down. Our men and women are working every day to protect this community while supporting major events and responding to growing operational demands. And we have brought forward a disciplined budget. Of the total increase, 62.5 million represents mandatory obligations outside of the sheriff's control. The current proposed 55 million does not even cover the obligation. We cannot pay the bill. The actual sheriff's request of 46.1 million is only 4.96% increase. That request supports staffing, technology, equipment, and operations, including 200 positions. We need to begin closing our staffing gaps. Budgets ultimately reflect priorities. And I believe there is no more fundamental responsibility of government than protecting the safety and security of the people we serve. We have shown you the results. We have shown you where the money will go. And we have shown you what is coming next. My commitment is to continue delivering a sheriff's office that is accountable, efficient, professional, and prepared. This is not spending for the sake of spending. It is an investment in keeping the progress we have made and protecting Miami-Dade's future. We are asking for the resources necessary to do the job the public expects us to do and to do it well. I ask that my proposed budget be funded by the county as submitted. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Sheriff. And while we're on the subject of law enforcement, I'd like to call up PBA President Stedman Stahl. Thank you very much, Madam Mayor and Commission. My name is Stedman Stahl. I'm the President of South Florida PBA. My address is exempt. I just want to reiterate that a couple of years back, we've got the Constitutional Office. The sheriff was tasked. This is her second budget. She's done a great job. She's returned money in the past. She's going to be a good steward of the money. We're just asking everybody here in the green shirt, just if anybody's worried about it, they're off duty. They came here on their own. If they're in uniform, they're working. But the ones in the green shirts are here because they want to support the sheriff, her budget. And we're asking that, please. I know there used to be a good commissioner, Dennis Moss, and he used to always tell us everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. Our job is to make sure that nobody dies, and that's what we're here for. And we want to make sure that you please fund the sheriff what she needs. And if she doesn't spend it all, she'll promise she'll return it just like she did the last time. But she needs the money, and we need to make sure that she's funded because we all live here as well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Stahl. All right. Is that all my constitutional officers and judges? All right, so I'm going to start calling up residents and organization representatives that have registered to speak this evening. You heard the rules earlier, and please just be respectful, please. You know, I'm extremely lenient, but we do need to follow rules so that we can make sure that we accomplish everything that we came here to accomplish. To those exiting the chamber, please exit quietly. And, of course, sergeants, if there's anyone that has registered to speak that did not have a seat inside, now that these seats are becoming available, make sure that we get them in here. All right. When you hear your name, please stand up on either side of the aisles between the two front, between the middle seats, and the first two names can approach the well. You will have one minute to speak. State your name, address, and the item that you're speaking on regarding the budget. I'm going to start with the first ten. Guys, please exit quietly. Please exit quietly. I have Maria Mayer. Maria Mayer. Iri Diaz. Iri Diaz. Dietra Walters. Rachel Silverstein. Samantha Barquin. Andrea Suarez. Aaron Cover. Aransa Caldillo Alvarez. Jessica Ghanim Knox. Noah Edwards. The first two that I called, if you heard your name, you can approach the well. State your name and address and what you're here to speak on, and you will have one minute to speak. When you hear the buzzer or you hear one of us say thank you, your time is up. Understood. Thank you. Thank you. I'm the CEO of your women's fund, Miami-Dade. Very grateful to be in front of you great leaders today. Thank you so much for your service. I'm very happy that we were very instrumental with 115 organizations as part of this hashtag one team supporting the Stop Sex Trafficking Campaign with FIFA. We are here at your service all year, every year. We respectfully ask your support to fully fund HSC 5-5 service target 100%. In plain language, please fully fund CVAC Coordinated Victims Assistance Center, not at 97%, but at 100%. Please no reductions in violence services. Two, CBOs, community-based organizations, absolutely essential as I know each of you know. Please fully fund them, but also start planning now and establish a mechanism moving forward. So we don't have to do this every year. And number three, thank you for recognizing the critical role that YWCA serves with court care by ensuring their budget funds are fully funded. Thank you for your service. Thank you so much. And sergeants, I'm going to need you guys, sergeants, I'm going to need you guys a little more engaged. The well should never be empty. So this has to go smoothly and expeditiously. Go ahead, ma'am. Good evening, everybody, Madam Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Irie Diaz at 7990 Southwest 117th Avenue. I represent the Advocacy Network on Disabilities, CCDH. We serve people with disabilities, and we're part of the collaborative of CBOs that represent essential services in the community. I'm asking, thanking you, thanking you, Madam Mayor, for putting us in the budget, and I hope that the commission sees it fit to approve the budget. If there's any money left over, we would appreciate a 3% increase. I also would like to thank the Health Foundation for conducting an impact study free of charge. I want everybody to know that we did not pay for that, because we don't have the money to pay for those sorts of studies. So thank you, and please vote to include us. Thank you. Ma'am. Good evening. My name is Deetra Walters. If it's okay, I'd like to keep my address private for a safety. Unless it's exempted. No, we need it on the record. Okay. It's 1260 West Fifth Court Hialeah 33010. Thank you, Deetra. Good evening, Chairperson, Commissioners, and Madam Mayor. I work for CCDH, Advocacy Network on Disabilities, an organization that is part of the Legacy CBO's Advocacy Collective. And I'm here today not only as an employee, but as someone whose family has personally benefited from the services provided by community-based organizations. My brother and I received assistance that helped us access the care and support that we needed during a really difficult time. And because of that help, I was able to return to work, our family was able to regain stability, and we were once again able to contribute to our community. So today I'm proud to be working on a project that will use volunteers to visit and support people with developmental disabilities, living in group homes and nursing homes, helping to reduce isolation and improve health outcomes. The support provided by community-based organizations changes lives. Thank you. I changed mine, and I appreciate you continuing to support CBOs. Thank you so much. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you, Chairman, Commissioners, Mayor. Wonderful to see you, and thank you for the opportunity to speak. I want to speak about two things today. The first is the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, and the second is funding for the Water and Sewer Department. The Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, or the EEL Program, is an incredibly- Name and address. Name and address. Name and address. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Rachel Silverstein, Miami Waterkeeper. My address is exempt. The Environmentally Endangered Lands Program is an incredibly successful and popular program. It has been performing miracles protecting some of our most unique places in Miami for the future for decades. But this budget cut is crippling, and even miracles cannot be performed on the proposed budget. And, in fact, the proposed budget levels are below what is legally required for this program, and that's why you're being asked to waive the minimum funding levels. I'm asking you not to do that. Don't do the waiver and fund EEL at least $20 million, which will allow them to continue to manage the 29,000 acres currently under management, and to continue to purchase some of these endangered lands. The second is the WASDE Department, which has not discretionary expenses, but mandatory commitments to fulfill to avoid spills. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Ma'am. My name is Samantha Barking, and I reside at 15040 Southwest 49th Lane, Unit F, Miami, Florida 33185. I'm here as a mom raising my son here, and I'm asking you to make two investments that are fundamental to his and Miami-Dade County's future. First, please fund the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program at the $20 million and maintain the requirements to keep at least $10 million in its trust fund reserves. EEL protects some of our last remaining lands that protect our drinking water, protect us from storm surge, provide critical habitat, and help reduce flooding. We should be strengthening this program. And second, please support the 6% WASDE rate increase. We cannot keep deferring investments in our infrastructure that protect our drinking water and keep waste from our Biscayne Bay. Overall, the longer we wait, the more expensive these problems become. I think about what Miami we have and what it will be leaving our kids. Protecting the natural systems we still have and fixing the infrastructure we depend on our investments we need to make now. Please fund EEL at $20 million and support the 6% WASDE rate. Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am. Hi, how are you? I'm Elisa Suarez. I live at 16200 Northeast 3rd Ave in North Miami Beach, Florida, represented by Ms. Marlene Bestein in District 2. I'm here as a concerned citizen. Andrea, do me a huge favor. Can you get closer to the mic so all the lovely people behind you can actually hear you? Can you guys hear me better now? Yes. Awesome. I'm here as a concerned citizen in support of fully funding the EEL Project as well, also the Endangered Lands Program. In my district, Arch Creek Park is the only land that is acquired by EEL, and currently there are three parcels of the Olita River track that are on a priority A acquisition list that if not purchased now will end up in the hands of developers. The Olita River is one of the only rivers that has not been channelized or dredged here in Miami-Dade County, and it's in danger of being tampered with. I've already seen a huge apartment building is going up, namely at the intersection of 163rd Street and Biscayne, and it's disrupting the ecosystems, in short. This is just one of the priority A lands, and it would take at least $60 million to purchase them all. So we're asking for $20 million at least to cover what we have left and allocate to managing, restoring, and acquiring more land. Thank you so much. Good evening. Erin Covert, 201 Northwest 7th Street, Miami, Florida, 33136. I have dedicated my career to protecting South Florida's environment and connecting our community to these incredible green spaces. I have seen firsthand how important these places are to the people of Miami, and I have also seen how incredibly vulnerable they are. And that's why I'm asking you all to restore critical funding to the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. These lands are part of infrastructure that protects us. They absorb flood water, they reduce extreme heat, they provide critical wildlife habitat, and they make Miami-Dade more resilient to climate change. Yet, the EEL funding has been cut by 54% over the last few years. And if you live in Miami-Dade, you have an interest in these 29,000-plus acres of natural habitat. So please commit the necessary $20 million to EEL in the budget. Protecting these lands means protecting our wildlife, our neighbors, and Miami's future. Once these lands are gone, they're gone for good. Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am. Good evening. My address is 2121 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables. I am Aranza Caudillo, and I am with Miami Waterkeeper. I am asking you to approve the 6% retail rate increase for the Water and Sewer Department, also known as WASDE. WASDE provides both potable water and waste water services to over 2 million people. As part of my work in Miami Waterkeeper, I strengthen environmental awareness through educational and volunteer events. Every time I bring residents out to experience and care for our waterways, I am reminded that protecting them starts with investing in the infrastructure beneath our feet. Insufficient funding for WASDE can lead to improper management of our waste water system. Waste water carries disease pathogens and introduces nutrients and contaminants into our local waterways, which can contribute to algal blooms and habitat degradation. Approving this increase will ensure reliable infrastructure that protects Biscayne Bay and public health. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right, Sarah, Machala, and Nala, go ahead. The mic is yours, the floor is yours, let's see. Good evening. Good evening. And distinguished members of the county commission. My name is I am 10 years old, and I came from North Miami Elementary School. Representing family action work movement. At FOM, we know that investing in children is investing in the future of Miami-Dade County. Through our after school, full day summer camp, and youth leadership programs. We provide children and youth with safe spaces to learn, grow, develop leadership skills, and discover their talents. For many working families, these programs are not luxury. They are essential. Parents need safe, affordable programs for their children while they work. And young people need positive opportunities that keep them engaged and connected to their community. Community funding help make these opportunities possible and allows organizations like FOM to reach families who might otherwise be left behind. We ask you to continue prioritize funding for community-based youth programs because every child deserves an opportunity to succeed. Thank you for your continued support. Thank you, energy. Now turn around, ask them to turn around and look at all those people supporting them. Yay! Great job. Now, which one of you would like to follow that? I'd like to be. Hello, commissioners. My address is 2121 Ponce de Leon in Coral Gables. My name is Jessica Gannam, and I am the environmental policy specialist with Miami Waterkeeper. I'm here to ask you to approve the 6% water and sewer department retail rate increase, which represents a $0.12 daily increase for the average residential consumer. Miami-Dade's public treatment works provides water and wastewater service to over 2 million residents. In my work, I've assessed the number of sanitary sewer overflows in recent years, and in 2013, the county entered into a consent decree with the U.S. government and- Jessica, hold on, give me one second. Can we get you all to be just a tad bit quieter, please, so that we can hear? Thank you. Continue. Yep, for violations of the Clean Water Act and other regulations, the county reported numerous SSOs and large volume spills, and agencies discovered improper management, operation, and maintenance practices of our dated infrastructure. Wastewater pollution introduces pathogens, excess nutrients, and other contaminants into our local waterways, threatening human health and degrading water quality. Approving this rate increase will avoid costly fines, maintain strong credit, and ensure reliable infrastructure that protects Biscayne Bay and public health. Thank you. Thank you. Next. Good afternoon, commissioners, Madam Mayor. My name's Noah Edwards, address is 2930 Day Avenue 33133. So not many residents in Miami-Dade know this, but we collectively own 29,000 acres of wild lands in the county. That's the same size as about 23,000 football fields. And that's not too bad for a county that seems to pour concrete over green space at every chance they get. I used the Kelly tractor decision from the other day as exhibit A. What is Miami-Dade without rare pine rocklands, hardwood hammocks, pristine wetlands, and habitats for the thousands of species that call South Florida home? I hope that we never have to find that out, but slashing funding for the environmentally endangered lands program puts us one step closer to that. That's why I'm asking you to restore critical funding for the EEL program. These lands aren't just beautiful places, they're part of the infrastructure that protects your constituents. They absorb flood water, reduce extreme heat, and provide critical wildlife habitat. Please invest the $20 million in EEL for fiscal year 2026 and 2027. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Alba Hernandez. My name is Alba Hernandez. I'm here to represent the trailer park. The Soar Park. My direction is the 8050 Northwest Miami call. My address is 8050 Northwest Miami court. SIP code 33150. SIP code 33150. Esta es la tercera vez que pedimos una reunión con nuestro representante del distrito. This is the third time that we have requested a meeting with our representative from district two. Hemos asistido a dos audiencias presupuestarias, aún no recibimos repuesta. We have attended two budget hearings, but we have not received an answer yet. El condado sabe, el condado sabe que estamos aquí, pero nuestras familias siguen en riesgo de desplazamiento. The county knows we are here, but our families remain at risk of displacement. Hoy quisiéramos una reunión entre la comisionada Bastien. Well, we will not be calling out names, please. Por favor, no puedo decir nombres. Thank you so much. We would like to request a meeting with the commissioner. And, bueno, quisiéramos una reunión entre alguien que nos represente. We would like to have a meeting with someone representing our residents. Con los residentes de Soar Park. And Soar Park residents. También queremos saber si recursos regulatorios, económicos, vivienda y desarrollo comunitario. We would also like to know if RER, that is Regulatory and Economic Resources Department, and Housing and Community Development Department. Nombres personas responsables y presenten un plan para evitar el desplazamiento. Could name people who are responsible and present a clear plan to prevent displacement. No pedimos más silencio. Pedimos una fecha. We're not asking more for silence, we're asking for a specific date. Y una respuesta a nuestro favor. And we would like an answer on our behalf. Muchas gracias. Thank you. No, thank you so much. As a matter of fact, I do believe someone from RER is here. They will meet you in the back to address that concern. And I do believe others you've made requests to meet with, staff will be in the back waiting for you, ma'am. Thank you so much. Daniel Fundora, Andy Allen, Sophia Bond, Marana Oz, Maria Gallmont, Daniela Rodriguez, Ramansa Pirna, P-E-R-N-A, P-E-R-N-A, Andrew Morrow, Daniel John, Isabel Herrera, Rachel Vergas, Taylor Habash, please come to the podium. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening, how are you? I'm doing great, thank you so much. My name is Andy Allen, and I'm the State Director for Best Buddies. Hold on, Andy, we have to make sure everybody's giving you their full attention. I love that. I will wait. Thank you. I think they're still, I think they're, got it, let's go. Okay, Best Buddies is located at 100 Southeast Second Street in Miami. Best Buddies is a 501c3 nonprofit that provides friendship, leadership development, and supported employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through our partnership with Miami-Dade County, we serve more than 2,000 county residents annually. Our CBO funding helps individuals with disabilities develop the social skills and workplace skills they need to obtain employment, become more independent, and participate actively in their communities. We are grateful that CBO funding remains in the proposed budget, and we respectfully ask the Board of County Commissioners to preserve this critical funding. I am joined by Daniel, a Best Buddies participant, who will share what the program means to him. Thank you so much. Daniel. Good evening. My name is Daniel Fedora. I live at 10951 Southwest 84 Street, apartment 306 in Miami, Florida. I was diagnosed with autism when I was three years old. Growing up, I found it difficult to make friends, and I was boldly. I even remember feeling excluded by parties I was invited to. I believe I would never live independently or achieve my dreams. My family used to tell me, don't ever say you can't do something just because you have autism. I searched for answers until I found Best Buddies. Best Buddies changed my life forever. Through Best Buddies, I've been able to build lasting friendship, work, travel, and even advocate for inclusion for others as ambassador. I am proud of the community thanks to Best Buddies. I'm asking you to please maintain the same level of funding for community-based organizations, so organizations like Best Buddies can continue to help people like me thrive. Thank you. No, thank you. So awesome. Yes, ma'am. My name is Sophia Bond, and my address is 3235 Southwest 59th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33155, and I live in District 6. I'm here to speak about funding septic to sewer conversions. My neighborhood, Shenley Park, is the only one that was receiving funding this year, and I urge you to increase funding for these conversions. We still have about 120,000 septic systems in the county, and many of them are vulnerable or touching groundwater, yards, flushing back into people's homes, and even Biscayne Bay. The county promised in the 1970s to phase out septic tanks, so please fulfill this promise. I'm also here to talk to you about urging you to allocate $20 million for the management, restoration, acquisition, and maintenance of eel land. You mentioned parks as a priority this year, so please uphold that for eel. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Maria Guillemont. My address is 1095 Raven Avenue. I reside in District 6, and I am represented by Natalie Milan. I'm here today as a citizen to talk about the eel program. This program protects our tree canopies, our wildlife corridor, and prevents soil erosion. This program protects all of our well-being, since they protect sensitive lands that absorb flood water. Scientists have warned us that Miami will face significantly increased chronic flooding, with high-tide floods potentially occurring 35 to 50 days annually. Estimates warn us that it will cost us over $5 billion to combat flooding and achieve long-term resiliency. In light of this, we cannot mismanage lands that absorb this flooding. The continued investment in this program now is a concrete step the commissioners can take to protect us. While I'm only mentioning flooding because of our time, our wild lands, the Everlates, the reefs, and the area of Biscuit Bay provide countless benefits to our population, contributing to our well-being in countless ways. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the commission provide for the $20 million that we have asked for for the fiscal year budget. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening, Richelle Vargas, 1960 Southwest 24th Street, District 5. As community liaison at Transit Alliance Miami, I, along with my colleagues and volunteers, spent all of August talking with hundreds of 5 AM bus riders. I invite you to join one of these rides to really understand just how packed these buses are while the rest of the county sleeps. It would be a tremendous and disrespectful disservice to cut early morning bus service. Riders are shocked and have no idea how they're supposed to get to work otherwise. Some reactions that have been shared with me are, since the county's taking away my only way to work, are they going to pay for my Uber to work? That's like one and a half to two hours of wages each way. Also, I don't feel safe walking in the dark for 30 minutes. The county functions on the service of these 6,868 workers. We owe them our respect, we owe them dignified and dependable transportation. Therefore, I urge you to restore the $12.4 million funding needed for early morning bus service. Thank you. Thank you so much. Hello, my name is Daniela Rodriguez. My address is 8475 Southwest 94th Street, that would be the area of Pinecrest. Being from South Florida means the outdoors is part of who you are. It is the reason people move here and the reason those of us born here stay. But the natural spaces we love do not protect themselves. That is what the Environmentally Endangered Lands program is for. Eagle lands absorb flood water, they cool our neighborhoods, and they give space for our wildlife to thrive. These lands are essential for Miami-Dade to thrive. If we do not leave room for our original lands to thrive, how can we expect the environment around us to keep working for us? We're between two national parks. We have Biscayne Bay and we have the Everglades. You cannot cut this program by 54% and expect our green spaces to survive. I'm asking you to fund ELA the $20 million for the fiscal year of 2026 through 2027. Protect the places that make us who we are. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, my name is Tala Habash, I reside at 15 Menores Avenue in District 6. I urge you to preserve early morning service in our county. Morning metro bus service between 4 and 6 AM is the lifeline for Miami-Dade's working people. These routes move Miamians to early shifts at nursing jobs, construction, school, and daily life. Cutting them hurts riders and makes it harder to live and work in Miami. Tala Habash spoke to hundreds of riders on these early morning buses and the response I was getting over and over again is, I don't know what I'm going to do. If this passes, I have no other option. I spoke to an exhausted woman on her way home from her overnight shift at Burger King. You should have seen her face when she heard this news at 5.30 in the morning. This bus service is her only way home from work, one of two jobs she has to make ends meet. What does her county expect these workers to do? Pay for an expensive ride share to work every day? Bike in the dark on dangerous unprotected roads? Please restore the $12.4 million it takes to keep early morning service running. If you don't use the service, your neighbor does, and they need you to lead for them. Thank you. Thank you. Next, hi. Hi, commissioners, Madame Mayor, Chairman, good evening. Thank you so much for having me here. My address is 2867 Southwest 38 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33134. My name is Andrea Miro. I think you probably have an idea what I'm here to talk about. I have a confession to make. I grew up here in Miami, and while I was here, I hated Miami. I couldn't wait to leave. And when I left, I realized that this place, my hometown, is the only place where you can go kayaking in the mangroves. You can go on a swamp walk. And you can see dozens of wild flowers blooming in a pine rockland all in one day. And if you haven't done that, I would invite you to come out with me. I'd love to take you out to do any of those things. Miami's nature is also what made me come back and why I'm here. And really what this is about is the environmentally endangered lands program. I'm asking you to please fund the program at $20 million. It's what allows the program to run. It's what allows the program to restore pine rocklands. Do all of the incredible services that you, thank you. Thank you so much. You almost made it though, you were there. I saw it, I saw it on the left, it was coming. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Amanda DiPerna and I'm the director of Zero Waste Cultural Change at Debrief Free Oceans. I reside at 11319 Southwest 248 Terrace in District 8. And Debrief Free Oceans works to build the cultural and infrastructural capacity for a transition from a linear to a circular economy so that all can have access to clean water and healthy environments. We're asking you to fully fund the Zero Waste Master Plan in your 2026 to 2027 budget. We lead Zero Waste Miami, a cross sector coalition of more than 150 members who have helped shape this plan. The initiatives that are outlined in a plan are what the Miami-Dade community wants and we are eager for implementation to begin. I'm joined by my colleague, Isabella, who will tell you why the plan is so awesome. Hi, Isabella Herrera, resident of 780 Northeast 68th Street, Miami 33138. I also work for Debrief Free Oceans and we're asking that you fully fund the Zero Waste Master Plan. Funding the Zero Waste Master Plan will help transition Miami-Dade County towards a circular economy and create healthier communities for all. The Zero Waste Master Plan would empower Miami-Dade County to more efficiently conserve natural resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste sent to landfills by tackling waste at its source. Fully implementing this plan will allow us to increase our waste diversion rate from its current 36% to 77%. And this would reduce an estimated 1.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. Funding the Zero Waste Master Plan is integral to ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for Miami-Dade County and our communities. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Good evening, Mr. Vice Chairman, Mr. Chairman, County Commissioners, and of course, Madam Mayor. My name is DJ Modizenek. I serve as the Education Director for Tropical Audubon Society. My address is 5530, Sunset Drive, Miami 33143. And like many of the others that are here today, I'm here to talk about EEL. Particularly, I'm here to emphasize a letter that was sent to all of you on behalf of several organizations from across our community urging the funding of $20 million to the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. We recognize that this is a difficult budget cycle. But EEL is more the conservation. As many of the folks before me have said, it's natural infrastructure. These lands reduce flooding and extreme heat, protect our drinking water, preserve biodiversity and endangered species, and strengthen climate resilience. These benefits are exactly why the EEL program was approved by Miami-Dade County voters in the 1990 referendum. The people want to protect our most environmentally sensitive lands for president and future generations. I urge you to honor that commitment and increase funding for EEL. Delaying these acquisitions and their management will only make them more expensive and increase risks of losing these lands forever. Thank you for your time. Thank you so much. Next. Buenas tardes a todos los presentes. Good afternoon, all presentes. Vengo del Miami Worker Center. Mi dirección es Lotus House. 2-17 Northwest, 15th Street, Miami, Florida, 3-3-1-3-6. I come from Miami Worker Center. My address is at Lotus House. It's 2-17 Northwest, 15th Street, Suite 415B, Miami, Florida, 3-3-1-3-6. Mi nombre es Leoreli Stovar. Hoy estoy aquí parada frente a ustedes no solo como una madre que lucha por su hijo, sino como una voz que exige ser escuchada. Mi nombre es Leoreli Stovar. I'm here not only as a mother fighting for her son, but as a voice to be listened to. Soy una madre soltera, soy autista, y mi hijo comparte este mundo conmigo. Actualmente, nuestro hogar temporal es Lotus House. I'm a single mother, I'm autistic, and my son shares this world with me. At this point, I'm living at Lotus House. Pero hoy el miedo nos vuelve a alcanzar. Necesitamos más empatía en la sociedad para personas con TEA. But today, fear is reaching on us again. We need to find more empathy for people with autism disorder. Para una persona dentro del espectro de autismo, el mundo ya es un lugar abrumador. Lleno del estímulo, barreras y desafíos que la mayoría no tiene que planear. For someone in the autistic spectrum, the world is already very hard being unable to navigate situations that most people don't have to navigate. Construir una rutina, un espacio seguro y predecible es vital para la estabilidad emocional y el desarrollo de mi hijo y el mío. Building a rutina, a safe space, and being able to have emotional development for me and my son. Haber perdido nuestro hogar no es solo cambiar una dirección. Para nosotros significó romper en pedazos nuestra estabilidad, nuestra salud y nuestra seguridad. Having lost our home meant for us to break our stability and health. No estamos pidiendo caridad, estamos exigiendo nuestro derecho humano a una vivienda digna y segura. Ser madre soltera, neurodivergente y de bajo recurso, no debería ser una sentencia para vivir en la calle en una de las ciudades más caras de este país. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Gracias. Yordan Ordonez, Kathy Santos, Theopolis Williams, Sharon Frazier, Delmar Donaldson, Paul Nanfi, Monica Vogels, Yamil Perez, and Patrice Sachter. Please come forward to the podium. Thank you. Yes. Good evening, Madam Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Mariana Aziz, and I live in 3180 Coral Way, 33145. I'm here tonight to ask you to properly fund the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. With the full $20 million, it needs to properly operate. Endangered lands are not just pretty views. They recharge our drinking water, protect us from flooding, storm surge, and are home to species that are found nowhere else on Earth. In spite of its importance, ill budget has dropped dramatically over the years, while land costs keep climbing. And it's now even considering waiving the $10 million legal minimum fee that the management trust requires, according to the code. There is currently 34,000 acres in the EEL acquisition list. Every year we defund this program, we lose land forever and important ecosystem services. I respectfully ask you to fund EEL at $20 million. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good afternoon, my name is Geraldine Ordonez at 4298 Southwest 5 Terrace, Miami in District 6. I am here today to speak against the early bus and late, I'm sorry, night bus cuts. Last year, I joined the Transit Alliance 24-hour Transit Marathon across the county. And at 4.30 in the morning, as we were standing in Homestead, one of their bus stops. Most of the people at that stop were from Jackson, from U Health, and from other hospitals in Miami. I was surprised to see that. And it also meant that those badges were deeply familiar to me. Because in 2017, I spent almost a month in ICU at Ryder Trauma Center, cared for by those very same essential workers. I saw them arriving at 6 AM shift and leaving at 11 PM shift, taking care of me day after day. These workers are there for us when we are most vulnerable, and many rely on these early and long distance buses. Please restore the $12.4 million that keep early morning bus funded. These routes are lifelines for the people who keep Miami-Dade running. Thank you so much. Deophilus Williams, 1391 Northwest 95th Street. Miami-Dade County property, spending $114 million to $424 to inmates. The cost of tax, we the taxpayer, costing us $1.2 million every day. Before Accutale Alligator closed, Florida Tax was paying $1.2 million. We spent $5 million a year for mental health over on 22nd, which would cost another taxpayer, $115, $115. We just proved $21 million for a performance arts center in Miami Garden, which in that should have kept the workers on the job when you come to our community talking about laying off. Y'all gave yourself a raise three years ago without the voters. You're changing the name of Betty Ferguson, I mean, North Day, to Farika Wilson. We never voted on this. That $21 million could be helping employees that y'all trying to put out. Y'all taking money from a property in time. Thank you so much. Oh, by the way, I got y'all a package. Thank you. You can file it with the clerk's office. Thank you so much. Ma'am, please. Good evening. Monica Vigas-Pitan, I'm the CEO at Legal Services of Greater Miami, 4343 West Flagler, Suite 100, Miami, Florida. The Eviction Diversion Program is a collaboration involving six nonprofits and the Office of Housing Advocacy. Since the program's inception with Eviction Diversion funding, we have conducted dozens of outreach events across all 13 districts and provided legal assistance to more than 3,000 households in the county, not only providing greater stability to these families, but in many cases, saving critical county resources that would have otherwise been utilized in addressing their potential homelessness. We respectfully ask for your continued support and urge you to vote in favor of the proposed level funding for the program. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead. Thank you. Good afternoon. Good evening, good evening, good evening, how are you? Afternoon, evening, Vice Chair, Commissioners, Mayor. My name is Sharon Frazier. I live at 6516 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33150 in the complex of Liberty Square Housing. As you guys can see, I'm still with a wheelchair, I mean with a walker, because I fell in the complex. Number two, I'm going to make it quick, because I had told the chairman that I would be less than a minute. Madam Mayor, please, we need that round table. Commissioner, please, tell them people stop intimidating me. Retaliation is happening at Liberty Square against me, because I am the community concern, aka Crime Watch person. And I need to talk to Rosie. I need that round table, Mayor Carver, that you had said you was giving us. Because Commissioner McGee told them in housing, along with Representative, Honorable Representative Lopez, and all the ones that sit, Chairman Bastien, he said, do not retaliate against your constituents. That's why y'all can't get no volunteers to sit on these advisory committees, because they target us, Commissioner. Thank you. Thank you very much, and please, let's refrain from addressing any of the names of the commissioners at this time. Thank you so much. Thank you. Good evening. Catillo Santos, 2150 Coral Way. Madam Mayor, can we, give me one second, okay, I'm going to address two things. Madam Mayor, can we get someone to, from your administration to speak with Ms. Frazier in the back to address some of her concerns? And secondly, if we hear a cell phone go off, my only request is the CBOs are in need of extra funding, and we will pass around a hat that you can make a donation if we hear your cell phone go off. So, if you could do us a huge favor for these next three seconds, just look at your cell phone really quickly and make sure it's on silence. I think that will do everybody a great service. All right, it looks like the senator's going to make the first donation, ready to go. Thanks, Kathy, let's go. There's at least $12.4 million missing from this budget. It's the $12.4 million that we need to keep 47 early bus routes running. This budget currently leaves behind almost 7,000 daily riders who need that 6 a.m. bus. They need it, and there are riders like Ms. Rosa, who rides the 37, the 7, and the 103, and has no other alternative if it gets cut. Luis Rosales, who rides the 8 and the 207, and would have to take a $25 Uber daily. And like Araceli, who both her and her daughter rely on the three to get to work and to get to school. This is not even the full stack, and this service is their livelihood, and we all need them to get to work, because Miami runs on their work. These cuts mean that we'll have delayed construction sites, no housekeeping at our hotels, nurses getting to their shifts late. Is that really the Miami-Dade we're striving for? Stop the cuts and save the first bus. Thank you. Thank you, Kathy. It's an honor and privilege to come before the board. What's more noteworthy is I come with no malice toward anyone. But there is something going on that I think you all should know. Did you give me your address? I apologize. 2100 Northwest 192nd Terrace. Thank you. Last year, I came here with my boots on. This year, I'm here with my heart. Did we give you your name also? Shekina Dalmar Donaldson. Shekina is Hebrew, grew from Judah, by way of the motherland. I'm here because of a nonprofit called Cunard, Inc., and the people that I met today. I am fascinated with the youth, but I'm fascinated with what God told me to do, is to keep that mobile museum and the history of America. African, Afro-American, Negro, colored, nigger, whatever you want to call us. It was hard with 500 years of slavery, and I'm here to stand and say my parents was a slave to some degree. Is there a nexus to the budget? Please make an allocation. I appreciate you. It's a $31,000 grant that I want you all to address. I died this year. I've been in a coma. Thank you. I've been in a coma. I understand. Thank you. Can I speak on behalf of my other half? He's not here. No, no, no, no, no, no. Because that would kick off a wave of follow-ups to do the same thing, but thank you so much. It's $31,000. Thank you so much. Redress that. I appreciate you. I don't want to go. No, thank you. I want to be the congressman. Thank you. Thank you so much. So here's just an update. Listen, everything up here that we do normally is something we are seeing from you. So the response is whatever you give us, we give you back. The only thing we're asking for at this particular moment is that each and every last one of you respect each other. Because what ends up happening is the longer you take at the podium, you're basically forcing someone else to wait behind you. And that forces them to have to rearrange their calendar or schedule to pick up their kids, go to work, or do things that are very important to their quality of life. So I'm going to ask that you respect one another by simply understanding that when you go over your time, you're holding someone else up from doing some of the things they need to be doing. Thank you so much. Good evening. I'll be as quick as possible. I want to say thank you to, well, first of all, my name is Yamil Perez. I'm from 240 East First Avenue, Hialeah, Florida. I am here representing Community Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit organization. Our organization directly supports the elderly population. On behalf of our organization, I would like to sincerely thank you for your continued support of community-based organizations and the important work that we do every day. We are especially grateful for you, Madam Mayor, for your commitment to including CBOs in this budget. By providing these services at the community level, we help save taxpayer money and while making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve. We are proud to be a part of the collaborative, working alongside our other community organizations to strengthen and service and maximize our impacts. I want to thank you for believing in our communities, listening to our needs, and recognizing that investing in CBOs is an investment in a stronger and healthier Miami-Dade County. We truly appreciate your partnership and continue to support, thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening, my name is Beatrice Schachter, and I'm the Director of Advocacy with Caba Pro Bono Legal Services, located at 2400 South Dixie Highway. On behalf of our team, thank you for your support in this year's budget, including funding through the CBO Grant Program and support of our Landlord-Tenant Eviction Program. Our legal services transforms lives. Your investment in Caba Pro Bono reaches survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, older adults, abused, abandoned, and neglected youth, children in foster care, tenants facing eviction, and more. With a growing team of more than 40 employees, including more than 20 attorneys on staff, we provide free legal representation to more than 5,000 clients every year. Thank you for standing with us in protecting children and families in Miami-Dade County. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Polker Shinofi. I represent the Family Action Network Movement, FOM, probably with less charisma than the three young ladies you saw earlier. Our address is 100 North East 84th Street. Good evening, Mayor Daniel Levine-Cava and distinguished members of the County Commission. One of the most important services that we provide at the Family Action Network Movement is case management. Families often come to us with multiple challenges at once, housing, food, insecurity, employment, health care, transportation, and other basic needs. A case manager helps families navigate a complicated system and connects them to the right resources. Sometimes what a family needs is not another program. It's someone who will sit with them, understand their situation, and help them to develop a plan forward. County investment in case management allows organizations like FOM to provide critical one-on-one support. We ask you to recognize case management as an essential part of Miami-Dade County's safety net and continue funding services that help families move from crisis to stability. We advocate for increased investments as well in transportation and, of course, in housing. These are crucial resources. We dedicate the last ten seconds to the memory of Gloria Steinem, a giant who fought tirelessly for women's society, women's space and empowerment, and for opening in the choices of their life outcomes inside and outside the US. Thank you. No, thank you so much. Thank you. I see that we have our constitutional officer, property appraiser, Tomas Regalado, has entered. Would you like to have the podium at this time, sir? Good evening, sir. Good evening, Chairman, Commissioners, thank you so much. It's an honor to be, again, here in this budget's process. As you know, we already sent our budget to the DOR. It was approved, and we, this year- Hold on one second, please. It wasn't me. I knew it wasn't you. Do not trust me. Please, please, please, go ahead. Thank you. Well, anyway, the budget for the coming year was approved by the DOR. We had a great meeting with the mayor several weeks ago with our budget. And we reduced it from the original proposal of $4 million. So we're part of the whole reduction issue in our county. So I thank you so much, and have a great, great meeting. Thank you. Thank you so much. Ada Severa, Veronica Brown, Angeline Evans, Rachel Desalones, Ebony Felton, Sumayin Wade, Fasa Gatian, Stephanie Gomez, Sarah Moreno, Brianna Joseph, Katrina Avila, Sharon Springer. Please approach the podium, Mr. Well, thank you. Hey, who wants to go first? Good evening. My name is Aida Diaz-Silveira with Cabo Propono Legal Services at 2400 South Dixie Highway, Miami, Florida 33133. I am here today regarding your investment in CBOs. More than half a million children call our community home. Applying CDC's estimate that one in six children have a developmental disability, that means there are nearly 100,000 children in our county with a developmental disability. Tiffany is one of them. As she approached adulthood, her family feared for her future. Through legal support made possible by your investment, Tiffany found her voice and her family found the legal protection to honor it. Her mother told us simply, we really appreciate you being involved. On behalf of Cabo Propono Legal Services, I am here today to thank you for your consideration in this year's county budget. Because of your investment, we are providing free legal assistance to children and families in need. Thank you for making a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families that we serve. Thank you so much. Good evening, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Commissioners, Madam Mayor. My name is Angeline Evans, 11300 Southwest 120th Street, District 7. And I'm here on behalf of YWCA South Florida, which has served Miami-Dade County for over 107 years. We thank the mayor for proposing a budget that maintains funding for community-based organizations, including YWCA South Florida's economic prosperity work. Every day, we and our fellow CBOs work alongside Miami-Dade residents who are working, raising families, and striving for financial stability and to thrive here in our beautiful community. But we don't do it alone, and we can't. It is the strength of the entire network of CBOs in partnership with many of your offices, which supports residents and families with services like financial coaching, education, and youth services, entrepreneurship, health, transportation, and other resources. Investment in CBOs doesn't just support individuals, it strengthens families, neighborhoods, and our local economy. We recognize the difficult choices involved in balancing this year's budget. And my ask is that you preserve the proposed full investment in CBOs so that organizations like all of ours can continue delivering results for your Miami-Dade residents. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening, Mayor Levine Cava and distinguished members of the County Commission. My name is Rachel Dekeling, representing Family Action Network Movement, and our address is 100 Northeast 84th Street. FUM is proud to be a part of a larger network of community-based organizations serving Miami-Dade residents every day. Our message today is simple. Please continue investing in the community organizations that residents trust and depend on. Whether a family needs food, child care, transportation, housing assistance, case management, workforce support, or help navigating a difficult system, community organizations are often the first door they knock on. We see the challenges our residents face, but we also see their resilience. With the right resources and support, families can overcome barriers and build stronger futures. County funding allows us to meet people where they are and provide services before a crisis becomes an emergency. Thank you, Mayor Levine Cava and commissioners, for your leadership and for recognizing that supporting community organizations is an investment in the strength, stability, and future of Miami-Dade County. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, my name is Ebony Felton. My address is 7432 Northwest 23rd Court, Miami, Florida 33147. And I reside in District 2 with my commissioner, B. Marlene Bastien, and representing Engage Miami. I'm here today to express my concerns about the eviction diversion program and the potential 50% cut that's outlined in the proposed budget. I have seen the struggles of trying to ensure that you have a roof to sleep under every single month. Even with assistance, if the assistance isn't adequate, it doesn't offer any real relief, as people are making sacrifices to make ends meet while trying to meet other needs. This is important to me because I believe that housing is a right that everyone should have access to. Our elders should be able to place, should have a place to rest and to see their kids and grandkids. Children should be able, shouldn't have to see their parents fight so hard to have a roof over their heads and forge and forgo basic necessities to make it happen. Even with shelters and other housing advocacy programs, shelters are full and have wait lists. And because of the increase of homelessness as rent continues to rise in Miami, sorry. No, don't be. Thank you so much, great job. Good evening, Mr. Chair, Vice Chair, Commissioners, and Madam Mayor. My name is Veronica Brown. I'm the COO and interim CEO of YWCA South Florida, located at 351 Northwest 5th Street, District 3. For 107 years, YWCA has served Miami-Dade County families through programs like CourtCare. CourtCare is a unique program, our community safety net. For more than 25 years, YWCA and the county have partnered to provide free, safe, trauma-informed childcare inside our county courthouses, so children don't have to sit in court or be exposed to traumatic proceedings while their parents access justice. Over the past year, we've seen a 25% increase in the families that we serve. That combination of child protection, family support, and access to justice sets Miami-Dade County's court care program apart. We thank the mayor for maintaining this funding in the proposed budget and respectfully urge the board to protect this critical investment as you adopt the final county budget. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you. Hi. Hi. Samaya Wade, 1-800, 10-800 Biscayne Boulevard, District 3, Keon Hardiman, and I'm a member of Engage Miami. I'm here to speak on our environmental and resiliency programs. We face two choices today in how we invest in our communities, do or do not. I stand here as a fifth generation Floridian in solidarity with all that have called our state home today and here thereafter. Every department in our county is worthy of adequate funding, but unfortunately, we've neglected the land that we stand on. Our region is in the worst drought we've seen in decades. This August, we saw the hottest day recorded in Miami since 1942. This year, the county's decrease of 54% of the program's funding that is ill compared to last fiscal year is really unfortunate. And we're just asking for $20 million in this year's proposed budget and the final budget, which should be allocated to managing, restoring, and the acquisition of land in our county. There is no guarantee that we can sow into our Everglades everything that she has provided to us, but a just effort can be made. The AIL program deserves funding. Thank you so much. Thank you. And you do know your commissioner is super happy for you right now. He's looking over there smiling at you. We're ready. Hello, my name is Sarah Moreno, and my address is 1271 Northeast 159th Street, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33162. I reside in District 2, and my commissioner is Marlene Bastion. I represent Engage Miami. I'm here today to express my concern about the potential 50% cut to the eviction diversion program. I recently experienced a difficult and stressful situation in which my landlord neglected to provide safe and sanitary living conditions in spite of regulations. Fortunately, I was able to relocate within two weeks. However, we all know not everyone is as lucky, and such precarious situations are far too common. As a matter of fact, we have found that over 50% of Miamians are renters. Miami-Dade needs adequately funded and fully staffed housing programs to ensure residents can count on secure housing and prevent homelessness. I respectfully urge you to vote against cuts to the eviction diversion program. Your decision will make a real difference for the people of Miami-Dade. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. Hi, my name is Stephanie. My address is 10800 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida. I reside in District 3, and my commissioner is Kian Hardiman, and I represent Engage Miami. Stephanie, your last name? Stephanie Gomez. Thank you. I have a dear friend who was previously incarcerated. He is a hard worker, a believer in democracy, yet these spaces misrepresent him by only seeing him as the mistake he made a long, long time ago. Reentry programs grant people, like my friend, a new beginning. This issue is important to me and my community because humans are deserving of second chances. This impacts not only him, but also his family and those who will soon reenter our society. Exploitation fractures the strength of our workforce. A dedicated effort must be made so we break a cycle of reincarcerations. County investment in this can lead to family-sustaining careers for formerly incarcerated residents. I respectfully urge you to vote in favor of reentry programs that will lead to economic stability. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Brianna Joseph, and my address is 1450 Northwest 73rd Street, Miami, Florida 33147 District 3. When I was eight years old, my mom was working two jobs to make ends meet, and I guess this one time, the ends just didn't meet. No, but seriously, unfortunately, as hard as she was trying, she fell short, and our family ended up having to live out of a motel for two months. I remember being nervous and scared and the room being dim and moist. Worst of all, I was ashamed. An emotion an eight-year-old should never have to feel. Please don't cut the eviction diversion program. A program like that could have helped keep us in our apartment until my mom could get back on her feet and help so many families across our county. Around that same time and age, I was learning about how different friends got to school. I was dropped off. Some took the school bus. Others took the county bus. With the proposed transit cut, students and the workforce that powers our county will suffer. Please do not cut or reduce routes. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Katrina Avila. I reside at 330 Catalonia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, 33134 in District 7. I'm a member of Engage Miami. There's a bus route three minutes from my front door, Route 42. I rarely ride it because I've never been able to count on it. This budget's answer isn't to fix that. It's to eliminate the route along with 11 others while draining 89 million from the Transportation Infrastructure Improvement District. The reserve fund meant to build our future transit corridors. My best friend lives in Liberty City right now seeing her means a car or a ride share. I try to imagine what it would look like if we actually build up our corridors the way we say we're going to. But where is that happening when this budget is cutting what we already have? Before our final, before your final vote, protect the reserve and fix these routes instead of cutting them. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. My name is Faisal Gaitan. I reside in 529 Southwest 10th Street, Miami, Florida, 33130 in District 3. And I'm here today to speak about the proposed funding cuts to the Miami-Dade Public Library System. And I understand that the county is facing a significant budget gap and difficult decisions do have to be made. But I grew up in a family with six siblings and under one income, so obviously we couldn't afford internet access or computers. And I relied on public libraries, which I would imagine many of us did when we were younger. So the library is something that I could count on and I'm sure many other families can count on. Because not only was it free, but it's also a safe space for children. I was able to focus on my education. I was able to do my homework there and finish projects there. So when I hear about potentially cutting funding for our libraries, I can't help but think about the families who are in the same position I was in when I was younger. With the cost of living, especially with the economy that we are in now, I respectfully urge for you to reject any reductions to Miami-Dade Public Library operating hours, staffing, or maintenance, and to protect the funding needed to keep these services available to our residents. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much. Vivian Pacheco, Sheila Womble, Alexa Covey, Jewel Schwartz, Miriam Singer, Dr. Helen Chassett, Amanda Altman, is this Natalie Earl, Tara Kitt, Olga Tomosello, you'll get me when you get to the podium for butchering your name. Gladys Ramirez, Margaret Ledford, please come to the podium. Not everybody at once, walk down, come on, we got it, we're almost there. Thank you. Hi, good evening, my name is Sheila Womble. My address is 1635 Southwest 18th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33145. I'm the Executive Director of Arts for Learning Miami, where every day we build brilliance by turning our neighborhoods into creative studios for our children and youth. We serve more than 5,000 children and youth and hire more than 70 professional teaching artists to make sure that those children have a chance to create. In addition, we're the county's lead partner for the All Kids Included Program. I'm also a proud founding member of Arts Access Miami, an incredible collaboration among arts education organizations that are dedicated to ensuring all of Miami-Dade's children have access to the power of learning in and through the arts. I know all of you have supported the arts in the past, and I ask today that you please consider making sure that the arts remain intact this budget year. And I thank the mayor for going ahead and putting that forth in the proposed budget. Thank you. Thank you. Alexa Cube from Marca Images, 626 Coral Way, Coral Gables, 33134. Madam Mayor, Commissioners, imagine Cassandra, the Greek prophetess, reimagined by Sergio Blanco, the father of modern autofiction, as an immigrant struggling to tell her tragedy in a foreign language. Imagine Carlos Eldran, Cuba's National Theater Award winner, bringing us the story of a woman in a square waiting for the husband who abandoned her to become a famous writer. Imagine Arthur Miller's death of a salesman, in Spanish, directed by Milo Cruz, two Pulitzer Prize winners sharing one stage. All this and much more has happened right here in Miami at the Westchester Cultural Arts Center. And thanks to the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, to you, Commissioners, and to you, Madam Mayor. This was only part of our season. Thank you. And please allow us to continue bringing first class theater to our city and protect our venues. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Jill Swartz, 6081 North Bay Road, Miami Beach, 33140. Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the board. I'm a volunteer board director at Jewish Community Services of South Florida. Thank you, Madam Mayor, for recommending full funding for Miami-Dade County's community-based organizations, CBOs. For 107 years, JCS has been a trusted partner helping older adults age safely and independently through nutritious meals, case management, and critical support services. Today, these services are more important than ever as seniors on a fixed income face growing food insecurity and isolation. As a proud member of the advocacy collective, we ask that you continue investing in CBOs. Collectively, our organizations leverage money. We leverage more than $15.2 million in additional funding from federal, state, and private organizations. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor, commissioners, and everyone present. My name is Natalia Earle with Urban Health Partnerships at 1800 Southwest First Avenue, Miami 33129, where a community health nonprofit. I serve as a program manager for the Miami-Dade County Age-Friendly Initiative, and we thank you for supporting, including funding in the budget for this collaborative effort to create communities where older adults can remain active, engaged, and age with dignity. Nearly one in four Miami-Dade residents is aged 60 or older, and that population will continue to grow and are among our most vulnerable. Since 2012, the initiative has brought local governments, community organizations, and residents together to make Miami-Dade more accessible, supportive, and livable for people as they age, while improving quality of life for residents of all ages. As you finalize the budget, we ask that you continue to maintain the county's investment in this important work, and on behalf of Urban Health Partnerships and our partners, we thank you for your continued support. Thank you. Helen Chassa, 20185 East Country Club Drive, Aventura 33180. Wait, I thought it was doctor. Yes, thank you. You are. So let's try that again. Let's try that again. It's Dr. Helen Chassa. There you go. Now that sounds much better. Thank you, commissioner. Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the board. My name is Dr. Helen Chassa, and I'm proud to serve on the board of Jewish Community Services of South Florida. I want to share one client's story that shows how county government and county investment in community-based organizations matters. Our client's 13-year-old daughter became paraplegic following spinal surgery in 2023. Most recently, the family spent nearly two weeks at Holtz Children's Hospital, while their daughter underwent another surgery to help her gain greater independence. During this difficult time, JCS helped with their electric bill and provided Publix cards for groceries. Our client told us this assistance came when her family direly needed the help. It gave her breathing room, lifted a burden, and reminded her that someone was there to help. That is what county investment makes possible. Please continue fully funding the community organizations. Thank you so much, doctor. Thank you. Appreciate you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and commissioners. My name is Tara Kitt Lowdow, and I work at Urban Health Partnership at 1800 Southwest First Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129. I serve as a community liaison with the Miami-Dade County Age Friend Initiative, and I'm here tonight to ask for your continued support for the initiative in the year's budget. Miami-Dade is home to nearly half a million adults, 65 and older, and that number is growing older. Residents face real challenges with things like transportation, social isolation, and the rising cost of living. The initiative gives older adults, like myself, a voice in the decisions that affect their daily lives and helps to make sure communities are connected, accessible, and responsive to their needs as they age. We ask that you maintain the current funding amount for the initiative in the budget. We're grateful for the county's continued support of older adults through this work. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Miriam Singer, and I serve as president and CEO of Jewish Community Services of South Florida. I live in District 6, representative by Commissioner Natalie Miliano-Orbis, and Mr. Vice Chair and distinguished members, we really appreciate your support and your championing CBO services in our community. Thank you, Madam Mayor, for your leadership, for the monthly meetings, for your investment throughout the year in supporting CBOs and addressing our issues. We are hopeful that this commission will continue to fund community-based service organizations. There are 66 safety net services providers that serve frail and vulnerable members of our community. Thank you for engagement and for your leadership. We are the bridge to self-sufficiency and an improved quality of life for residents throughout every zip code and every district in our community. We're proud to be of service to you. Thank you for your consideration, and if there's any opportunity for an increase of 3%, we would really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Miriam, can you place your address on the record, please? The address is 12,000 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 303, Miami, Florida, 33181. Thank you so much. Good evening, Madam Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Olga Tomasello with Urban Health Partnerships located at 1800 Southwest 1st Avenue, Miami 33129. I support the Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative, and I'm here to ask for your continued support of age-friendly work in this year's budget. Our growing older adult population has significant needs. One in five live in poverty, nearly 100,000 live alone, and many live with disabilities that can make it harder to access services and support. The initiative helps address these needs by supporting older adults to age in place, stay connected, and remain active in their communities. Through this work, Miami-Dade has become a leader in age-friendly efforts and a model within AARP's National Age-Friendly Network. We're grateful for your continued support and ask that you maintain funding for this initiative at its current level. Additionally, accessible transportation is also an age-friendly priority. We urge you to restore the $12.4 billion for early morning transit service and protect the routes proposed for reduction. Many residents depend on these routes. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Amanda Altman. I'm the CEO of Christie House, 1265 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33136. Christie House is the nationally accredited Children's Advocacy Center serving all of Miami-Dade County. We're a member of the CBO Collaborative, and we're all grateful to have been included in the mayor's proposed budget, and we ask for this board's continued support. On Monday, Fernando Castano received a life sentence for heinous crimes he committed against children. Thankfully, he will never again have the opportunity to hurt a child in our community. That outcome was achieved because of a coordinated approach by a multidisciplinary team of agencies led by Christie House. Christie House facilitates that coordinated approach, bringing together partners every week to ensure children and families get the services and support they need to heal and to pursue justice. So as you work towards adopting a budget that makes public safety the top priority, I encourage you to continue funding for CBOs who work hand-in-hand with law enforcement and each other every day. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Gladys Ramirez, 3558 Magellan Circle, 33180, District 4. Thank you, Mayor, for keeping arts funding intact and appointing Ashley Thomas to lead cultural affairs. Last year's arts nonprofit survived cuts through a last-minute scramble. This year, we are buoyed by the mayor's budget, but that's not a plan. Arts nonprofits employ your constituents. They bring arts to public schools in your districts. They fill our county facilities, generate revenue, and create the culture that brings the world here. A plan for sustainability funding for cultural affairs has to come from you. Unfortunately, most of you haven't met with us, despite requests from arts organizations in your districts. The cultural facilities the county owns are either underfunded or under construction, and not one of you has proposed a permanent dedicated source for arts funding. Work with us on that. Meet with the arts sector, fund the facilities, and sponsor a permanent plan for Miami cultural affairs. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. My name is Margaret Ledford, 2351 Southwest 16th Court, District 5. Thank you, Madam Mayor, for presenting a budget that maintains the same level of funding as last year for arts and culture. And obviously, my request, commissioners, is for you to also maintain this funding for arts and culture. As you know, every dollar you invest in the cultural grants program returns $42 to $43 back to the community in economic value to the tune of $2 billion. Think how much more we could do, much more we could return to our community if you invested more. Imagine if you could identify a steady, sustainable stream of funding for cultural institutions. And I hazard to guess that you encounter arts and culture in your daily life, today even. A piece of music, a book, a painting on your wall. Heck, we all saw theater in action with the chamber tonight when the PBA green shirts all stood up on cue. It is powerful. Be the visionary leaders that cement a sustainable ecosystem for the arts and artists. Thank you so much. That was a lot of great energy. Louisiana Martinez, Jane Doe, Kelsey. Yes, it's actually Jane Doe, number 61. Kelsey Dixon, Barry Bogle, Heaven Jones, Rizia Hayes, Renee Smith, Stanley Young, Nicholas Osterman, Elizabeth Estrada, Valeria Donets, Kathy Leaf, Catherine Leiva, L-E-I-V-A. Deborah Webb, please approach the well. Good evening, Madam Major, Chairman, Commissioners. My name is Luisana Salazar Martinez. My address is 13262 Southwest 142nd Terrace, Miami, Florida, representing Young Musicians Unite. Picture a child walking into a classroom for the first time to learn music, quiet, uncertain, unsure of who he is and what he's good at. Then they receive an instrument and they find their rhythm, their confidence, and eventually their voice. That transformation happens every day through Young Musicians Unite free music programs serving more than 60,000 children across 106 schools in Miami-Dade County. But that opportunity doesn't happen without investment. CBO funding helps organizations like ours bring life-changing programs directly to the children and families who need them most. We thank you for your leadership in prioritizing and strengthening CBO funds. Thank you. Thank you. Hi. My name is Keltieria Kelsey Dixon, and I'm here on behalf of Curley House of Style, Hope and Relief Food Bank, located at 6025 Northwest Sixth Court, Miami, Florida 33127. First, I want to say thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor and Commissioners, for your continued support of the Curley House Senior Program. Curley House is a grassroots 501c3 nonprofit based in the heart of Liberty City with a very simple mission, to feed hungry and to raise awareness without judgment. I am here today because our low-income seniors are in crisis every day in our program. I meet seniors on fixed incomes who are forced to make the impossible choice whether to eat or whether to pay their bills, buy medicine, groceries. Tonight, we are respectfully requesting additional funds to aid and to continue our program. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Barry Vogel. I represent Easter Seals South Florida, 1475 Northwest 14th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33125. Mr. Vice Chair, Commissioners, Madam Mayor, thank you very much for having us here today. I am also part of the Advocacy Collaborative. Madam Mayor, I'd like to thank you for including continued funding for the community-based organizations in the proposed budget. And I'd encourage all of the members of the commission to continue to support that. Easter Seals provide services for people with disabilities for the last 85 years in Miami-Dade County, ranging from three months of age all the way to 105. The services that we're able to provide because of the funding we get through these grants allows us to enhance and extend the service day for these clients, which allows their caregivers, their loved ones, to continue to work and contribute to the community and live a full and productive life. If there is additional funds available, like you've heard from some of our colleagues, we'd appreciate an increase as well. Thank you. Good evening, my name is Kathy Leff. I'm here on behalf of Bakehouse Art Complex, 561 Northwest 32nd Street, District 3. Thank you, Commissioner Hardiman. And I would like to thank you for supporting the cultural institutions over the past years, and also thank the mayor for continuing to maintain us in the proposed budget this year. I know you all appreciate how much artists and cultural institutions create, that they create the conditions that make neighborhoods desirable, attract talent and investment, build civic identity, and generate long-term value. Some of the things that art and culture generally are measured by, by their impact on education, job creation, tourism generation. But we fail to measure the impact that art and culture has played in the real estate appreciation and expanded tax base that we all enjoy. I want to thank you for reinvesting part of that tax base back into art and culture so that we continue to grow and be productive members of the community. Thank you. Good afternoon, good evening to everybody here. My name is Jane Doe, address 2818 Northwest 22nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33142. I'm with the career of Loving from the Heart. I'm here, we have the homelessness, what's going on. I defend the homelessness. I almost went to jail to defend two homelessness so they won't go to jail because that's something that they want to put three people, three days in jail and then look for shelter. With that going on, that's why I'm here to see if they can give some help with the homelessness. It's not the proper way of putting people in jail. So that's my offer to hearing. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. While it's getting close to my bedtime. Good evening, commissioners, chair, vice chair, commissioners, staff, and those who are coming out to this budget hearing. I want to thank personally my district two commissioner that really went over and above. Can we get your name and address, please? Chaplain Stanley Young, Freedom Prison and Jail Ministry, 500 Northwest 2nd Avenue. I want to just let you know that Freedom Prison and Jail Ministry is there to help and assist inmates that are coming out of our prisons and jails to let them know that there is hope, there is new direction, there is some new things that they could do and produce in our community. We've been doing it for 36 years, we love it, and I want to support the Miami day CBO fund. Let's support it, let's keep it going, let's develop it, thank you, God bless. Good evening, Rizia Hayes, 1637 Southwest 8th Street, 33135. Thank you, Mayor Cava, for sustaining arts and proposing a budget that sustains arts and culture funding. In previous years, I've stood before you all talking about emphasizing the economic impact of the arts, talking about the $2.1 billion impact of the arts here in Miami and how every dollar invested brings back $41 into our local economy. Those numbers are important, but today I want to talk about what's harder to measure, and that's what makes Miami Miami. Miami doesn't stand out because we are the only city with beaches, sunshine, nightlife, and skyscrapers. We stand out because what our people have created here. Our community of artists and arts organizations has given Miami a language entirely of its own. This is one that the rest of the world recognizes and celebrates. As we continue to grow into a cultural capital, we have to continue our investment in arts and culture. This is continuing investment in the very identity and community that has made the world look our way in the first place. Commissioners, I urge you please to, please, commissioners, I urge you to approve this proposed budget and make sure that the Miami we love today will be here tomorrow. Thank you. My name is Nicholas Osterman, my address is 3160 North 42nd Street, and I reside in Commissioner Hardiman's district. Good evening, commissioners. I'm here because I'm scared. I'm scared that a budget decision made in this room could cost me my job. I take the route 32 every morning at 6 AM to get to work. It is not a convenience, it's my lifeline. If that first bus is cut, I have no backup plan. Rideshare isn't an option I can't afford. That money will come straight out of my rent, my medications, my groceries. I'm already stretched thin. I'm one of the 14,500 working residents who will be pushed to the edge by these cuts. People who go to work, to doctor's appointments, to school every single day because they have to. Because we don't have a choice. Please, I am asking you as someone who's livelihood is directly on the line. To vote against these bus cuts, thank you. Heaven Jones, 1637 Southwest 8th Street, 33135. Thank you members of the commission and Mayor Cava for giving me the opportunity to speak once again on behalf of our arts and culture community. The arts in Miami-Dade are more than cultural institutions. They create jobs, fuel tourism, and give our community something to lean on beyond basic needs. These same organizations rely on public funding to provide free and low cost programs that educate, uplift, and engage our diverse communities. I am a product of the arts and culture. A young girl from unincorporated Miami-Dade who spent summers at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center is now an arts administrator, artist, and arts patron. The introduction into the arts and culture completely changed my life, and that's why I'm here today. Keeping full funding of arts and culture budget is an investment in Miami-Dade's future and identity. Without it, we risk losing the very things that make our county thrive. We are economic drivers and community builders. Thank you, Mayor Cava and the commission. Thank you. Good evening, my name is Elizabeth Estrada. I am a member of Catalyst Miami at 3550 Southwest Third Avenue, Miami 33129. I am here today to express my concern about the proposed cuts to the public library system. As an emergency management practitioner, I see libraries as a trusted community resource that supports residents during emergencies. As extreme heat becomes a chronic public health challenge, many of our libraries serve as cooling centers. Providing access to AC for residents seeking relief from dangerous temperatures and for those who may not have adequate cooling at home. For older adults and other vulnerable populations, these spaces can help prevent heat-related illness. Reducing library hours or services would limit access to a resource that residents increasingly rely on during extreme heat events. I respectfully urge you to prohibit reductions to library hours, staffing, and maintenance funding. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yes. Hello, Renee Pesci Smith, 1637 Southwest 33135. I'm here as the Executive Director of the Arts and Business Council, but today I'm also speaking as a mother, supporting the arts. When my daughter was very young, her father passed away, and theater and dance became her lifeline. They gave her a safe place to belong, mentors who believed in her, and a way to express grief when she didn't have the words. And yes, they helped keep her out of a lot of trouble. As an adult, she's building a career in the arts. When we talk about the arts and culture grants, we're not just talking about numbers in a budget. We're talking about children, families, jobs, and lives changed forever. Somewhere in Miami-Dade, there's another child who needs what the arts gave to my daughter. And that child, please give them the same chance that my daughter had. Thank you, Mayor, for proposing full funding for the arts and culture grants in this budget. And we urge all you commissioners to please vote to fully fund arts and culture grants in the FY27 budget. And please help us work on long-term sustainable funding for the arts. Thank you very much. Good evening, members of the commission, Madam Mayor. My name is Valeria Donets, and my address is 4600 Southwest 67th Avenue 33155. And today I'm speaking on behalf of Friends of Biscayne Bay and Hold the Line Coalition. We respectfully ask the commission to make two essential investments in Miami-Dade's environmental future. First, please approve the proposed 6% increase in WASDE rate adjustment. We cannot protect Biscayne Bay while underfunding the water and wastewater system that keeps sewage out of our public waterways. For the average residential customer, the adjustment amounts to approximately 12 cents per day. That investment is necessary to replace agent infrastructure, prevent sewage spills, reduce nutrient pollution, and complete federally mandated improvements. Delaying this work will not eliminate its cost, but will instead increase the likelihood of system failures, regulatory penalties, and significantly more expensive projects in the future. Second, please restore at least $20 million for the EEL program. The proposed budget provides approximately $6.5 million through roughly 34,000 acres of mine identified for potential acquisition. These are not simply undeveloped parcels, these are critical wetlands, hammocks, and other natural areas. Our God-given natural infrastructure that protects our drinking water supply, provides habitat for threatened and endangered species, and attenuous floodwaters. Thank you. Thank you, county commissioners, and thank you, Mayor Levine Cava, for all of your support, and including critical funding for the CBOs for Miami-Dade. I'm Deborah Webb. I'm the CEO of the Key Clubhouse of South Florida. We're located at Northside, 8301 Northwest 27th Avenue, and now in West Kendall at 9000 Southwest 137th Avenue, I believe, District 2 and District 11. But I do live in Aventura, so the beautiful Aventura. We're an international accredited program operating a proven recovery through work model serving adults living with serious, persistent mental illness. In the last two years, between our two locations, we placed 90 people with mental illness back to work, and 25 went back to school. Every day, I hear families, like you must also, that are desperate for help for their loved ones living with a mental illness. Our outcomes, 90% report that overall quality of life has improved, and they're more positive about the future, not contemplating ending at all. 94% report needing fewer or no hospitalizations. Thank you so much. And thank you so much. All right, will the following residents please come up? Anna Semeilin, I apologize ahead of time if I mispronounce your name, Fernanda Jorkisen, Deborah Koch, Robert Ryle, Natalie Herodan, Pedro Diaz, John David Harrison, Richard Lamondin, Omrit Shimoni, and Camilo Mejia. Please start. Yes. Thank you. Anna Semeilin, 68240 Southwest 33rd Street, Miami, Florida 33155. I'm the Executive Director of Adults of Mankind Organization, and first, I'd like to thank Madam Mayor for your support and leadership this year and for working hard to include us in the budget. I hope the rest of the commission will also support these programs because investing in our safety net organization has a significant impact, not only on our lives of our residents, but also on our local economy. We provide workforce development services, focusing on work readiness skills and employment assistance. We help residents develop the skills and confidence they need to secure and maintain employment so they become productive members of the workforce. And I know you like data, so let me tell you, this year we served over 329 Miami-Dade residents from all 13 districts. We placed 125 in unsubsidized employment, and that, if you use a conservative estimate, at $14 an hour, 35 hours a week, 40 weeks, that's 2.45 that's back in the economy. Thank you so much. Good evening. I'm Fernanda Jorgensen. I'm the Executive Director of Philanthropy Miami, 2045 Biscayne Boulevard, 33137. First, I'd like to extend my gratitude to Mayor Levine Cava and the county commissioners for your commitment throughout this past year to work alongside our CBOs. Philanthropy Miami strongly supports this budget and the continued investment in these organizations. It just is a smart investment, and now we have the data to back that up. An independent study recently conducted by the Health Council of South Florida showed that for every dollar the county invests in CBOs, they save $10 from expenditures from higher-cost systems of care. CBOs are more than just recipients of county funds. They're essential infrastructure and community partners, and Philanthropy Miami stands ready to work with our non-profit partners, our philanthropic community, and government to make sure that these investments remain beneficial to our community. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Commissioners, Debbie Koch, Christy House, 1265 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida. And first, thank you, Madam Mayor, for keeping the non-profit community in your heart and in the budget. We very much appreciate that. Your support recognizes that strong public systems depend on strong community partners. Christy House provides hope, healing, and justice for children and families affected by sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other trauma. Every day, our team brings together child protection professionals, law enforcement, medical providers, therapists, and advocates, so that a child can tell their story once in a safe and supportive environment rather than relive that trauma over and over again. Behind every budget line, there is a child who can begin to feel safe, a caregiver who receives support, and a family that does not have to navigate an impossible moment alone. Your investment helps make this all possible. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you all for your partnership, and for your commitment to Miami-Dade's children. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Isabella Velasquez. I am 15 years old. I remember I had the honor of singing the national anthem for all of you at the Board of County Commissioners inauguration two years ago. And I am here today because I found out of Young Musicians Unite when I was six years old, and I saw a group of talented rock stars, and I was like, wow, I want to be like that when I grow up. And I am proud to say that almost a decade later, I am a recording artist thanks to Young Musicians Unite's free songwriting program at YMU Studio, and I was also able to join my first ever band called The Lounge Band, where I, along with hundreds, if not thousands of students, were able to perform at venues across Miami-Dade County and meet amazing people. Young Musicians Unite is not just a place where you can learn to play music, it's a voice, it's a community where you can achieve what you thought was once impossible. Fund the arts, and fund these organizations that are helping shape the minds of the future of Miami-Dade County. Thank you. Thank you. Tough act to follow. Yes. Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the Board. My name is Natalie Herodon, 12,000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami 33181. I have the privilege of serving our community through Jewish Community Services of South Florida. Thank you, Mayor Levine Cava, for recommending full funding for our CBOs. For 107 years, JCS has helped seniors age safely with dignity through meals, case management, and critical support. Today, as seniors face rising costs, food insecurity, and isolation, these services matter more than ever. As a proud member of the advocacy collective, we urge you to fully fund the CBOs. Together, we leverage more than $15 million in additional federal, state, and private funding, as evidenced by the Health Council of South Florida's pro bono independent study previously shared. Your investment strengthens our entire community and protects the services our most vulnerable neighbors depend on. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Mr. Vice Chair, Commissioners. My name is Pedro Diaz, 6251 North Waterway Drive, 33155. I stand here today not only representing Young Musicians Unite as its chief programs officer, but also as a father, as someone who benefited from the arts education, and as a fierce advocate for investing in the arts. Because I have seen what the arts can do, they give young people a voice, they create community, they build confidence, discipline, and most importantly, a sense of belonging. The arts are the expression of what we are. They tell our stories, carry our culture, and connect one generation to the next. When we invest in the arts and culture, we are not just investing in musicians, dancers, or artists. We are investing in human beings. We are investing in our communities. We are investing in our future. Arts change lives. Arts save lives. And the arts need your support. Please keep intact the funding to the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Department. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the Board of County Commissioners. My name's Omrit Cimoni. I serve as the Chief Programs Officer at Jewish Community Services of South Florida, 12,000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami 33181. Thank you for your continued commitment to the health and well-being of our community, and for recognizing the essential role of our non-profit partners. Today, I'm speaking not only on behalf of Jewish Community Services of South Florida, but as part of the advocacy collective of more than 60 social service agencies that depend on county CBO funding. If the camera wants to just zoom in, that support the Miami-Dade County residents. We are the safety net for the community. We feed families and seniors, people struggling with mental health, and vulnerable individuals facing circumstances they never imagined would happen. The county funding is not simply a line in the budget. It keeps doors open and services available from people falling through the cracks as you make difficult decisions. Please, we ask you to protect CBO's funding and organizations that our residents depend on every day. Thank you for your partnership and investment in our community. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Chairman and Members of Madam Mayor. I'm J.D. Harrison, 176 25th Street, Miami, Florida. I'm Jacobs Program Manager for the Ocean Outfall Legislation Program. Jacobs has served WASDE as Program Manager since 2014. From this perspective, we have seen tremendous progress made in reducing ocean discharges, expanding water reuse, improving treatment capacity, and strengthening the reliability and resiliency of wastewater. The county is now very close to completing this important work. Six active construction contracts valued at approximately $840 million are underway, with four additional projects in design valued at $450 million. Slowing down and stopping now would not eliminate the need for these projects. It would cause escalation, contractor claims, regulatory risks, jeopardize the ability to meet statutory commitments, and delay critical improvements in supporting reliance. The 6% adjustment is necessary in responsible investments. Jacobs respectfully urges approval. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Camilo Mejia. I work at Catalyst Miami, located at 3250 Southwest 3rd Avenue. Thank you, Mayor, for restoring the $2 million to the eviction diversion program. We were a little nervous, but we got the memo last night. Commissioners, municipalities that have eviction diversion programs see a drop of 98% in illegal evictions. So it's really crucial that you continue supporting this program. Also, the Office of Housing Advocacy needs added staff to track and monitor residents who are being displaced from county housing. You all remember the mess that House of Lies revealed. We could have a similar situation if we don't keep track of residents who are giving vouchers and are not able to return once the projects have been rebuilt or renovated. Also, I remember when I was in university, I had to go all the way to Coral Gables from Sunny Isles Beach, and I had to take early morning buses. I would not have been able to make it on time were I not for the early morning service. Later on in life, I worked at the casino in Hollywood, the Seminole Casino. I lived in North Miami, and I had to take the bus from there also. So really crucial that you keep this service going. Thank you. P.O. Box 330-433, Miami, Florida, 3-3-2-3-3. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Commissioners, and county staff. My name is Richard Lamondin. I'm a business owner and father here in Miami-Dade. I'm also running to be your next state senator in District 38. Throughout the campaign, I have heard from thousands across our community, and tonight I speak for them. Our seniors and workers who depend on bus routes. Our kids who learn to read in our libraries and enjoy our parks. Small business owners drowning in costs they can't control. The young people who did everything right and still can't afford to stay. And the firefighters, police, and nurses wondering if this budget will have their back. A budget is a statement of values, and what we fund is what we believe in. But right now, Tallahassee is stripping our local governments of their tools needed to serve. Preemption from 500 miles away. And decision after decision has resulted in this community and this budget being smaller than it should be. Miami-Dade deserves a senator who invites you to bring the resources home and protects your authority to govern. And I will do that as your next senator. I want to say thank you and good luck. All right. Yes. My name is Catherine Leyva, and I'm the executive director of Engage Miami, located at 108,000 Biscayne Boulevard. I reside in District 3, and I'm also appointed to the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women. I'm here today to speak against the proposed removal of early morning metro bus service. I was able to attend my magnet high school because of the longstanding partnership that MDCPS and Miami-Dade Transit have together to make sure that students can get to school by the first bell at 7.20 a.m. I am the leader I am today because of my education, but first, I actually had to get to school. School choice has made Miami home to the largest public magnet school district in the nation, ending early service with disconnect students from schools that sit on routes, including Miami Northwestern, Miami Central, North Miami Senior, Southwest Miami Senior, Hialeah Miami Lakes, American Senior High, Coral Gables, Booker T, and Miami Beach Senior, just to name a few. These routes make school choice possible and fuels our future in this county. My ask is simple. Please preserve the early morning metro bus services so our students can actually get the education that they want and deserve. Thank you. Thank you. Will the following residents please get in the queue for your up next? Joseph Delia, Fred Christian, Deborah Spiegelman, Vivian Esther Gonzalez, Anaruth Solesh. Again, I apologize if I mispronounce anybody's name. Jamie Lee Perez Suta, Milagros Cabrera, Mercedes Cabrera, Susan Holtzman, Laura Mickelson. Good evening, I'm Deborah Spiegelman, CEO of the Miami Children's Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway. Good evening, Mayor and members of the Miami County Commission. Thank you for your continuing support of the cultural arts in Miami. Miami Children's Museum welcomes over 400,000 visitors each year, and we serve over 600 children every afternoon in the community through our after-school programs in our eight partner schools, many in underserved communities. At a time of growing mental health crisis, these programs provide children with safe, consistent, and nurturing environments where they can learn, express themselves, and thrive. The cost of sustaining this work continues to rise. Our security costs have become one of the most critical and costly responsibilities, yet it is essential to protect the children and families and staff we serve. As final budget adjustments are made, if at all possible, we respectfully ask for funding to help us maintain these vital programs, meet critical security costs. Thank you, thank you so much. I'm sorry, thank you very much. Good evening, Commissioners, Madam Mayor, staff. My name is Joseph D'Elia, 6355 Northwest 36th Street, Virginia Gardens, 33166. I'm the President of Transport Workers Union, Local 291. We're representing more than 2,500 Miami-Dade Transit workers and the working people who use public transit to and from school and home. These cuts to our system seek to eliminate 12 routes and more than 4 million rides a year, including early morning, and what every speaker before me hasn't mentioned, late night service that working people depend on. Every commissioner sitting here has constituents who will be hurt. Workers' schedules and lives don't change because the bus route was cut. Before cutting routes essential to your citizens and the industries they serve, maybe consider looking at consultants and other unnecessary administrative spending. Instead, maybe look at how top heavy the department is. There's plenty of areas where you can trim the budget transit routes and not it. County dollars should serve county residents. Transit is just as an essential service as every other county department and constitutional office. For some citizens, transit is the only means of transportation and it's their most important service you provide. Commissioners, these riders are your constituents and your workforce. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, I'm Vivian Gonzalez. My address is 6601 Southwest 116th Court, apartment 108, Miami, Florida 33173. I'm the Executive Director of Greater Miami Youth Symphony and we have started our 69th season serving the students of Miami-Dade County from public, charter, private, virtual, and home schools, and from every commissioner's district. Our students have gone on to prestigious universities throughout the nation, the state, and internationally. Our alumni include Grammy winners and nominees as well as esteemed residents throughout Miami-Dade County. Thank you for your support for continued full arts funding and for your efforts to ensure funding well into the future as arts, especially music, is fundamental to the human experience. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon, County County Commission. My name is Fred Christian. Address, 20733 Northwest 9th Court, Miami Garden, Florida 33169. I'm here representing my organization, hashtag impact slash at impact media Inc. And on behalf of my friends at Catalyst Miami in support in discussing the budget today. As a personal advocate who is disabled and advocates for those with disabilities and elderly, I'm asking you to please retain funding at current levels. Where I live is a senior community with disabled. We need the fire department to respond on time. We need the police department and we commend them for the great responses they do in the county for us as well as the Miami Gardens Police Department for what they do. We ask you also to please maintain the evictions diversion program because seniors and the disabled do not deserve to lose their homes. Please do this. Finally, please keep the bus routes because the seniors and the disabled depend on them at the same times. Do not eliminate anything. Do not change anything. Please find a way and keep it. The services for disabled and the hospitals too. Thank you. Yes. Mercedes Cabrera. Address exempt as I'm my domestic violence victim. Good evening, commissioners and Mayor Levinkava. As a survivor of domestic violence and stalking, getting a restraining order was not the end of my nightmare. It was just the beginning. While my stalker is currently in custody of psycho abuse, doesn't stop with a piece of paper. For my family, the abuse has persisted through relentless harassment, threats, and physical attacks. When abusers and their enablers are not held accountable, they are emboldened to continue their torment. Right now, the system offers almost no support to families in the aftermath. The most crucial missing resource is legal representation beyond the initial order. Survivors are left alone to navigate endless court battles, safety violations against dangerous abusers with zero counsel. I urge this board to allocate public funding for legal representation to support survivors beyond the initial order. Survivors deserve real safety, not just a temporary fix. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, good evening, commissioners. My name is and I live at 6776 Northwest 187 Terrace. I'm asking the county to restore the 12.4 million in funding for early morning transit service. These routes are not just numbers on a budget. They are the lifeline for more than 6,000 workers and families every single week, including nurses, construction workers, and school staff who depend on reliable transportation to get to work. An 11% reduction in transit service means cutting approximately 31.5 million in services and eliminating 12 routes while reducing service on dozens more. And we would be making these cuts to some of the most cost effective transit services, which cost an average of around $6.30 per ride. Saving money by cutting routes that working families rely on to get to work is not okay. I urge the county to restore the full 12.4 million and protect early morning transit service. Thank you. Yes, thank you. My turn? Okay. Hi, my name is Milagros Cambrero. As a local resident affected by the proposed transit changes, I strongly urge you to reject the proposed elimination of bus 57. For residents along this corridor, bus 57 is not an option. It is our sole lifeline. Removing the service creates a total transit desert, cutting off residents without access to private vehicles from jobs, school, healthcare, and essential services. This route is double impacted as changes from the better bus network increase wait times to 90 minutes and reduce seating capacity to a 16-seat tiny bus with broken pass scanners. Public transportation is a fundamental public good, and we cannot leave an entire corridor completely unserved. Residents are served safe, reliable public transportation. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners, Madam Mayor, and fellow residents of Miami-Dade County. Thank you all for being here tonight and for this opportunity to speak. My name is Susan Holtzman. I reside at 9055 Southwest 73rd Court, Miami 33156. I represent the Miami-Dade County Affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I am the president and CEO, and we want to commend the mayor and the commission on funding CBOs and urge you to continue to fund the work we are doing at NAMI, providing education, support, and advocacy to people who live with mental health conditions and their loved ones. In the past year, we've reached thousands of residents and hundreds of county employees through the mayor's stigma-free workplace initiative. Given that one in four people live with a mental health condition, that's nearly 700,000 people in Miami-Dade County, so if it isn't you, it's someone that you care for, the work is great, and NAMI is the voice of those people. We are making a big difference. Our participants report increased awareness of mental health conditions and the resources available to address those conditions. They report increased adherence to their treatment plans. Thank you so much. Thank you. Wow. Good evening. My name is Jamie Sutta. I reside in District 7 at 5943 Southwest 59th Street, Miami, Florida 33143. I'm the founder and executive director of Vocal Youth Miami, an organization that raises empathic and creative leaders through vocal music. I'm also here representing Arts Access Miami, a collective of arts organizations that last year served more than 12,000 students across 57 locations, providing nearly 30,000 hours of arts instruction. At Vocal Youth Miami, I see the young people behind those numbers. It's a child who wants to come to school because they have choir, a teenager who finds their people, a student who once couldn't imagine themselves on a major stage performing at Carnegie Hall. That's what investments in the arts makes possible, and it is why I'm so grateful for your support of the arts and culture in the proposed budget. And I ask you to please protect this investment as you finalize it. Thank you. Thank you. My name is Laura Mickelson. My address is 2212 Pond de Leon Boulevard in Miami 33134, residing in District 6 with Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis. And I'm with Miami Water Keepers. Anyways, I know like two hours ago we were talking a lot about the eel program, right? But I'm going to run it back, and we're going to talk about an ecosystem that they help protect, which is mangroves, right? Mangroves are nature, sure, but it's also the best infrastructure against our homes flooding, right? I mean, thank you, mangroves, but they also don't send an invoice to us. So a lot of their efforts usually go pretty invisible to us. But the thing is, when we stop funding the organizations that manage and restore them, that is when we risk really losing that flood buffer for our homes. And the thing is, every dollar we don't spend protecting those lands now is a dollar we're going to have to spend tenfold over, right? Recovering from that flood damage later. So respectfully, I urge you, commissioners, to favor in restoring the eel program. Because this money is going to be spent either way, whether it's in prevention or damage recovery. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right, will the following residents please line up? Again, apologize if I did not pronounce your names correctly. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Emily Cardenas, Executive Director of Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion at 9889 Hammocks Boulevard in 33196. Our offices are in District 11. But we present concerts from Aventura to Palmetto Bay. And our Piano Slam Arts Education Program, that many of you continue to support, serves more than 1,000 public school students annually from Miami Gardens to Homestead. As part of the Arts Action Alliance, I want to thank you, thank you, thank you for recognizing our value and what we collectively represent in this community. Economically and culturally, as the heart and soul of the people. So please, pass this thoughtful and balanced budget that supports arts and culture. Together with our cherished Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Arts Council, please know that we are working to find an alternative to dependency on the general fund. It is, however, a slow and grinding process. Thank you so much. Thank you. Please support us. Hello, good evening. My name is Alan Lane from District 3, King of Harlem, District. I'm here as a county employee, bus driver. I feel like y'all need to heal with the bus drivers here every day with the fare and stuff like that. We got the best in our transit system. The resident of Miami-Dade County, the one who come and work in Miami-Dade County. And I ask that y'all to reconsider a reason of fare. The fare box that we have, it does not take no international calls. So we need to upgrade that fare box. I think we're falling short, missing out a lot of money right there. I think the gas tax, you need to go ahead and put the two cents to the gas tax. That will help us out a lot. And mainly, y'all need to go back and revisit it. I don't know how you do it, but you need to go back and revisit it and make it a full penny. And I think you'll double the annual income that we have come through Miami-Dade County. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Freddy Valle. My address is 3170 Southwest 8th Street, L1116. I am representing Silvercourt Trailer Park and its residents. For the last six months, we have been facing an eviction forcing hundreds of residents out of their home and many teetering on the verge of homelessness. I speak for the elderly in my community who live on a fixed income and cannot afford the ever-increasing rent and housing prices. I'm here for my mother who works multiple jobs to survive and relies on my support for rent. As rent prices continue to balloon, many Miami communities are being displaced to make room for luxury apartments and luxury condos. The reason Silvercourt has a fighting chance is because of the help of ERAP and eviction diversion services and the attorneys that have been funded to represent us and keep us afloat. I am asking that you continue to fully fund these programs in order to protect hard working Miami residents facing eviction. Thank you so much. Good night. Thank you. Next. Hello. My name is Andy Arthur and my address is 6310 Southwest 79th Street in District 7. Thank you for continuing to fund the Department of Cultural Affairs. I'm speaking as a playwright and arts administrator and teacher at New World School of the Arts. The arts are a vital part of our economic ecosystem and the department and organizations and artists that it funds are a large part of what makes Miami the magnificent city that it is. The arts help children learn, builds community, fosters emphasis, creates emotional resilience, and connects people through all types of differences. I know there are very many worthy programs here that deserve your support, but please keep funding the Department of Cultural Affairs and help our artists, organizations, and wider community thrive. Thank you so much. Good evening, everybody. My name is Yaretsi Resendiz, and I reside at 3170 Southwest 8th Street, Lot D 429. I lived in Silver Court for seven years, and on March 11, 2026, we received an unexpected eviction notice that we had to vacate our homes. That we had to vacate our homes. Since then, my neighbors and myself have been fighting against this eviction notice. Por esta situación que estamos viviendo de desalojo, exhorto a la alcaldesa, comisionado Raquel Regalado. For this situation, eviction situation that we're living, I encourage Mayor Daniela Levincava and commissioners Raquel Regalado. Que sea asignado 1.5 millones para fondos públicos para aumentar proteccion a los inquilinos en el condado de Miami-Dade. Assign 1.5 million of public funds to increase the protection of renters in Miami-Dade County. A través del ERAP y las divisiones de desalojo, porque gracias a estos programas estamos siendo beneficiados. Through the program ERAP, ERAP, and the eviction diversion programs, because thanks to these programs, we are being benefited. Agradezco de antemano su tiempo y a esta petición y confío que nuestra voz sea escuchada. I appreciate it ahead of time, your time, and I trust that our voice be heard. Good evening, I'm Rachel Prestopino. I'm here today with Catalyst Miami at 3250 Southwest 3rd Avenue. I hold in my hand a very crumpled copy of the analysis from our bus drivers union of the cuts and their effects on each of your districts. If you haven't taken a look at this yet, I know they've sent it, please take a look. I think it's notable that the most cuts in terms of weekday ridership are from districts two and three. It's unfortunate to see when there's those disproportionate impacts for our historically black districts. So please take a look at this, because it really impacts all of your districts and workers that are riding every single day 14,000 weekday rides. I also want to shout out the Office of the Housing Advocate, of course, for the Eviction Diversion Program, which you've heard about tonight, but also their resident relocation. As we privatize our public housing, all those residents have the right to return, but that right really only works when the staff get to contact them and help relocate them. And they're so severely underfunded. So please support funding for the Office of the Housing Advocate. Thank you so much. Hi, Michael Rosenberg, 13030 North Calusa Club Drive, Miami, Florida. When Amendment 3 passes, the county loses nearly $400 million in property tax revenue, but I have a solution. It's called GOD. Government on demand. You pay for what you use or need. You call the police, it's $100. A burglar's inside, that's $250. If you need SWAT, it's $2,000 an hour. House is on fire, it's $300 an hour. If you have to be carried down the stairs, that's an additional $150. County parks, $15 admission. You go down the slide, it's $3, three slides for five. Mosquito complaints, $125, but each mosquito that you kill is $25 each. And if you want to complain to your commissioners, public comments, $25 for the first minute, $50 for the second minute. Commissioners, I have the complete GOD fee schedule here for if you'd like a copy. And when this passes, you call, you pay, you get the service. But don't worry, your property taxes will be lower. When three passes, it's okay, because in God we trust, coming soon to a county near you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rosenberg. I'm going to call the next list of names. Please line up at the podium. Maria, Claudia, Schubert, Fontes, Z, Spicer, Mercedes, Acosta, Daniela, Secchese, Joseph, Madera, Leorlis, Tovar, John Dixon, Elvin, Arevalo, Giovanni Martinez, Nicole Hayes, Carlos Siquero, and Stephanie Brown. What happened to Commissioner Mickey Steinberg? She was doing so well. She did amazing. She went to grab something to eat. You don't want a chair anymore? Please state your name. You'll have one minute. And when the speaker finishes, please immediately proceed to begin speaking immediately thereafter. Good evening. My name is Maria Claudia. I reside at 10063 Costa de Sol Boulevard, Doral, Florida. I'm here today with Catalyst Miami, and I wanted to share a story. I joined Transit Alliance during one of their canvassing events a few weeks ago, and we rode on the 8 bus at 5 a.m. We rode from 107th to Brickell. Throughout my ride, I spoke with construction workers, nurses, domestic workers, small business owners, and high school students. One person I spoke with was a woman named Edema. She works as an at-home health aide. Edema wakes up at 4 a.m. every single morning to make breakfast for her family, and then she walks to her stop along 82nd and 8th Street. She needs to arrive to Brickell before the family that she works for leaves to their workplaces. During our conversation, Edema said that this cut would cost her her job because she simply doesn't make enough to afford to take a ride share every day. For folks who don't know, an Uber at 5 a.m. costs around $35, and at 6 p.m. when Edema's getting out of work, around $45 to $50. For working class Miamians like Edema, spending around $70 daily on transit would be untenable. We're asking the county to stop these cuts for nighttime and early morning transit. Z Spicer, 4230 Southwest Third Avenue. For the folks behind me, please raise your hand if the extreme heat affected your summer. Yeah, right? Super hot. Now, raise your hand if you think that the county is doing enough to protect us from extreme heat. That's what I thought. It may feel impossible, but I think that you all can manage a budget that reflects the priorities of the public and not those with the biggest wallets and weapons. Dozens of us budget every day. It may not be $14 billion, but we know that making ends meet is difficult. All we ask is that you put people first when deciding where our money goes, or finally pivot to true participatory budgeting like many other cities. We need more bus lines and more bus frequency, not less. The extreme heat marketing initiative should never have been defended last year, and our library should not be in danger if Amendment 3 passes. Truly, truly, truly take some time and think about how this budget reflects you and how you want it to reflect the priorities of our community and our public. Because at this moment, it definitely does not. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Mercedes Acosta, and I'm attending Miami-Dade County. My current address is 1690 Southwest 27th Avenue. That's Miami, Florida 33145. This is District 7, and my commissioner is Raquel Regalado. Before anything, thank you for your extraordinary work in continuing supporting the eviction diversion project. It's an honor for me to be in front of the people that make possible programs and projects so, so necessary like this one. Because of the eviction diversion program, my daughter and I are able to stay housed. In 2024, a convasser from the program came to knock on my door. It felt right. It felt like an angel came. I was lonely and disoriented, facing a problem so big and knowing that it's my right to have a roof over my head. Saying this, we are respectfully urge you to consider increase the funds for the eviction diversion project. As part of the community of Miami-Dade, thank you Madam Mayor for the support. Thank you all. Muchas gracias. Good evening. My name is John Dixon. And tonight brings back, I'm sorry, 71 Northwest 93rd Street, Miami Shores, Florida 33150. Tonight brings back memories as a retired department director of Miami-Dade County. Thank God I don't have to do this again. But anyhow, I appreciate the opportunity to speak. My current life, I'm a jazz DJ with WDNA 88.9 FM. And I hope you guys listen, as well as I'm a board member of WDNA. We are the jazz in Miami, and you guys need to listen if you don't. WDNA is a community radio station. We play mainstream jazz, Latin jazz, and Creole jazz. On behalf of our board of directors and our general manager, I want to thank you guys for your past funding for WDNA. And the funding comes from the Cultural Affairs Department. We encourage you to continue that funding to enrich culture here in Miami. Enjoy the music and keep listening. Thank you very much. I'm moved to cut the funding. Go ahead, you're recognized. My name is Joseph Madera and my address is 3170 Southwest 8th Street, Lot J907, Miami, Florida 33135. I reside in District 7 and my commissioner is Raquel Regalado. I am a member and president of the Silver Court Trailer Park HOA. I'm here today to speak about the eviction diversion program and to express my support for the eviction diversion program and its absolute necessity. We, the remaining residents of the Silver Court Trailer Park, are in a legal battle with the park owner, Mark Keese. We are facing a community-wide eviction at the end of September 30th, this month. And as a result, the eviction diversion program is a frontline necessity for us. This issue is important to me and my community because our future may well depend on these types of programs, such as the eviction diversion program. I respectfully urge you to support the eviction diversion program. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Señora Alcaldesa Levin Cava. Madam Mayor. Comisionados y a todos los presentes. Commissioners. En nombre Elvin Arevalo. My name is Elvin Arevalo. Residente de Silver Court Trailer Park, ubicado en el 3170 Southwest 8th Street. I reside at Silver Court Trailer Park, 3170 Southwest 8th Street. Nosotros recibimos la noticia de desalojo el 11 de marzo. We receive an eviction notice on March 11th. Sin compasión, sin piedad, sin medir consecuencia de los dueños, sin previo aviso. No mercy, no previous notice, nothing. Y estamos enfrentando esa situación. And we're facing this situation. No tenemos para donde ir. We have no place to go. Somos personas de bajos recursos, trabajadoras. We are working low income people. Esperamos que nos ayuden. We're hoping for some kind of assistance. Y estamos aquí para que no recorten el programa de prevención de desalojo. And we are here advocating for you not to cut the eviction diversion program. Esperamos su ayuda, que nos ayuden. We're hoping for your help. Y felicidades a todas las mujeres valientes. And congratulations to all brave women. Y a los hombres que estamos en pie. And a man like we, like myself standing. Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. Buenas comisionados y la alcaldesa. Good evening, commissioners and mayor. Yo soy Daniela Alejandra Sacsecro-Masevichil. My name is Daniela Alejandra Sacsecro-Masevichil. Vivo en el ciento setenta y cinco del noreste de la calle cincuenta de la calle y cinco. Código postal treinta y siete. And I live at 175 Northeast 55th Street, zip code 33137. Hey, Keon Hardiman. That's my representative. Thank you. I came with Miami. Oh, sorry. I forget what I'm speaking in. Vengo con Miami Worker Center. I am representing the Miami Worker Center. Tengo preocupaciones sobre los servicios esenciales que quieren recortar. I am here to express my concerns regarding the proposed budget cuts to our essential public services. Como activista, he estado en la calle apoyando a muchos de ustedes y tocando puertas cara a cara. As an activist, I've been out in the streets supporting the majority of you and knocking on doors face to face. Lo que quiero es muy sencillo. I am here to ask you for something simple. No hablen de los valores, demuestranos los valores con una propuesta del presupuesto que nos valora. Don't speak about values, but demonstrate those values- Thank you. With a proposal for the budget. Thank you so much. Oh, man. Muy buenas tardes a todos, comisionados. Good evening all, commissioners. Y muy buenas tardes, señora alcaldesa Levincava. And good evening, Madam Mayor Levincava. Mi nombre es Giovanni Martinez, vivo en el 7600 Norwez 27 Avenida. My name is Giovanni Martinez. I live at 7600 Northwest 27th Avenue. El CIPCOP 33147. Y me pertenezco al Distrito Número 2 de Marlene Bastin. And I'm from District 2 for Marlene Bastin. Como miembro de Miami Workers Center y de mi comunidad, les agradezco por el apoyo del programa de prevención de desalojos. As a member of Miami Workers Center and of my community, we thank you for the eviction diversion program. Pero quiero recordarles que nuestra comunidad necesita dicho programa. But I want to remind you that our community needs that program. Para que muchas familias hoy en día no estén en la calle. So that many families do not end up on the street. Por eso pido que este programa se lo otorgue. That's why I'm asking you to allocate to this program. Three million dollars, so I request that those of us who may lose our homes tomorrow won't end up on the street. Por eso pido la ayuda para un programa de reubicación de familias. So I am asking for help for a family relocation program. De trailer park. For trailer parks. De antemano agradezco por su ayuda a los comisionados y a la alcaldesa. I thank you in advance for your help, commissioners and Madam Mayor. Ya que de esta manera no vamos a estar abandonados. Muchísimas gracias. Because this way we won't feel abandoned. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good afternoon all. My name is Nicole Hayes. My address is 20138 Northwest 36th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida 33169. I am speaking on behalf of county employees. I have been a county employee for 20 plus years. I was born and raised in Miami-Dade County. I have spent the majority of my career as a county employee. But what impacts us the most is balancing a budget on the back of county employees. I don't think is the answer. I have seen budgets go up and I have seen them come crumbling down. So I am asking that we please, please find a solution, a positive solution that we all can benefit from. Thank you. Thank you Nicole. Hi. Good evening. Hello. My name is Stephanie Brown. I live at 853 Northwest 139th Street 33168. Good evening Madam Mayor, Vice Chair and Commissioners. Once again my name is Stephanie Brown and I'm the Vice President of Ask Me Local 3292. I'm speaking on behalf of the dedicated employees of Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management. Eliminating these positions may look like a cost saving measure on paper, but the reality is that it could create a major interruption to the waste services Miami-Dade residents depend on every single day. Our solid waste employees are the backbone of this operation. They collect garbage, operate heavy equipment, maintain our facilities and keep our communities clean and safe. When you eliminate the workforce responsible for providing these essential services, you don't eliminate the need for the work. You simply shift the burden somewhere else, potentially at a much higher cost to the county and its residents. Our members and employees of Miami-Dade County Solid Waste Management may not wear bulletproof vests, but they perform an equally essential service to our community. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Heard you loud and clear. Please line up to the well and approach the podium. Name and address. Thank you. Good evening, ma'am. The board, I'm coming on my local 3292 president for solid waste. I come here to say, sometimes people say, sometimes you got to let stuff fall for people to open their eyes and realize what solid waste stand for. I hear y'all every day talking about essential workers. And not one time, not one time do I hear y'all say solid waste are essential workers. What needs to happen? Let the garbage stay on the ground for about a week or two. Let the garbage stay on the ground for a week or two. It's a shame that our director has to come up here before y'all and explain to y'all importance of what the environment is really about. It's a shame that we have to go through when she's coming up here asking for a flat rate, when she should be coming up here asking for the same thing that fire asked for. She should be asking for the same thing that the police asked for. Because y'all do not take solid waste serious until you see the garbage sitting in front of your house when you come home from work. And it shouldn't be that way. Solid waste should be treated fair just like everybody else. Thank you so much. Good evening. My name is David Diaz. I live in 425 Northwest 128th Street, North Miami. I'm a Dade County Solid Waste employee, been employed now for 29 years in Miami Dade County Solid Waste. I just want to piggyback on something that my Vice President and the Chairman said. When he mentioned that when they cut the lawn to make sure there's no illegal dumping, someone has to pick up that illegal dumping. That's the men and women of Miami Dade County Solid Waste. But how can they do this if people are getting laid off? This is the threat that's hovering over our department. When our men and women, at all times, before, during, and after any type of hurricane storm or any type of storm, are there to service the community. It is not right. Once again, I have to come up here and explain again to all the commissioners. Miami Dade County Solid Waste is the only one that deals not just with collecting, but disposing of our garbage and waste. Thank you very much. Thank you. Good evening, everybody. Cece Brown, I'm the President of Ask Me Local 199. And I too am here to talk about the impact that this budget has on the illegal services or illegal dumping folks in my bargaining unit. This budget is slated to eliminate nine illegal dumping positions. We're talking about nine families that will be impacted in these hard economic times. The answer to finding solutions to financial problems should not be the answer of cutting employees or cutting services that our employees, and not even our employees, the constituents depend on so much. Illegal dumping for each and every one of you commissioners is something that you need, that you request, that you look to have done regularly in your districts. And the folks that need it the most need these services, and the people that provide them are essential. And we shouldn't be taking away these functions or the people to actually perform the tasks that our constituencies depend on. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to speak as an interested party in the budgetary process. My name is Claudia De La Rota and I live at 10740 Southwest 124th Street in Kendall Pine Shore area represented in District 7. I am on the board of directors for the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, otherwise known as the South Florida SPCA. The South Florida SPCA is Miami-Dade's trusted partner in rescuing and caring for the county's abandoned and abused horses and livestock. I am here tonight to express my sincere gratitude to Miami-Dade County for its ongoing support of the South Florida SPCA and the vital work it does in the community. That partnership matters deeply and we do not take it for granted. I am also here to respectfully request that the current level support be continued and maintained within the budget currently under discussion. The South Florida SPCA depends on this partnership to fulfill its mission and continue to providing critical care for Miami-Dade's most vulnerable large animals. The South Florida SPCA has been doing extraordinary work in the community taking care of animals that have nowhere else to go, providing emergency rescue response. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, my name is Anya Klimala and I reside at 9660 West Bay Harbor Drive, Bay Harbor Islands 33154. Thank you, Madam Mayor and County Commissioners for recognizing the importance of cultural sector. In my role as the CEO of the Miami Music Project and member of the Arts Access Miami Coalition, I represent a collective of arts organizations, schools, funders, and community partners working together to expand equitable access to arts education across Miami-Dade County. And instead of reading the rest of my statement, I want to read to you a text message that I received today and the timing is remarkable. Hi, Anya. It's Sophia, Miami Music Project class of 2026 alumni. How are you? I hope you are doing well. I just want to write a message to see how you are doing and to thank you for the gift cards and for everything that you have done for me. I was able to use the gift cards to get the items that I needed for my dorm here at FSU. I miss the program so, so much. Thank you so much for everything that you do. I am rooting and always supporting the program from afar. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Teresa Rhodes, and I live at 13500 Southwest 57th Avenue in District 7. I'm a long-term volunteer with the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the South Florida SPCA, who is Miami-Dade's partner to rescue and take care of Miami-Dade's abandoned and abused horses and livestock. I'm here to request that Miami-Dade does not reduce SPCA's budget allocation this year. Miami-Dade funding is a critical component to the South Florida's SPCA financial operations. Regardless of animal intake levels, the SPCA must cover its fixed costs for ranch operations. Rain or shine, day or night, holiday or not, SPCA staff will be there to answer the call. Miami-Dade needs this service 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week, and the SPCA delivers year after year. And from my experience volunteering and my experience professionally, they've been fiscally responsible with its funding and with its discipline policies. They use volunteers as much as possible to offset cost, and we appreciate all of the support and look forward to- Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Good evening, Madam Mayor and honorable commissioners, Hannah Baumgarten, co-artistic and executive director of Dance Now Miami, 900 Bay Drive, Miami Beach, Florida. We all know what that song is. And I think we all know the value of arts and culture from the most destitute child to the wealthiest billionaire who lives in Miami-Dade County. So I want to thank the mayor for her tremendous budget, maintaining arts and culture. I want to thank the commissioners. We understand that you have our backs and that you support the arts and culture and every aspect of our lives that it enriches. I want to leave you with a little time. See you next meeting. I'm going to take up her time. My name is Captain Cory St. Arc. I represent Captains for Clean Water out of Fort Myers. I want to thank all of you commissioners for your attention. Did you put your address on the record, Captain? Yeah, it's 990 North Homestead Boulevard, Homestead, Florida. Thank you. 3-3-0-3-0. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I'm working on some water quality projects, reducing the microbial levels, increasing the microbial levels of soil with microbes in all the golf courses and the plantations in South Florida. It's a big project, but the commissioners have to make sure that we quit using insecticides and insecticides for our food and our water and our fruits and our vegetables. And everybody here, we all come from Jehovah God. We're made in his image. I'm here to restore this earth to a paradise and make sure that everybody knows that there is a way and there is a solution to these insecticides and pesticides killing our fruits and our vegetables and our hurting our children and our families. And it's worm castings. But we all have to make sure that we're doing our part and the commissioners are making sure that the money is going to the right spot. Thank you so much. Love never fails. Love never fails. It never does. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening, Madam Mayor and County Commissioners. My name is Beth Boone. I'm the Artistic and Executive Director of Miami Light Project, 9806 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores, Florida, 33138 District 3. It's my address. As evidenced by my designer bag here, I am an arts voter. We are legion. Make note. I'm here representing one of the 32,000 people employed in the art and culture sector in Miami-Dade County, delivering world-class programs to our community every single day. Collectively, we impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of county residents, generating a $2.1 billion economic impact in our county. Miami has staked its reputation on being a world-class cultural capital in order to attract new residents and businesses to relocate here. They do so because there is a vibrant and diverse cultural community and offerings in Miami-Dade County. We are an essential service and a vital public benefit to our community. We merit a robust budgetary investment, and we thank you for maintaining the Department of Cultural Affairs. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Good evening. Brenda Berancourt, 1436 Highway 6th Street. Today is a very special day. All of you are here together listening to our concern. And hopefully, actually, you are listening to us. Because sometimes you are wandering a lot around this dais and it feels like you guys are not actually listening. But remember, elections always have consequences, as I always say. I just want to make sure that you guys understand that we have the biggest port around us, around the state of Florida, who receives so many tourists. How embarrassed is to go to any cruise, and people who supposedly directing the port actually understand what it means for a resident like myself, go to a cruise, and the nightmare to go in and out? I hope that you guys have the answer, the same way with the flamingos and the elevators are not working in the airport. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, how y'all doing? My name is Eddie Young. I'm located on 8255 Northwest 22nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33147. I'm here on behalf of Famous Car Wash, which is located in District 2. Me and my father constantly been going to meetings dealing with District 2 to get some help with lost funds and also an official date of when the road construction is going to be finished, so they could go ahead and open up the main road, which is the main entrance to my place of business. This road construction project has been an ongoing problem. District 2 has been fixing on this road on and off for the past three years without notifying us each time. When the road was open, my business was doing well. Only thing I want District 2 to do is keep their promises with us and help us with the losses fund we've been dealing with on and off these past three years without notification. I don't want to pull the race card because I'm more humble than that, but we all know this won't go on in the type of neighborhoods. Thank you, y'all have a good day. Thank you, Eddie. Yeah, hi, my name is Khalid Abdel. My address is 8319 Northwest 22nd Avenue. I own a convenience store there. Again, we've been going to District 2, no help. I don't know who else to go to if I can't go to my own district to get help. Okay. Excuse me? So I don't know who to go to. The traffic, my main source of income comes from the main street, 22nd Avenue. It's been shut down for months and months. I tried to contact them, no answer. We went to the office two days ago. I can't get a phone call back. I don't know who else to go to. Okay. Well, we have somebody in the back waiting to assist you now, so if you would like to do that now, that would be great, or you want to continue what you say on the podium? No, no, I'll go to the podium. I'll go to the podium. Okay, just take a step back there to your right, and somebody's going to meet you back there. Thank you. Thank you so much, sir. Augustine Marstani, Mario Adeniz, Jaleesa Fusta, that's another butcher on a name on that one. Janelle Powell, Franklin Toriliba, Marcelo Balderes, Diego Barrows, Rick Crooks, Broadway Haywood, Eric Persuel, Fernando Desea, Asher Schafer, Rick Tavares. Please come to the podium if you heard your name called. And if it's not the same name that your parents gave you and I butchered it, I apologize. You butchered mine. I got you. Let's go. I'm ready. Good evening. How are you? Pretty good, and yourself? Great, sir. Let's go. Good afternoon, everyone, commissioners, chairman, and Madam Mayor. My name is Mario D. Ambrose, and I reside at 17948 Northwest 40 Court, Miami Gardens, Florida 33055. I was born and raised here in Miami-Dade County, and I love this place. One of the reasons why we're here, well, I'm sorry, I am employed by Miami-Dade County as well for the last 23 years. Can't forget about that. Can't forget that as a record specialist, too. And one of the reasons that we're here is to let you guys know that what we do in the streets do matter. We are out in the streets getting it done. And basically, what we do matters. And when we hear things like cutting out jobs as a quick fix for the budget, you are creating a problem that's going to be very expensive down the road. The services that we provide are here to help people get by and to help families survive in this world today. These are very hard times for us, very trying times for us. So with these services being cut the way they are, we're creating a problem that we may not be able to bounce back from. Thank you so much. You understand, man? I appreciate you. One more thing. No, no, no, no, no, no, because you're going to open up the door for everybody else to ask for one more thing, and that's a bunch of things. Ready? Thank you. Good evening. My name is Julissa Fuste. My address is 260 Northeast 169th Street, North Miami Beach 33162. Like the gentleman before me, I was born and raised in Miami-Dade County, and I'm proud to call it my home. Arts and culture is incredibly important to me. It's a personal passion as well as a professional one. I've been a staff member of the New World Symphony for more than 18 years. My colleagues join me in thanking Madam Mayor for preserving arts funding at its previous level in the proposed budget, and we urge the commission to approve this funding. The impact of the county's support on the local arts ecosystem and the impact of that ecosystem on our residents and visitors couldn't possibly be overstated. To quote Madam Mayor, the arts have an important economic and social impact in the lives of our residents, creating more connected and livable communities and solidifying our international status as a global center of culture. Well said. I understand that the county's Department of Cultural Affairs will be working on a strategic plan to assess the next five years and consider next steps for securing long-term dedicated arts funding. I hope the department has the support of this commission in creating that plan, and I look forward to hearing about it. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, commissioners, mayor, county staff. Boy, you have a tough job. Thank you for your service. My name is Augustine Maristani. I'm a principal with Ardura Group, a locally headquartered engineering firm located at 1000 Northwest 57th Court, Suite 800. I am here to express our strong support for the proposed wastewater rate adjustment coming up on the budget. Having had the privilege of working with WASD for over 35 years, we can say that the proposed rate increase only addresses their immediate needs, and they will continue to play catch-up on their aging infrastructure for years. No one welcomes a rate increase, but water and wastewater infrastructure is not simply a consequence of growth. It's a prerequisite for growth and a critical service that must function in perpetuity. These investments are not optional. This is an investment in Miami-Dade County's future. On behalf of Ardura, I respectfully urge the board to approve the proposed adjustment for WASD rates. Thank you so very much for your attention and consideration. Good evening. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and County Commissioners. Chanel Pugh, Executive Director of Reading and Math, Inc., located at 7900 Oak Lane, Suite 400, Miami Lakes, Florida 33016. On behalf of Reading and Math, Inc., a legacy community-based organization, thank you for including our Florida Early Learning Corps High Impact Tutoring Program in the FY27 budget and for your continued support of CBOs. The need remains urgent. In some classrooms we serve, fewer than one in 10 children begin the year demonstrating kindergarten readiness skills. The county's investment allows our full-time AmeriCorps tutors to provide evidence-based early intervention to 1,600 of Miami-Dade's most vulnerable VPK students, helping them enter kindergarten ready to learn and progress towards critical third grade readings milestones. Madam Mayor and Commissioners, to help community organizations sustain essential services and rising costs, we respectfully ask you to provide a 3% funding increase for all CBO projects. Thank you for investing in our organizations, our children, and Miami-Dade's future prosperity. Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners, Mayor, Staff. My name is Franklin Torrealba, and I reside at 1501 Veja Vista Avenue. I am the president of 300 Engineering. I am here today to respectfully urge you to approve the proposed 6% water and wastewater rate adjustment. Miami-Dade needs reliable infrastructure to support new housing, economic development, public health, and our quality of life. As engineers, we know a simple truth. A problem that is postponed becomes bigger, larger, and more expensive in the future. Infrastructure is not just about a consequence of growth, but it's a prerequisite for growth. The infrastructure is the foundation of which Miami-Dade's future growth and depends. This is not about spending more. It's about investing reasonably today so our residents don't pay considerably more tomorrow. The choice is not whether we pay for this infrastructure. The choice is whether we pay a little today or much more tomorrow. I respectfully urge you to approve the 6%. Thank you. Thank you so much. Good evening. My name is Marcelo Balladares. 16171 Southwest 73rd Street is my address. I'm the Everglades organizer with Sierra Club Florida, and I'm here today to speak against multiple proposed cuts in this year's budgets. This includes the $30 million in cuts to EEL, the environmentally endangered lands program, which through the protection of endangered habitats also combats the severe heat and weather that impacts our community members. Additionally, the $21.1 million in cuts to our public library system, which also serves as free cooling centers for our community during our intensifying and frequent heat advisories. We're also seeing continued whittling away of our public transit system with 47 routes losing all service before 6 AM and 41 losing service after 10 PM. If we continue to neglect our responsibility to our community and our environment, what will we have left? We urge the county to allocate a minimum of $20 million to the EEL program, guarantee that our library staff and operating hours will not be cut for their sakes and our community's sake, and restore the funding for morning and night time transit service that members of our working class depend on. Thank you. Thank you, Marcelo. Good night. My name is Rick Crooks. I'm with AAC Consultant, 5959 Waterford District Drive. I'm also the president of Miami-Dade A&E Society, which represents about 70 A&E firms or more. As you have already heard and as we in the engineering community know, if you delay any services such as for the infrastructure, you will end up paying more later. So I'm here to support the retail rate adjustment for Miami-Dade Water and Sierra Department. Thanks. Thank you. Well, good evening, everybody. How y'all feeling tonight? Great. Good. Good evening. Good evening, Madam Mayor and commissioners. My name is Fernando Antonio Caraveiro de Sa, and my address is 1281 Bluebird Avenue. My name is Springs, Florida 33166. I'm here today as a Miami-Dade County resident and taxpayer, but also as a professional working for HBC Engineering Company, who has worked in the water and wastewater fuel, including working with WASDE for about 20 years. I strongly support the proposed 6% rate increase. I understand that nobody wants to pay higher taxes, but I also know from experience that postponing necessary investments in our water and wastewater infrastructure does not save money. It will only pushes the problem into the future when repairs and improvements will cost significantly more. I have grandchildren growing up here in Miami-Dade County. I do not want them to inherit higher taxes, higher costs, because we were unwilling to make the necessary decisions today. The need is here now. The responsible thing to do is address it now. I respectfully ask you to support the 6% increase. Thank you. Thank you so much. And thank you, Broadway, for reminding us that the mayor's birthday is on September the 14th. For those of you who are wondering, her birthday is September the 14th. We will be celebrating inside of her backyard her birthday party. All right. Madam Mayor, please put your address on the record. You have two minutes. Bring the beer. Bring the beer. You're going to bring the beer. All right. Ready. Let's go. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Commissioners. I'm Rick Tavares. Address is 8333 Northwest 53rd Street. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. Also, thank you, Madam Mayor, for the town halls that you conducted prior to this first reading of the budget. It occurred to me, we all can take a deep breath right now, and we have fresh air. We enjoy the sunshine of Miami-Dade County. It doesn't cost us anything. But I realize, ever since I came here in the early 90s from New York City, which charges a lot more for water, by the way, I never once questioned the quality of the water that I used since the early 90s here. And I want to thank the prior water sewer department leadership. I would imagine it took years of investment and planning to make sure that the water that I drink, my family drinks, my pets drink, was healthy and secure. So thank you. If you can move on the item. Thank you. Appreciate you, sir. Thank you so much. Ready? Yes, sir. I'm Broswell, Eric H. Broswell, 11979 Southwest 92nd Lane, zip code 33186 Miami. Okay. Everyone's struggling working on the budget in the private and public sector in Dade County and the rest of the country while we have the string of tariffs which are causing a severe economic and financial impact on Dade County, the country, and the citizens. So we the people should back you politicians, go to Congress, tell them to pick up their balls, grab the tariffs, and reduce said tariffs to a more normal, saner, equitable, and affordable rate over the objection of an ignorant president. That's it. Thank you so much. Thank you, sir. All right. You ready for me? Absolutely. I believe we are. Thank you for having me tonight, Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Asher Schaefer. You said it right. So thank you for that. 650 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132. So tonight, I come to you as a transit rider, a photographer, and a hospitality worker. And I've also worked professionally with other transit agencies, including the King County Metro in Seattle, on campaigns promoting transit ridership. But tonight, I'm speaking to you from a personal experience as a warning to the proposed service cuts to morning and late night buses in Miami. I recently had to leave my job at the hotel because the transit schedule I depended on no longer made my commute sustainable. The most frustrating part about that was that I don't need a huge increase in service. I just need one extra morning trip, one extra late night trip. But that could not be provided. So I could not continue working in that establishment. That's why I'm asking you to restore 12.4 million and think very carefully about the proposed service cuts to early morning and late night Metro bus service. So those first and last trips may have lower ridership. Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, so we're going to change up the program a tad bit. We have about 12 to 14 of you left who signed up to speak. I'm going to ask that you start making your way, the ones who haven't spoken, to my left and also to your right and come down to the well to begin to speak. We're bringing this home. We should be done depending on how quickly you all can speak and get this out of the way and put your positions on the record. In the meantime, while you're positioning yourself, I would like to ask Mike Roan to stand up, please. He's in the back. Mike, is that you back there? Yes, it is. Madam Mayor, I'm not quite sure, but this man has already retired and you still have him on the clock? He's an active citizen, your honor. Oh, in that case, we've got to give him one minute to speak also. Mike, line up. Mike, we just want to say thank you and if everybody can recognize Mike Roan for the services he's given to this county for over two decades, we greatly appreciate it. Madam Mayor? Yes, through the chair. Thank you. He served for 37 years in Miami-Dade County and he is the longest serving Sergeant at Arms in our history. I hear a plaque coming after this one. All right, now it's your name and your address and we'll be ready to go. Okay, well good evening everyone. My name is Sierra Burgos and I reside in Little Haiti, Miami and I have since 2013. Throughout these years, I have seen the changes implemented to Miami-Dade Transit and how it has affected the community. My local bus routes went from being five buses that run frequently to now one bus that runs twice every hour. This has greatly affected my ability to travel to certain jobs I've had, forcing me to pay over $20 or $30 on rideshare. And cutting even more routes are now beginning service until after 6am and stopping as early as 10pm will impact my community in a very negative way. I know I'm not only speaking for myself when I say that many of us need to be at work or school before 6am. And many of us don't get off until after 10pm. I have stood at many bus stops in different areas. All right, thank you. Thank you so much. My name is Felipe Moreno and I want to say good evening to Mayo Cava and the commissioners. My name, my address, phone number and my email address. My email address. If I'm disabled, I'm concerned about. I'm concerned about. And I'm concerned because I sent out my resume and nothing has come out. So I'm concerned about that. I'm concerned about housing. I want to apply if there is a form where I can give you my information. Thank you so much. Can we also put his address on the record? I have 143 South West 9th Street, apartment 107. Miami, Florida 33130, is that what you have also? Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Thank you. No, thank you. Hi. Good evening, commissioners and mayor. My name is Mayme Aoun, and I was born and raised in District 10, and quite possibly the greatest place on earth. My address is 4901 Southwest 137th Avenue 33175. I'm here tonight to advocate for the first bus, continued funding for EEL, and our Miami-Dade public library system. My love for the city and nature actually started at a library. Today, I work at a local zoo. I bartend part-time, and I collect rare tropical fruit trees on my spare time. Every morning, I wake up at 430 to experience my city by bike, bus, and metro, starting at the very beginning of Route 40, and catching the sunrise over Miami Beach in downtown before work at 7 a.m. I'm going to tell you this bus is not empty. I'm going to tell you a couple people who ride the bus every morning with me. So we have Vilma. She goes with her child and drops off her child and goes to work at 8 in the morning. I have three publics workers, janitors, and people working on construction in downtown. Please, please, please advocate for Florida. Thank you so much. Hurricane protection. Thank you so much. Lobster. Did you say lobster? Hi, good evening, commissioners. My name is Oscar Alejandro, and I'm a resident of 2910 Southwest 69 Court, Miami, Florida 33196. I'm speaking in opposition to the proposed cuts to early morning and late evening transit routes. These hours are where shift workers, hospital staff, restaurant employees, and anyone without a car depend on to get to work safely. This proposal shifts the cost onto the people who can least afford it and comes as Miami's cost of living keeps rising, driven by an influx of wealthier newcomers reshaping our neighborhoods. The people who make this city run and make it a place worth moving to are being priced out. Cutting the transit they rely on pushes them out even further, right when we should be investing in the infrastructure that lets working people stay. Transit exists to serve the public. The public deserves a real conversation about alternatives before service is cut. I urge you to reject these cuts and send staff back to find another path. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and commissioners. Thank you very much for the opportunity. My name is Jose Maria Guzman, working for CDM Smith at 4000 Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables. I'm here to support Motion H for the water and sewer rate increase. We as an engineering firm are fully aware of the number of projects that will be impacted if this rate were not to be maintained. Dade County has always been a beacon for water quantity and quality example in the state and nationwide. And this really requires to sustain the level of investment. So we really urge you respectfully to increase by 6% the water rate. Thank you so much. Good evening. Good evening, Mayor and commissioners. My name is Andreana Diaz, and I'm representing CVAC at 2400 South Dixie Highway 33133 as a domestic violence survivor. Tonight, I urge you to expand the budget allocation for Dade Legal Aid and Miami Bridge. I'm here speaking as a mother forced into an unnecessarily drawn-out family court battle. Initially, I could afford a lawyer, but I had to use my newborn son's future educational funds, and they are completely depleted. Along my journey, I've met so many parents that are struggling with the same battle. To protect our children's stability and futures, we must fund Dade Legal Aid while investing in pre-court stabilization like Miami Bridge. Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to justice, regardless of the amount of money that they have. My son and I are part of the world's most vulnerable population, and we deserve a chance. I believe I was brought into my circumstances to help others, and if I was in your position, I would help survivors. Please help us. Thank you. And thank you so much. Hi, my name is Amy. My address is 11710 Southwest 110th Lane, Miami, Florida, 33186, and I'm here to advocate for the $20 million increase of- Amy, can we borrow your last name? I promise you we'll give it back. Herrera. Thank you. I'm here to advocate for the $20 million increase of EL funding because nature and human connection to the environment is vital to our physical and mental health. There is extensive research showing that connection with nature produce significant reductions in depression, anxiety, blood pressure, cortisol, and improved positive effect. Green spaces near schools promote cognitive development in children's, and green views near children's home promote self-control behaviors. The environment fuels creativity for the arts, music, provide shades for commuters, and provide mental health walks. I also especially want to point out the emblem in the back that is showing what? The Miami-Dade County emblem is showing a tree, some sort of science plant, the water, the sun. It is not showing Kelly tractor development, so let's support what we represent. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, my name is Alberto Rosales, address 7131 Southwest 149th Avenue. I'm here as a resident to urge you to prioritize the protection and preservation of our wetlands, our glades, our bay, our swamps, and essentially this place we call home. You can do that by approving the 6% water and sewer department retail rate increase, by increasing funding for countywide septic to sewer conversions, by increasing the budget for the Biscayne Bay restoration and shoreline stabilization, and especially, or most pertinent, allocating $20 million for the EEL program. Especially after the Kelly Tractors decision and the Calusa Rookery. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Good evening. Good evening, commissioners and Mayor Cava. My name is Mylin Lam, and I reside at 9731 Southwest 5th Street, Miami, Florida, 33174. My commissioner is Mr. Rodriguez. I'm here today to express my serious support for two equally important issues. The first is about the environmentally endangered lands program that protects sensitive lands that absorb flood water, reduce extreme heat, and provide habitat for wildlife. Which protects our neighborhoods, the place that we call home, and wildlife. So this year, the county decreased a disappointing 54% of the program's funding compared to last fiscal year. Secondly, the eviction diversion program is proposed at $1 million, a 50% reduction from the previous year's $2 million level. Incredible. Reducing eviction prevention during a housing crisis, especially in Miami. Can significantly worsen the crisis, and it already has. I live by Sweetwater and have witnessed the loss of Low Abner Mobile Home Park. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor, Commissioners. I am Rob Piper, 1401 Southwest 17 Terrace, Miami, Florida. I am a candidate for Commission District 5, but I'm here as a resident. And I just need to ask my fellow residents, who here is not familiar with the process, the budget process, up to this point? Mr. Piper. Sir. Sir. Thank you. Good evening. With all due respect, if you can address the body and- Oh, of course, of course, of course. All right. Just, if people are not familiar with the budget process up to this point, I'll be happy to educate them. But what I wanted to talk about was, it was discussed that a budget is a reflection of what is valued. But also, how we fund that budget is also a reflection of what we value, who we value, whose desires we prioritize. And in a county with 25 billionaires and 180 centimillionaires and a GDP of 260 billion, I just have to ask, why are we even entertaining cutting garbage workers as well as cutting funding to- Thank you, sir. I appreciate you. Have a great evening. Thank you. Yes, sir. Good evening, commissioners and Madam Mayor. Hello, sir. My name is Juan Aceituno. I live at 7011 Southwest 83rd Place, Miami 33143. I'm speaking today in support of the proposed 6% water and sewer rate adjustment. As a professional engineer, I have spent most of my career working on water and sewer infrastructure projects here in Miami-Dade County. And I have seen firsthand the importance of maintaining and investing in this critical water infrastructure before they become larger and more costly problems. But more importantly today, I'm speaking as a resident of Miami-Dade County over the past 23 years and as a father with a family who calls this community home. And so the decision on the water rate adjustment will have a direct impact on the reliability, the resilience, and sustainability of the infrastructure that future generations will inherit. So investing in our water infrastructure is not just about meeting today's needs, but it's about protecting the public health, preserving our environment, and ensuring a strong future in Miami-Dade County. So I respectfully urge you to consider the rate adjustment. I greatly appreciate you so much. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. I'm Maria Molina. I reside on 2401 Anderson Road, Coral Gables, Florida, 33134. As my colleague just said, I am here to support the rate adjustment for Miami-Dade Water and Sewer on the water and wastewater rates. And this rate of 6% represents $3.77 per month for the, I'm sorry. And so this rate is necessary for WASD because for Miami-Dade Water and Sewer to fulfill the obligations of the consent decree to maintain compliance with regulatory agencies and protect the county infrastructure that is so important for all of us. So I urge you to accept this and approve this increase. Thank you. Thank you. Sir. Good evening. My name is Jorge Camacho with HDR Engineering. I live in 50 Biscayne Boulevard apartment 402. I'm here to support the water and wastewater rate adjustment of 6%. Miami is my home. I don't want Miami to go through the same situation my birth country of Puerto Rico is going through right now. Where poor planning and lack of investment in proper infrastructure is leaving thousands of residents without service of water for weeks. And they are suffering. All my family is there. We need to be prepared with the right infrastructure. And for that, we need that rate increase to have a utility for the future. But that investment needs to start now. Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am. Hi. Good evening. My name is Kathy McElroy, Ireland 2355 Tequesta, Coconut Grove 33133. I'm speaking about the bus routes being cut. If you're on the bus at 5 a.m. heading to work, you're a part of the hardest working residents of our county. These community members are the people that keep our society and cities running. Making a decision to cut funding for the early morning bus route seemed to be heartless and elitist. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Good evening. First of all, thank you to all you guys do, to all of your dedication. I'm John Baudre, 300 South Biscayne Boulevard. And first of all, on September 18th, we're partnering with the DDA. And we're bringing together 200 of the world's top cyber security professionals, specifically for civic cyber security. And we're doing it at the newly renovated First Church of Miami. So definitely a heart and sincere invitation to everyone. Also, we have a number of ways that our kind of tech communities come up with to bring in revenue. I know a lot of time it's just about what to cut and not to cut, but know that we have your back. And we're here to explore all the options we have in technology, but together as a community for the county. So once again, September 18th, we're having our civic cyber security with the DEA at First Church Miami. Thank you guys, good luck. Sir. Good evening, Chairman, Madam Mayor and Commission. My name is James Torres, President of Downtown Neighbors Alliance. I'm here to kind of get some help on a couple things. Remember November 5th, 1996? That is when the Miami Heat came to the City of Miami. We need your help. There is $2 million sitting in the budget to allocate for Parcel B, Dan Paul Plaza. We would like you guys to, as your crunching numbers, not to forget Parcel B. And the reason I say that is because far too long we're taking a bunch of time outs, technical files, and not bringing the green space to life. And it is important that we start addressing this. Commissioner Keon Hardeman has been a champion in trying to bring this forward, but we're not at the finish line. So I'm kindly asking that we kind of maybe all come together as a team, keyword here, and move this forward. It is now going to be 31 years before that parcel is developed for everybody to enjoy, not just downtowners. I kindly ask you to please look at that allocation, move forward, and sit down with all the parties involved. Thank you. All right. So that is all of our public speakers for this evening. Is there anyone that did not get their name called? Is there anyone that did not get their name called? All right. We've gone through the whole list successfully. Congratulations to everybody. Public hearing has now concluded and is officially closed. Madam Mayor, the moment you've been waiting for. Thank you so much. The floor is all yours. Thank you. Guys, please quiet down in the chamber as the mayor gives her remarks. All right. Thank you so much to the chairman, all the commissioners, all of our residents that came tonight. Thank you for everyone who made your voices heard. We were listening. And I want to begin especially with gratitude to everyone who brought us to this point, which is our first official budget hearing. To the board, we've met with you multiple times. You've provided invaluable feedback as we prepared and then submitted the proposed budget. And I appreciate so much the priorities and the input that you shared on behalf of our community. To our constitutional offices, the same. We've met multiple times with each of our constitutional offices. We've worked collaboratively towards this year's budget. We've had to navigate together because we all draw from the same pot of general fund. And to our residents. Throughout the summer, we've traveled around the county. We've had numerous in-person and virtual town hall meetings. Active participation across the county. And as always, we're shaping our budget based on your concerns and priorities. In fact, since I started as mayor, we've had over 60 of these public forums to listen to our community and their priorities. And that has shaped our budget and kept us focused on what matters most to the people we serve. Most importantly, I'd like to recognize our county employees who do the work. Who do the work with heart. They do it with dedication. Delivering excellence every day. And to our Office of Management and Budget, who's done the hard work of crunching the numbers and bringing you a balanced budget, which we submitted in July. So we know that this year's budget comes at a time of real stress in the community, in everybody's lives. Our families are struggling, the high cost of living, the difficulty paying for basic needs for each of them in their households. And just as residents are watching every dollar, so are we and so must we. This is a time when we must demonstrate our fiscal stewardship, our responsibility, our transparency. And residents are watching, and they want to know that we are serving them as fiscally responsible. So these values have guided us throughout the budget process. And over the past several years, with your support, we reduced the millage rate two years in a row. And we're now at the lowest level since 1982. And this year, we're not proposing to increase it. We're continuing to maintain that historically low property tax millage rate. At the same time, we are facing difficult choices. This is not a year in which we have new revenues. This is a year in which revenue growth has slowed significantly in our property roles. While costs continue to rise for everyone, the cost of inflation is higher than the cost of growth in our property values. So that means, along with reductions in state and federal fundings, that means we must reduce our costs. And so reduce we did, and we must continue. Balancing the budget meant we could not ask our taxpayers for more. We had to find it within our own means. We looked inward through our WISE 305 initiative. We, in fact, found $121 million. Thank you. And thank you to the staff who found it. We went back to our departments three times to find that so that we could include it in our budget this year. So we eliminated more than 400 general fund positions. We continue to streamline operations and find real cost reductions. But at the same time, we were able to protect almost all of the basic services that matter so much to our community. And public safety always comes first. No question about it. That's what our residents expect. So even as departments were asked to keep their growth to minimal levels, we doubled the amount for our public safety departments. So general fund departments were asked to keep their budget within 3%, even though costs were in the range of 8% growth. And in our public safety departments, we doubled that to 6%. And that includes not just the sheriff, but corrections, emergency management, medical examiner. Those are the basic public safety and fire. Thank you. And the fire department. So we were able with all of this challenging budgeting to offer the sheriff's office in our proposed budget an additional $55 million. And that brings with it approximately 200 additional positions and both funding and staffing to their highest levels in law enforcement in our county's history. And I want to be sure that you understand the contrast is very clear. 3% versus 6%. It's a very significant difference. And we did it because of the fundamental value of public safety. But we were also able to maintain our commitment to parks. As the chairman said, we're not proposing reductions to parks, libraries, housing, arts and culture and community organizations in this year's budget. We, in fact, with transit, which is mostly general fund supported, only 12% of the budget for transit comes from passengers or the fare box. The rest is general fund. It brings our contribution this year to $336 million, 66 million more than this past year. And so it's very difficult choices that were made, unfortunately, to reduce routes and hours, as has been mentioned. And we regret that that financial reality has forced us to make those recommendations. So I want to make sure you understand, commissioners, that every dollar in this budget is programmed and there are no other dollars. So if additional programs or more for any particular programs are your proposal, then we ask you to identify what we will cut. And this is not an argument against making changes. This is ultimately the budget that you will pass. We recognize that you have opportunities to change the priorities that are laid out in my budget. But it is required by charter that I present a balanced budget to you based on my best judgment of how we can spend our dollars balancing the many competing needs and priorities while also looking to the county's long-term financial stability. So the responsibility now rests with you to review the proposal, to debate it, and make the adjustments that you deem appropriate. And I respect that responsibility, and we're ready to work with you. We're looking beyond a single budget year. We know that what we decide today prepares us for the long term. We know that we're facing the possibility of a major decrease because of the property tax reform item on the ballot, November Amendment 3. We know that should that pass, we'll be right back to the drawing board, and we will have a lot of adjustments to make. And we cannot wait till then to become even more disciplined. So we're working every day to find savings. This is not a one-time activity. We've been at it for several years, and we will continue all year long whether or not Amendment 3 passes. So we're going to continue to find efficiencies. We're going to continue to modernize government. We're going to continue to strengthen our reserves, which is our priority for any funds that might become available where we've maybe underestimated some surplus that might come back from a constitutional office. Our priority is reserves. Our reserves are very low and not sustainable. And we strongly recommend to you utilizing additional dollars should they become available for reserves. So I'm proud of the budget that we've presented. We worked really hard on it, and it does protect taxpayers. It's a fiscally prudent, responsible, transparent budget. It prioritizes public safety, and it preserves essential services that our residents depend upon. And it begins to prepare our county for the financial challenges ahead. We may not agree on every choice, and that's part of the process, but I believe we do share the same responsibility to make these choices carefully, responsibly, and always with the best interests of the residents and businesses of Miami-Dade County in mind. So I look forward to working with all of you tonight and beyond to deliver the best budget possible for the residents of Miami-Dade County. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you for those remarks. And I will now engage my colleagues in some debate and commentary. So I will go around the dais. I'm sure most, if not all, will have something to say. I'll go ahead and start with my friend and colleague, Commissioner Bastien. I saw you raise your hand, so you can kick it off for us, Commissioner. Greetings, Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair and colleagues. Excuse my voice. As most of you know, I've been a bit under the weather, so I want to thank you for all your good wishes, Madam Mayor and staff. First and foremost, I'd like to thank Mayor Carver and her administration, as well as our county staff, for the tremendous work that you've put into preparing this budget. I can imagine this period to be probably the most challenging, not only for the mayor, but for all of you. I can imagine that. And then I know it for a fact because I know Mayor and I, we've met at least three times during that process. And as I know that she's met with most of you. So we recognize that this is a challenging budget year, especially now. Last night I was thinking about tonight, and I tried to put myself in the shoes of the residents of my district. And then I realized that how difficult it is, what a difficult time it is to work on this budget. Choices are very difficult choices, and the conversations are also very difficult. I may not agree, and I know as most of my colleagues, with every decision that is before us with this budget. But Madam Mayor and staff, I want to assure you that I appreciate the hard work, I appreciate the long hours, and the commitment that brought us here thus far. And it is a process, but it is just the beginning. So I speak as the county commissioner for District 2, District 2, and for all the residents who have waited for so long, so long. They have paid into the system for too long, and then they've been asked too many times to accept less. And then I heard that most recently, you won't believe how many times I heard it, doing, you know, my recent campaign trail. The budget, as we all know, is more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It tells us what we value, who we prioritize, and which communities we are willing and ready to invest in consistently. When I looked at the budget with staff, through the eyes of the District 2 residents, I see many unmet needs. We have neglected roads, families struggling with transportation issues, small businesses fighting to survive, and residents struggling to remain in affordable homes. I've heard it all, and I've seen it all firsthand. So I know tonight we're going to be looking at the cuts, right, that are in front of us. But one thing we need to understand is that every cut has a consequence. These are not abstract numbers. When we are thinking tonight about the cuts, we need to understand that these are our seniors. These are our working families, our children, people with disabilities, small business owners, and residents already struggling to make ends meet. And I want to reiterate, reiterate the cases of the seniors, especially those on fixed income. So tonight, I want to focus on this infrastructure and roads, illegal dumping, public safety, transportation, parks, economic development, and affordable housing. Because as I know, my colleagues know, excuse me, our responsibility tonight is not simply to balance the budget. It is to ensure that the people of Miami-Dade County are not paying the highest price for the decisions that we make in this chamber. Since I became commissioner, I've fought to ensure that District 2 residents have the safe, decent roads and infrastructure that they deserve. And God knows they've been waiting for a long time. District 2, as I say often, has been under-resourced and neglected for a long, long time. Our residents should not have to keep asking for what other communities have had for years. They should not. They deserve the same quality roads, the same level of investments, and the same standard of infrastructure. District 2 is not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fair share. I cannot accept identifying hundreds of millions of dollars for major government projects, while residents are still asking for the roads and drainage systems they depend on every day. Before we build monuments to government, we need to build trust with our residents, and we need to provide the services that our residents need. Get a little tea. Excuse me. Now, let me get to the illegal dumpings. And I know efforts are being made, but I know that it is a process, and we need to get there. I know we need to get there. Illegal dumping remains a chronic problem for District 2. Every resident deserves clean streets and neighborhoods. That is why cutting critical staff while my office continues receiving calls about illegal dumping is deeply concerning. Eliminating these positions does not eliminate the problem. I am prepared to explore every available budget options to restore the staffing that we need. The Commission Auditor has identified a potential pathway to reallocate solid waste funds to make the illegal dumping and litter pickups units whole. I also call on the Department of RER Resources through its Consumer and Neighborhood Protection Divisions to also consider helping us fill the gaps where solid waste cannot. The illegal dumping problem is huge for us in District 2. Public safety. Last year, we approved the $1 billion budget for our sheriff's office, which I know is needed. I'm looking forward to having a conversation with you next week. But I know I also want to bring this forth that with that level of investment comes accountability. And I'm looking forward to looking into some of the grave issues that District 2 is facing, including when they call 911, having to wait for 30 minutes or more for a response. And as we know, Madam Sheriff, and I know you know, and you agree, that 30 minutes can be the difference between life and death. I do support the office, and I'm looking forward for an in-depth conversation about some of the issues facing District 2, because even our own staff have had to deal with that with this long way, among other issues that I'm looking forward to discuss with you. Now, let's talk about transportation issues, and I'd like to commend each and every resident who came tonight to share their ideas about the impact of what we are contemplating with this budget. Transportation is not a luxury. It is a necessity and a lifeline to so many in our community. It is a lifeline to many in my district, District 2. It is how most of them get to work, go to school, medical appointments, hospital, grocery stores, and other essential services. And I think we discussed that a bit during one of our meetings with Madam Mayor. Many of the seniors rely on public transportation to buy groceries. They rely on public transportation as a means of independence. For working families, it can mean the difference between keeping a job and losing one. When we cut transportation routes, we are not simply removing a line from a map. We are cutting someone's connection to opportunity. We are cutting someone's connection to employment, to healthcare, and to independence. So I respectfully urge us to restore bus routes 155, 203, 279, and 16. These routes are essential to residents who depend on public transportation every day. And it is about us too. Our economy is based on tourism. Who power this job? The workers, and they need transportation. They need reliable transportation to get from point A to point B. So in addition, the reduction in operation hours is creating even more hardships for people who have no other transportation options to gain, to make money to support their families. Many residents depend on these services to get to work, like I said, to the hospital, to essential destinations. When these hours, operating hours are reduced, these residents are the ones who pay the highest price. These workers are our best assets. They are Miami-Dade County's best assets. We cannot continue to ask people to rely on public transportation, while at the same time, reducing the services they depend on to get to work, to make a living. We cannot afford that. So we need to find a way. And I'm looking forward to engage in these conversations to find a way to keep these routes open, to get our workers moving, to get our economy moving. Now our parks. District 2 parks, District 2 residents have waited for years to see meaningful improvements to our parks and community facilities. And then we share, we have something in common with our chair here. You know, we have a big part of AMSA. From a rebuilt pool at Little River Park, to improvements to the Oak Grove Park bathrooms, something as simple as that. Mountain Luther King Park beautification and improvements at the Arcola Lake Senior Center. Our park and community centers are more than just facilities. They provide opportunities for a lot of our population, our residents, for education, for recreation, for health, for connection, and improves quality of life for residents of all ages. You should have seen their faces when we went to inaugurate a portion at the Arcola Lake Senior Center recently. Our parks and community centers are more than just facilities. They provide opportunities for all aspects of residents' life. There are places where children grow. Families come together. Seniors stay active. Childcare is expensive. A lot of families rely on these parks, believe it or not. And communities build strong connections there, like I said. When we make commitments to our communities, we need to keep this commitment. A promise made should be a promise kept. Lo fai pomes o ken bel. A promise made is a promise kept. It should be a promise kept. District 2 residents deserve quality parks, safe and well-maintained facilities, quality programs, and confidence that the investments promised to our neighborhoods will actually be delivered. We should not have to wait year after year for improvements that have already been promised. We should not. Our residents deserve action, accountability, and results. District 2 parks and community facilities should be a priority and ensure that the promise improvements are fully funded, completed, and delivered to the residents who have been waiting for them. They've been asking for them. And they've been waiting and waiting. Economic development. We celebrate Miami-Dade County's small business growth. But the businesses I hear from every day in District 2 are struggling. They do not need another speech about how important they are. They need real support, especially the businesses along Northwest 22nd Avenue and throughout our underserved commercial corridors. Our small businesses are working hard to survive rising costs, construction impacts, and limited access to capital. When county construction projects threaten the business ability to stay open, we must make sure that those businesses are not left behind. We have to find ways to help them remain sustainable. The North for 79th Street CRA has and is taking action. For example, we recently gave $20,000 to famous car wash. And I was shocked to see that they had short memories a few minutes ago. We gave them $20,000 recently, which was cashed, including the Johnson & Johnson Learning Center. So to those of you at home who are watching, if your business is located within the 79th Street CRA boundary, I encourage you to come forward and submit your application to them. We are here to support you. But we also know that many businesses outside of the CRA boundaries, and that's why I'm raising this and it is important, are struggling, especially now, and do not have access to the same resources. That is why I'm asking for your support in the budget to provide meaningful assistance to small businesses throughout District 2. And I know we're going to need to look at this together and find them. And I'm up to it. I'm up for it. It is a must. Our small business grant applications tell the story. We have so many qualified businesses coming to apply and seeking assistance, more than we have funding available. These entrepreneurs are ready to work, invest, create jobs in our county, in District 2, and grow. What they are missing is not determination. They have it. They have it. They just need our support. And we ought to find a way. We will find a way. And lastly, affordable housing. We all know that Miami-Dade is facing a crisis, an affordability crisis. We have to be honest about what affordable means. Affordable housing must be affordable for the people who actually live and work here, our seniors, our teachers, our home health aides, our public servants, our safety officers, our surgeons. Our working families. We cannot continue approving programs that look good on paper but fail to reach the people who need them the most. Residents do not need another brochure telling them where to apply. They need help staying in their homes. They need help now. They need help staying in their home. When a family is $500 short on rent, those $500 can determine whether they remain housed or end up in a shelter. When a senior must choose between rent and medication, that is not a budget statistic. That is someone's life. We need immediate assistance while continuing to build long-term affordable housing solutions. And I'm proud that with your support, we've been able to pass legislation to look at the way we assess the AMI. In closing, how do we put people first? Our people, our residents, our best assets, our county employees, our best assets. At the end of the day, this budget comes down to priorities. I understand that resources are limited. I know it. We've discussed it. I know. But limited resources do not mean limited responsibility. For me, the priority is clear. The people. The residents. The residents driving on a neglected road. The family whose streets floods, and we saw that a year ago. The senior waiting for transportation. The small business owner fighting to stay open. The mother trying to keep a roof over her children's heads. These are the people behind the numbers. And as we consider this budget, these are the people we need to think about when we work on these numbers tonight and in a couple of weeks. District 2 has waited long enough. Our residents have paid their taxes, raised their families, opened businesses, and built our communities. Now it's time for us, for this country to invest in them. We need accountability. We need investment. And above all, we need to put peoples first. That is the Miami-Dade County I'm fighting for. That is the District 2 that I'm fighting for. And that is the Miami-Dade County our residents deserve. I'm looking forward to continue this conversation about how to put our residents, our people, our families first. Mr. Chair, I thank you. And Madam Mayor again, and staff, thank you. I'm looking forward to our continued conversation. Thank you, Commissioner, for that very well-rounded commentary. Commissioner from District 1, you're recognized. It's going to be great. It's going to be great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me just start by saying a couple of basic things. I've been homeless before. I've been homeless before. I've been hungry before. I've caught the 5 a.m. bus before. I still remember walking down 175th Street to 27th Avenue and catching the 27A to the Metro Rail to get to law school. I still remember that. Look, I'm dependent on the kindness of strangers and a community before. I've been a prosecutor before. I've had to actually work to deprive people of their liberty because of the things they did. So I've been an active part in keeping a community safe before. I'm a homeowner in this community. I'm a father and a husband, a son and a brother, and a friend in this community. I say those things because I want you all to appreciate that I understand and I appreciate all the comments that were made by everybody who spoke up. I didn't hear anybody say, though, I want my taxes to be higher. You want a dedicated source for cultural affairs? I do, too. I think that it actually is a benefit to the economy. I think it grows jobs and it makes us stronger. I believe that you want more money for law enforcement. I believe that law enforcement is an indispensable part of any successful society. Period. Full stop. I believe that our first response in fire, when something happens, we call you. We need you to come and we need you to get there quick because you're the difference between life and death. Literally CBOs who are taking care of the people who some of y'all step over in the street in the real world. Some of the people in this audience right now step over those people in the street in the real. You don't. I get the severity of what we're doing, but I need everybody who spoke and I hope you're listening to understand that the balance is real. We're not sitting up here saying that we wouldn't give you $2 billion if you asked for it. That's not what we're saying. We're not saying that we wouldn't fund every shelter, every CBO, every cultural arts program, every economic development program. We're not saying any of those things. We're saying that there's a finite amount of resources and we are the 13 charged with architecting the balance. It's the balance that's tricky. Okay. As we go through this, I'll have questions for the administration and for the constitutionals about specific requests. But I need you all to really grasp the concept of the balance because I understand wherever the Herald lives and wherever Channel 4, all those folks are, they're going to talk about what we didn't do. They're going to talk about what we did do because every dollar we didn't give you, we preserved the program for a kid or a senior. And it's, it's complicated. And while we are all elected officials, it's not easily discerned through public opinion because they're not really getting that. They're just getting, they didn't get what they wanted, what they thought was important. Since I was a city councilman in Miami gardens, as mayor of Miami gardens, as a county commissioner here, as chairman here, and now as a commissioner here, and hopefully God willing in Congress, I will ignore that and always focus on the greater good for the greater number. Utilitarian. Utilitarian. Always understand that we are safer, Madam Sheriff. Homicides did go down. I value law enforcement in ways you could never truly understand. But I also understand that us being safer isn't just law enforcement. It's also parks. It's also CBOs. The streets are going to eat. If people are hungry, they commit crime. If people have no other recourse, they do things that we think and we determine are unacceptable. It's so easy to make life and decisions linear, but they aren't. They aren't, and I won't pretend for any of you. My conversations in this last of my first budget hearings with you are going to be real honest conversations. There are a bunch of needs that have to be met. There are some things that I think are non-starters. Non-starters, we're going to have enough to make this community safe. We won't have enough to allow our employees to actually come to work and live in dignity in this county. We're going to do those things. We're going to have enough to ensure that the CBOs who are taking care of the least among us. That's my Christian value. You ain't got to be Christian. That's my value. That what you do unto the least of them, you do also unto me. I don't spend a lot of time quoting Bible verses, y'all, but that's what I believe. We can't be people who say that we're good and we value and we care about everyone. And then we defund the programs that take care of the people who can't take care of themselves. That was my position when we voted on the mental health facility. Like I appreciate all the requests. Nobody said I'm willing to pay more. So that means what you're telling us is you want us to strike the balance. So be prepared to take a haircut. That's real. There are things that we don't say out loud because it's not popular among us to get elected when we're talking about it. But in the real world, we ain't had a bus fare increase in a while, right? But gas kept going up and labor kept going up and insurance kept going up. We artificially suppressed that because we understand that people don't have a lot and their wages don't increase at the same rate that the cost of living does. And so we suppressed that. And I'm not saying we shouldn't, but I'm saying you should acknowledge that. Because when you talk about not cutting out that early bus route that I took, you're also saying that it's OK that it's the exact same amount. And gas is the full $2 higher. We labor in the delusions of a lie. And because we all agree, because we all agree to it, it becomes a functional truth. But that doesn't make it physics. It just makes it a greed upon lie. Unless we're willing to have conversations about the actual cost of things and what it actually costs to do things, including pay our officers, including pay our firefighters, including pay our bus drivers, because their salaries are built into those bus fares. We keep giving them cost of living increases, but we don't increase the bus fare. The two basic ways you pay for things in government, user fees, which means when you go to a park, you pay the actual cost for something or taxes, which means that we agree as a collective that this is so important that we will subsidize it. Those are the two basic ways you pay for things in government. We are literally saying we'll do neither. That is not real. I will not lie to you. I will tell you the truth. User fee or tax. If you want us to cut services, I want you all to understand what cutting services means. It means firing people. Cutting services is a nice way of saying it, Madam Mayor. That service is attached to a person who has a house, a mortgage, a family, a car note. That service is your neighbor. It's your cousin. It's your brother. It's your mother. That service is this community. If we could, if we could have an honest conversation about what we want relative to what we're willing to pay for, I'd be cool with that. That's the conversation that best serves this community. That's the conversation that even when I'm no longer a member of this body, I'll value. Because you all just got my tax bill in the mail from, where's the tax collector at? I didn't like it at all. It was like $12,000 and my house is small. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to pay it. I'm going to pay it. I'm going to pay it because I understand what it pays for. My next door neighbor had a fire. Their house caught on fire two days ago, literally. Y'all came. Y'all did a good job. There was disturbance down the street. You all came. You did a good job. I caught the bus with you all. You all, I understand what it provides. And while not every person takes advantage of everything, I need us to get this. We are not, we're Miami-Dade. We're not Monticello. We're not one of these small places where things, you can just figure it out. We're a sophisticated urbanized area that's trying to become the capital of a hemisphere. We need actual social services. If we don't have social services in two years, that'll be not a billion, but it'll be two billion. We need a lot more police officers. That's the reality in which we live. We need to embrace that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Commissioner. Senator Garcia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I just want to thank the commissioners and all the people, all the folks that came out to testify. I know sometimes it's hard to get to downtown, and we really appreciate it. And when I look out at the audience, I think it's just amazing to see the different colored shirts and everyone advocating for their positions and their organizations and for things that they believe in. That's what democracy is all about. And it's awesome when democracy, so many people around the world don't have this opportunity. And let's just be mindful how blessed we are to be able to get up here and testify and be able to have a voice. I just want to thank you all very much for that. And I also want to thank our first responders, police officers and our firefighters, and all of our first responders. I think everyone in this county commission can go without saying that we're extremely proud of the caliber and personnel of folks that represent us on the street every day that do the work that we don't want to do, that we sometimes complain when we get tickets. But when we need you there, you're always there. I want to thank you on the response time that we have. We have an amazing, incredible response time. I wish it could be a little better, but we, for an urban community and the size that we are, we're sure damn proud of our first responders. And we thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I would always stand with you guys because you guys always stand with us, not as elected officials, but you stand always for our community. And with all of our employees, thank you, all of you who make us proud. Without you, this community won't work. And there's not one area that is less than the other. We are all equally important here because we're all part of that spokes and wheel system that we have to work together to make sure we get this community moving forward in the right direction. And especially when we look at solid waste. I appreciate the folks who came to talk about solid waste. Because for me, it's a public health issue. Without you, this community will fall apart. And you don't have to go that far. Go to 90 miles away from us and you see what's happening in Cuba, what's happening in Havana when we are not collecting the garbage. It's just really is very sad what is happening over there because of the lack of solid waste personnel and putting attention to that. So I want to tell you that I don't want this community to come turn into that. And we'll work with the administration. I've been working with the administration to see if there's ways that what we need to do to ensure that we don't get there. So, but I just do want to thank Commissioner Gilbert for sharing those remarks. I never knew. I've known him for 30 years and it's great. We get to learn about people every day more and more. Never knew that about Commissioner Gilbert being on the street and we talked about it. We were able to talk about it earlier and it really is impressive you can share such personal stories here with us. But Madam Mayor, if I can, I do have a couple of questions on the budget itself. And look, I want to thank you for working with us. I want to thank you for the work that you've done in this budget. It is a reflection of our priorities and I'm glad that this budget is a little bit different than last year. So I appreciate some of the work that we've done here. But I do have a couple of questions, Madam Mayor, if we can, especially in transportation. I want to talk about transportation and then I do want to talk about solid waste. A couple of questions. So, Madam Directors, be ready. If we can do that, if that's okay. When we look at, when we talk about overtime, the operational procedures that you're planning on implementing. We'll go into transportation first. Stacy, can we talk about? Okay. Okay, Madam Mayor. Let's do this. If there's a reduction in bus services, please explain why fuel and overtime is increasing. You're recognized, Madam Mayor. Our Deputy Mayor will start. Deputy Mayor Coley, you're recognized. Senator Garcia, what you'll notice in that budget is, is we've got escalating costs in both fuel expenses, operation maintenance expenses, labor expenses. We have overtime because we're continuously hiring bus drivers. And so, those numbers are escalating. But if we did not cut anything, they would escalate much more. Okay. One of the things that I noticed, and it happens across in different parts of the budget when we look at some of the metrics. Some of the metrics that I see that we're off or we're lowering the metrics. Can you please explain why we're lowering some of those metrics? The perfect example, on page 64, in the metrics, you have a target of 80% for facilities inspected during fiscal year meeting state of good repair ranking greater than three. In previous years, we have achieved 90% of the facilities meeting that threshold. Can you explain why we're reducing that metrics? I've seen that we're reducing some of the metrics across some of the… Can you tell me where you're getting that, sir? That's on page 64. Which book? Which book was that? Transportation. Where is transportation? Volume 2. Volume 2. Yeah. Through the chair, Stacey Miller, our director, will… Thank you. Good evening, Madam Director. Good evening. Can we raise her mic, please? Good evening. Good evening. Thank you. Stacey Miller, Director and CEO of Department of Transportation and Public Works. The senator had a question for you. Yes, sir. Madam Director, on page 64 in your metrics. In the metrics, you have a target of 80% of facilities inspected during the fiscal year. During the fiscal year meeting state of good repair ranking greater than three. Previous years, we have achieved 90% of the facilities meeting that threshold. Can you explain why we're reducing our metrics? So that metric, we've always achieved higher than the standard required. So while we are reducing it, our expectation is that we'll continue to achieve a higher rate of that standard. Unfortunately, though, given the situation that we're in and the volume of work that we have and the number of staff that we have, we wanted to adjust that. But we still intend to achieve higher than an 80% review. All right. And when we look at what we see that we're going to decrease the wait time by 15% in the budget. How are we reaching that 15% reduction in wait time when we're cutting bus routes? I'm sorry, what section is that in? I apologize. Okay. I don't know where the section is. I'll tell you right now, an on-time performance of the Metro bus from 63% on time to 78% on time. So 78% is our on-time performance metric. Our goal is to ensure that we are getting as close to that metric as possible with the routes that we retain as part of the services that we continue to perform. Okay. I'm not trying to be adversarial here. I'm just trying to point out there's some discrepancies in some of these numbers. And maybe we can try to work on some of these numbers as we move forward in the budget process. My pleasure. Because, you know, if we are starting to reduce some of these bus routes, I don't understand how we can then come back and say that we're trying to reduce the wait time. So that, to me, doesn't quite make sense. So, but we'll continue to do that and we'll continue to have some conversations from here as we move forward. But just, just increase. The other, the last thing that I'll talk about in transportation, when we look at some of these, we're talking about increasing fares and not decreasing fares. Madam Mayor, I'll tell you this. I'm perfectly fine with having the, I think we should have the conversation about the fair increase. Commissioner Gilbert was absolutely right about the fact that we have not had any fair increases throughout 13, 14 years, and yet the costs have gone up. And I could always say that I can have, talk about fair increases as long as we're having a conversation of what we're doing to use these dollars wisely. Because we do have to have both. We just can't go to the public and say we're going to increase here and not show them what we're doing with the dollars and what we're doing to cut and save on the other side. So, Madam Mayor, I think when we've had these conversations, I think it's important, especially when we look at Metro Rail and we look at the Metro Mover. Those are honest conversations that we need to have as a board. Why would we continuously have Metro Mover? And I understand it was during the penny debate and we're going to have Metro Rail free or Metro Mover free. But it's gotten to the point that this is now a system that a lot of folks with money are using on a day to day basis. And yet people that live in my district have to pay a bus and have to take the Metro Rail and still have to pay for it. And yet we're subsidizing a system for the wealthy. And I'll go ahead and say that it may be as we move forward, members, we should really explore some ideas and thoughts on what it is. And I get it, Mayor. We've had some conversation. Coley, thank you for the conversation. We had to take some time to ramp up. So it's not necessarily going to help this budget to get that. But it's something that, folks, we have to do something about it. Because if the folks to the south have to pay and the folks to the north have to pay, why don't downtown have to pay? And that's just a simple reality. So, Madam Mayor, maybe, I don't know if we can come up with some projections or some planning on that. And Director Miller, if we can please have some elasticity models when we look at these rate increases. Because I don't think necessarily because we increase our rate, that means that we're not going to have decreased users. So I think it's important to try to build that into some of the modeling that we have. So I would appreciate that. We do have that information. And I think for now, we're good for transportation, Madam Mayor. Yes. Thank you, Senator. And we did put some examples in the change memo with some projections. But we could certainly do more modeling. And there may be other ideas that emerge from the discussion. And we can brief you individually as well as come back to the board with more details. I appreciate that, Madam. Thank you. And I really do thank you for working with our office. Can we go to solid waste now? Yes. We'll take it. You'll take it. Yes. Can you help me out on the carryover and reserves? On the carryover, you anticipate a $322,000 reserves or $322,000 reserves, but the carryover shows $383,000. Where is the roughly $30,000 coming from? Through the chair, Anisha Daniels will answer the question. Our director. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Through the chair. Can you repeat the question, please? Yeah, there's a discrepancy between the carryover and reserves. You anticipate $322,000,000 reserves, but the carryover shows $333,000,000. There's about a discrepancy of about $30,000,000 there. Do you see, if you go to the top? Yes, actually. So that's not a discrepancy. So with the budget, basically with the reserves, the reserves is basically your balance within your budget. And so you see on 25, 26, you see your carryover of $348,000,000 for a total budget of $835,000. And so in order to balance that budget, you have the $322,000,000 for a total budget. And then you have your carryover that rolls until the next year. That number is not going to be the same. But wouldn't it normally be the same? No. Not your reserves and your carryover. I don't see it that way, but okay, I'll work with you on that because in other parts of the budget, we see that they are matching. So this is where- In the enterprise? Not in the enterprise. I see it in other parts of the budget. Maybe you're right on the enterprise. Mm-hm. So then why, so where's that difference? What's that difference coming from? So the difference is, I'm sorry, I'm looking at it now. $30,000,000,000. Right. Let me get back to you. I'm looking at the numbers, but I just want to make sure I can give you the information. But I'm looking at the numbers here. All right. And then when, give me a second here. We also have the targets, the issue of targets here. Reducing percentage of complaints, respondents to two business days when actuals have been 100%, but now proposing 95%. Why are we changing those targets? That's it. Just a time. So basically when we're putting the actuals together, the budget together, we're looking at, we're forecasting what our goals should be for the year. And so for contingency purposes, because we always have attrition within our budget. So we're looking at 95%, but nonetheless, as you can see in the past two years, we've received 100%. And so we put the goal and a target with the anticipation that we can reach 100%. But this is based on our making sure that we can reach two days of enforcement within that timeframe. But if I have vacancies, then I'm not going to reach that. And on the fuel, on the fuel trending downward, why is that? I mean, because the fuel is going up across the board. And I think we've had, I think it was somewhere else in transportation. I think there was an issue with that as well. So why is that? So in my current year budget, we budgeted about $7.7 million in our budget for all of our equipment. We're trending over $2 million in our end-of-year forecast for our fuel based on the fact that, you know, with inflation and the cost of fuel. When we looked at the numbers for the budget based on the energy website, the war, things were expected to end in two months. And so based on the website, it showed that that number was going to taper out. So when we looked at our forecast for the year, we forecasted the number tickering, tapering up, but then going back outward, flattening back out to where it was. And so you'll see my forecast for fuel is somewhat in line with my current budget for this year based on the fact that we thought the number was going to go back down. But we anticipate that now that number might go a little bit higher. And I appreciate it, and I appreciate your response. And you have been very accessible to us, at least to me, right? And we've had some great conversations, and to all of us, I'm sure. And I thank you for that. And, you know, I was one that voted against the CPI increase early on. It's something that even this county commission voted in favor of it the previous years. I think it's important that we try to revisit that at some point because my concern, Madam Mayor, I see what you did with the budget, seeing some of the reductions in our waste collection, especially illegal dumping. Is there a way that we have any plans on trying to recoup that or fix that, or we are just going to – what does that mean if we cut some of these illegal dumping programs? Does it mean we're creating the program completely, or is it just the time to respond to them? It's based on the response time. Right now we have eight illegal dumping crews for the county, and the reduction of four crews will actually reduce the response time by half. So instead of it taking four days, it could potentially take up to eight days. That doesn't necessarily mean that we're cutting the program completely. It's just going to take the response time. It's the response time. Commissioner Bermudez and I share a district of our boundaries, and we share municipality Hialeah and Hialeah Guards. We have an area that's constantly problematic for all of us with dumping, and we've had to work together to make sure that we take care of that. So those are areas that we need to try to focus on Madam Mayor as we move forward in the budget, and I appreciate that. But I do think it's important that we recognize that we need to start taking some serious consideration on some of the issues that Commissioner Gilbert mentioned. But we think it's important if we are going to raise any of these fees, we have to make sure that we give back and we show how we are spending those tax dollars. But at the end of the day, I can tell you that we already talked about Metro Rail and Metro Mover. Those are issues that we need to start considering. And if we can look at those numbers and bring back something to us, I'm all in ensuring that we do it in a responsible way. And really looking at how we become more innovative and using, I hate to use the word AI, but using some of the technology that's available to ensure we try to streamline some of the processes that we have. But overall, I want to thank you, Madam Mayor, and your staff and your team for taking care of our parks. The parks, you know, are extremely important for me. And, Chairman, thank you, Chairman, for mentioning the parks early on and cultural affairs and our CBOs. But I do want to let the CBOs and the message that needs to go out there is if times are getting tougher, we need to figure out a way how we do more with less. And in this budget right now, we're fine, but we have to understand that times might get a little more difficult. And this is where I looked to this county commission a couple of years back since we got on this county commission since I was elected. We knew that we were going to be in these outlying years or it was going to be a little more difficult, a little more challenging. And yet we didn't do a lot to plan. And this is why we're finding ourselves in this situation. I do want to mention one, Madam Mayor, one issue that we've talked about in private is the TID funding. This is something that we've got to figure out. We're using, I don't blame her, because we have to figure out how we balance this budget. But the reality is that one of the biggest problems we have in this community is, give me money for the CBOs. It was her phone, by the way, not mine this time. Where's Gilbert? Where's Gilbert? She needs to give up 3%. Madam Mayor, on the TID, I understand the use of it. I'm not really happy with it because we, transportation is a big problem in our community. And it scares me a little bit to use some of these dollars, not have these dollars to be able to draw down some federal dollars. So I think that's an area where I do have some concern. And I do appreciate in your change memo that we talked about, something that I talked about a couple of years back, is making sure that we use the surplus dollars and to put that into a reserve for a rainy day fund. And that's something that I think is important. And I'll be willing to make that motion later on if we're going to have motions because we tried to get that done. Yeah, I'm going to say I tried to do it. It was me. I tried to do it a couple of years back and we couldn't get the votes. But I think now at the critical time that we are, and it was a different commission too, by the way. That wasn't all of us. But I think we have to figure out, make sure that we put some of these dollars in our reserves from surplus funds, so we can have them to make sure we balance our budget and not try to sweep some other funds. So Madam Mayor, thank you. I appreciate you. And commissioners, I thank you all and appreciate you and everyone that came out here to speak. We have a long road ahead of us, but I think we've started on a good footing. And it's just a matter of landing the ship in a couple of weeks. So thank you very much. Thank you, Senator. Bermude, is you ready? And I'm kind of just bouncing back and forth and then I'll come this way. Go ahead. Floor is yours. I've got mostly questions. I'm going to, since we're in the middle of this is a process that doesn't finish tonight. And then, yes, by the way, to answer Senator Garcia's common question. Yes, when we take up each item, motions will be appropriate at that time for many of my colleagues. So it's more for comments and questions right now. And then as we take each one, you could make your motions. I've got questions primarily of the administration and certainly I'm just going to make them brief. And some of the, I want to thank, like everybody else, the public for being here. It's difficult to be here as an elected official. I can imagine how difficult it is for you. So thanks to the employees and the fine men and women, not only the sheriff's office, but the other constitutional offices that were here also in their presentations. All the employees, I shared, Mr. Chairman, I'm kind of along the lines of the priorities that you mentioned in the sense of this budget. Obviously, our commission auditor gave us some documents today that I think require review between now and the final budget meeting. I agree with Senator Garcia on the Metro mover, absolutely. But, you know, the reality about a budget is, and Commissioner Gilbert talked about his experience personally. I think most of us, whether born here and coming from immigrant families understand that, you know, even when things got better, things were not always great. Commissioner, can you get a little closer to the microphone? Sure. And I think that you have to, and I think all of us understand, like a family, you know, or a business, we have to make tough decisions. And, you know, sometimes you have enough money to buy the, I know, MacArthur dairy milk. Other times you've got to get the one that is not as good. So, but I've got a couple of questions that I want to ask, a number of questions that I want to ask about, ask the administration. I don't know if you have all the answers or not, and if you don't, I understand it. But the countywide general fund moved from 8.514 million surplus, and what it would be now soon last year, to a deficit of 123 million in one year. Can you tell me why such a disparate change? I mean, that's a big change. I understand a change, but that's like. Commissioner, your first number, could you say it again? Yeah, I had a number of, the number I have in front of me, and I don't have the book in front of me, a surplus of 8.514 million in fiscal year 2026, 2027. But now, as I understand it, there's a deficit of about 123 million or more, actually. What's the primary reason? I mean, we know costs have gone up and certain things, but what's the, from your perspective, what is? First of all, Ray Baker, budget director. You're looking at the five-year plan, and you're. Yes. Yeah, okay, thank you. The five-year plan, yes. Yeah, our five-year plan on the countywide and the UMSA for the last few years now has shown that we're essentially projecting a shortfall each year as we go into it. And what's driving that is exactly the things that we've proposed in the budget, rising costs, lower revenues. You know, we saw our property tax values go down from, you know, 12% just a few years ago on the countywide increase all the way down to 5.4% this year. And we see things like the transit shortfall we have. So trying to fill, you know, plug the gap on those has, it's a recurring shortfall that we're trying to plug each year now. I just want to, and maybe that's not something we can get an answer to tonight. Yeah. But we have to close the gap. And it, I don't believe it can happen simply during the budget season. I think that there has to be real thought given to this if we're going to go out, which we should. And anticipate what can or cannot change. So I just want to, I would like to hear eventually how are we going to close this gap and have those discussions constantly instead of just at the last moment. Because that's, it's just a tremendous difference, such a big difference that things are going to, unless something drastic changes, it's just not going to be, it's not going to be good for anybody. The other thing, I've got questions about the reserves, Ray, which is how much, if any, of the reserves are available to close a future operating budget deficit? Commissioner, currently we have about nine days operating capital and reserves, which we think is a very low amount. Especially when you consider FEMA has changed its reimbursement rules during a hurricane emergency from what we used to expect 90% reimbursement down to 75. So we think that nine days reserves is extremely low. And we think that we should add to those reserves any way we can versus using reserves to fill any other holes. Okay, over the last five, okay, and I understand that, FEMA we don't control, because that's something we just, you know. But have any funds been added or withdrawn from the countywide or UMSA reserves during the last five fiscal years? Would you have those numbers? Yeah, we'll have to double check that. And we did add $11 million to our reserves as part of this proposed budget. But we'll double check any that have been, if there were any removed in the past. Okay. I don't think so either. As curiosity, that growth of the reserves, is it going through deliberate annual contributions or primarily through departmental vacancies, which could be delayed projects, unspent appropriations, or in some cases, which I doubt, higher than expected revenues? But it may be in some cases. Do you know which one, have you analyzed how that's coming, where it's coming from? I'm sorry, I'm not following your question. Yeah, the reserves, those $11 million, how are we getting there? That's really a question. I think the best answer for that, Commissioner, is in the WISE 305 initiative that we've been working on all year, our departments have saved more than $100 million from their projected budget expenditures. And so we've carried that over into this year. And those are based on assumptions. That amount going into reserve is based on the assumption that we finish the year on the trajectory we think we are, and that the Constitutionals return what we've projected they return. And if all of that comes out to what our assumption are, we can add that much to the reserves. Obviously, if any of our assumptions are off either way, that amount will adjust. Right. Okay. I mean, we just need to monitor that, including with the Constitutionals. If, for some reason, those reserves were used to close this countywide amounts of gaps, do you know how much would actually remain in reserves afterwards? If we reduce out the $11 million that we are proposing to put in this year, I believe we would be right at around $85 million. Our goal has been to get the reserves up to the $100 million level. And for a county of our size, generally, the recommended level of reserves would be at around $500 million. So we are significantly below where we should be as a government. So I guess that question is, in a sense, nonsensical, because there's no way that it will cover the amount of what one assumes would be the reserves, but the gaps themselves would still be a problem. In this five-year forecast, at any point, is there any assumption that the reserves will be used to balance the projected gap difference? No, sir. Okay. The CBOs, I don't want to get too much into the state. And I feel for the CBOs, because they do a great job for us. I still think that they need to be monitored in many different ways. And I know you've done a great job. And I want to thank Madam Mayor and the administration for doing that. But I do think that we have to review them constantly. If we know that some of these issues may occur after January 1st, are we making sure that those funds, number one, that they comply, if we keep on giving them money afterwards, with the law? And number two, if for some reason some of those funds are not able to be used because of the change in the law that will be effective at the beginning of this year, are there plans to reallocate some of those funds back to cover some of the gaps that we have? Mr. Chairman? Okay. He's letting you go. Absolutely. And SB 1134, you're referring to the DEI bill. And we have been working closely with the county attorney's office to understand the application of that as we move forward and wait on January 1st, 2027 to happen when the bill becomes effective. Yes, we will be monitoring those, making sure that any that could not comply with the law would not receive funding from the county. And that in turn would potentially allow those funds to be reallocated. Yeah, I just, I want to be clear that we have to follow. In my opinion, we have to follow the law. Whatever the state says we have to follow. If not, it's not going to be a good thing for us. And I want to be clear that on this one, not all the time. I agree with the county attorney's office interpretation. But on overtime questions, look, there's significant overtime in DTPW, fire, and corrections. And there's also overtime in some of the constitutionals. In those three, and even in the collective, do we have a clear number of the amount that overtime is an overtime number? And to give you a simple follow-up is do we expect these overtime numbers to continue to grow? Commissioner, I don't expect a continued growth, but one thing to understand, some of this overtime is built into our collective bargaining agreements. It cannot get to zero. If some, there are many provisions in the agreement where they get minimum number of hours and overtime hours if they do certain things. And that's a normal course of business. And when you add to that, we have a very significant shortage countywide of professional drivers. We have a constant training program going where we're hiring drivers, training them to drive our buses, our dump trucks, all of our heavy equipment. And we're constantly paying overtime because we're always short of drivers. So there's always currently a demand on the drivers that we have. So that pushes overtime excessively. I'd like to add, if I could, that, for example, in corrections where we saw a major problem, we, a few years back, adjusted salaries, did an aggressive hiring effort, and significantly reduced overtime. I mean, look, one of the ways that I think overtime can be reduced is by sometimes filling. Because you've got to compare, how much does it cost me to fill the open position? Exactly. When I'm paying extra because I'm not filling this position. Right. And that's kind of the clarity, I think, that from my perspective, I'm not going to speak for my colleagues, I think is beneficial when we look at a budget. Excuse me, Commissioner. Would you like us to try to get you some history, for example, in the departments that have particular overtime as to what we've done to address the overtime concerns? Yeah. And I think, Mayor, you're right on point on that. You know, sometimes hiring somebody is better than continuing to pay more overtime. Absolutely. And better for morale. Yeah, better for morale. We were running some in corrections, triple shifts. Yeah. And I think it's, you know, overtime reduction plan being something that is cost saving, I would agree would be a wonderful thing. But the proof is in the pudding, even though thanks to Commissioner Gilbert, he got me a little pudding here, which is good. But the proof is in the pudding. And I think that that's something that, from my perspective, I'd like to look at. And I guess maybe, in particular in corrections, because I know there's legally mandated staffing requirements, you know, and I'm assuming we're maintaining all those. We were, do you have an exact amount, if there's any, is there a magic number of overtime to maintain the legally mandated staffing post and inmate supervision in corrections? I think we can get you more details about that. Okay. Not for tonight, but I would like to look at that. I think it would be good for us to provide you more information. But again, I just want you to remember, we were under federal court supervision. And to solve that problem, which some of it was really as a result of being understaffed, we had to look at our salaries, our hiring bonuses. We did extensive recruitment, and we were able to bring on additional staff. And now we are not having such a problem hiring. So over time, however, in the corrections system is now the result of a very large population. We're at 5,200 inmates, which is really way beyond what we would prefer to manage. We are managing it, but we have to work with our entire law enforcement and courts and public defender and state attorneys to resolve some of those issues. And we're planning to convene to discuss to see how we can resolve some of the bottlenecks. And I'm happy that, well, I think we're all happy that we're out of that federal mandate. And you guys did a great job trying to get us out of there and did it, actually, all of your team, the whole team. So, you know, but I think it's an issue that we need to look at. On the illegal dumping, I share, again, Senator Garcia and I know the pain that we have in an area that we share. And I know Commissioner Bastien has a problem in our district. And I think there's a number of others who have problems in their district also. The only thing I'd like to get is, and I think the answer to one of my questions has been answered. There were eight illegal dumping crews, correct? And now we're going to reduce that to four. Do we, are we, we're tracking the complaints all along? And because one of the problems we have in our district, the one that at least between Senator Garcia and mine, you know, one of the problems is, you know, once you cite them for illegal dumping, they come back again. And I think it's not even just a matter of the time, if it's a three-day cleanup or dumping incidents, tons collected. Are we reducing illegal dumping? And in the end, that has to be our goal. And I just want to, and I want to say that the solid waste department, she's done a fantastic job. She knows that I can sometimes be a harsh critic with some tough questions, but I give her a lot of credit because she's, she's been balancing. And as we saw today, and I, to a certain extent, agree with some of the employees that spoke today. And I think that she has done, Ms. Daniels has done a fantastic job. But I would like, moving forward, if we can get this illegal dumping issue reported by district, you know, showing complaints received, sites cleaned. You might have this already, tons collected, you know, and I can give you a list of things. It's not for tonight, because if not, we'll be here until whatever. But it's something that I would like to know before the second budget hearing. Those are most of my questions, and the other ones I'll reserve for, hopefully, the meetings we have between now and the second. I will tell you, look, and I know it's tough. When we went to the constitutional officers, it makes it much more difficult because everybody's got their point of view. But to me, I do share the chairman's concern on, I believe that the security of the community is number one. And that's something that I feel very strongly about. I do believe the infrastructure is important. And I want to say something, because I know today we're all going to talk about our own districts, which is fine. And I have a couple things that I will eventually, when we have motions, talk about the district. But I think we've got to stop assuming that the impact in one district is not representative of how the community perceives the community as a whole somewhere else. And Mary, you know I've explained that. Yeah, because it's the case. Nobody makes this distinction. You know, when there isn't a road fixed in, you know, District 2, for example, it still impacts me. Well, there's not one in District 12. It impacts them. You know, that's not the way people perceive it. So I would like to make sure that as we move forward, because this is a budget as a whole. I know we all have our own interests, and that's wonderful. We also have to remember that we're in this together, whether it's a district that has no cities, like your district, Mr. Chairman, or Commissioner Gonzalez's district, or a district that is all cities, like some individuals have here. Because I also have an unincorporated area, but it's still, we're all in this together. So, look, I thank you. It's a tough time. It's a tough time. And I think, you know what, now I'm kind of sad he's going to Congress, because, you know, he's right. We've got to look at these things. We've got to look in the mirror and say, these are tough decisions to make. I mean, but that would happen to a family. It would happen to a business. It would happen even to some sports teams. And, you know, you have to look at it and say, what are we going to do? There is a price. There is a price for good government. There is a price for quality of life. The question that the 13 of us and the administration have been tasked with is, what is the best way to do that? The people that come here, rightly so, are advocating for their interest. I love, you know, culture. I love the fact that there was an Elo Cruz had a play in the Westchester Theater. But the reality is we've got to figure out, are these things making money or are they not making money? Are we subsidizing it a certain amount or are we not subsidizing it? Do we have to figure out another way to do it? I think there's a lot of work to be done between now and the second round. This is a good start. Having said that, I will tell you that moving forward, and this is Madam Mayor for you and the administration, I just think this is a full year task always as with the numbers we've been presented for the next three to four years. And I think it always should be anyways, to be honest with you. You have budget amendments anyways in the middle of the year. Obviously, that's natural. But I think we are going to have to, and depending on what happens with the electorate in November, we're just going to be right back here. We're going to have to really do what Commissioner Gilbert said. We're going to have to face ourselves and say, somebody's got to pay the Pied Piper, no pun intended. Okay? So we have to really, and I know, you know, Commissioner Lopez has seen this at the state. I know everybody talks about, oh, yeah, they're over in Tallahassee. No, everybody has to face these. And it's just at local government, where the rubber meets the road, where they can yell at you at the public's, you know, it becomes a little bit more difficult. So I thank you for the work you've put in. I hope we can get some answers. I believe this is a, even no matter what votes we take today, I'm sure some will be definitely indicative of where we're going. I just want to be clear that from my perspective, yes, security, infrastructure, and yes, parks and quality of life are very important. Yes, they are. Again, Commissioner Gilbert, I don't know why I keep on quoting him, but he's been right. You know, the visit at a park for a kid is just almost as important as, you know, the fact that a police officer can be there, the firefighter can be there. Or in my case, that, you know, our great firefighters and emergency team are there when it counts and save lives. So, truthfully, and sometimes, sometimes we don't realize that. And I, you know, I don't know of the general public, because nobody wants higher taxes. I mean, I, very few people want higher taxes. It's like, it's like the death knell for, forget about any politician. It's like, you can't even, we're having a dispute. And I'm going to say this because the sheriff is here, because this, I'm going to, I don't have a problem with flawed cameras, okay? I have a problem with somebody abusing it. And that's a process for the sheriff and her leadership to say, you can't do that. But you know how many bad guys we have caught? A lot. I can tell you, even when we, when we started in Doral, which is a place where there's a lot of commercial, you guys know there's a lot of commercial, a lot of commercial thievery going on. Those cameras helped. Now, it's become a midterm issue. Everybody wants to make it a midterm issue. That's great for the national elections. But truthfully, I care more about security. And by the way, as my chief of staff is want to say, we got cameras everywhere. I get, sun pass hits me all the time. This new thing we created by the schools, you know, from, you know, to there's, there's not even a school sign. You get a ticket, you know? So, and, and, and as, as she says, you know, there's a reason why the tag is on the outside of the car. Not the inside. Right? So, truthfully. All right, Commissioner. Let's, you know. Let's bring it back in. Marsha, I'm giving Marsha credit for that, because that's truthfully. She's the one that came up with that and says it truthfully. Now we got a flock of birds and a flock of cameras. And there's a, there's a reason why there's a bunch of guys on Amazon trying to block them, because they know about that. But the problem is, you know, we're losing common sense because we're making decisions based on what is the political whim of the moment. And I think at least in this body, I would expect us to make decisions in the long run, medium and long run, not just the easy ones. And we're partially in this problem today. It's not a problem. Let me not say that. We're in this situation because, you know, decisions were made that maybe assumed, made assumptions. Roy, you said it so well. I can't say it in your Alabama draw, but you said the word assumption. And you know what happens when we assume. So the bottom line is, thank you. But I have a lot of more, I have more questions, but I'll reserve some of them for when we're speaking in private. And with my colleagues, I, you know, Mr. Chairman, I, I tend to have those same four issues, but let's call them issues. Those four things as the primary concerns across the county, by the way. Again, and I want to stress to all of you, please, nobody, I know, yes, I know when we're in an election, it's important. Yes, it's important. But after that, nobody knows, you know, they don't distinguish between, you know, yeah, there might be a neighborhood. They say, oh, I'm going to go to the beach. I'm going to go to that. But they don't, they don't, they see us collectively. They don't see us individually. I know sometimes, maybe as politicians, we get so excited about it because it's like inside baseball, right? You know, but it's not, and please, when we make these decisions, let's take that into account. It's about the whole county, not just one district. Thank you, Commissioner. I'm going to jump to Commissioner from District 5, and then you're up next. And then, Commissioner from District 5, you're recognized for some questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, District 5, unlike many of your districts, is unique because the only UMSA area of my district is Fisher Island. So I- Can you move that to, wait a minute, can you move that to District 12? Oh no, it's in a lawsuit. I don't want it. Don't worry about it. I thought you would find that interesting. And so, the vast majority of my district is divided between the city of Miami and the city of Miami Beach. And I think it's important that you recognize, because we've split the mainland from the beaches, and it represents a community of very differing economic conditions. I have some of the poorest neighborhoods and some of the wealthiest neighborhoods, and everything in between. And so, striking a balance for me is looking at ways in which I have any jurisdiction in that district. So, I'll start out clearly by Miami Beach. So, I have, we, we together, my colleagues, have jurisdiction over the beaches, right? And if you look at Miami Beach, one of its biggest issues today is the issue of sargasm. And we, the commission, have a contract for a vendor to pick up the sargasm in the four critical points that have been identified by DEP. And the rest of it that comes to the beaches is minced by our beach operations. And, unfortunately, we've had the largest, we had 9,000 tons of sargasm in July. And in August, we had almost 7,500 tons. And the current beach operations is not cutting it. And it's not only impacting the residents that live amongst the beaches in my district, because they can't open their doors because of the smell. They can't enjoy the beach, because it's not only in the water, it's also on the beach. And it's complicated by the fact that we have sea turtles during this period of time. So, we can't be raking and mincing while they are doing what they need to be doing in order to harvest. And so, I think that we have to look. Sometimes it's difficult, because if you're not experiencing this in your district, you probably don't even know about it. But it's also impacting our tourism. And so, I need to see in this budget. I met with beach operations, and I was really grateful that they were able to tell me that if they had more equipment, they could mince more. So, that means we would be able to get more of the sargasm off the beaches quickly and dispose of it properly. So, that's one of the biggest issues that I'm facing on the beach, and I know that my colleague, Commissioner Steinberg, is facing the same situation. And so, you may not be talking about that, but that's all our residents on the beach is talking about, particularly in mid-beach, where we have a critical crisis of this. I also have very few single family homes. I have 825 condo associations in my district. And for them, the recertification process usually brings very large special assessments. So, I'm grateful that the county has what is known as the condo special assessment program. Because it's permitted people who are facing very large assessments to be able to apply if they make up to 140% AMI, to be able to take out an interest-free loan up to $50,000, which will help keep many of the people, especially the retirees, in their unit while they complete the assessment process. So, that's been a huge issue for us, and we hope that we can increase that, because that fund has been incredibly successful in keeping people in their homes. I also want to discuss, first of all, I'd like to thank our unions that were here, our police unions, the PBA, our fire unions. But more importantly, in the last couple of days, I have been working with the AFSCME Locals 199 and 3292. And they have brought to my attention, because it never ceases to amaze me, how quick we try to kind of fill a budget gap by getting rid of our workers, our essential workers. And when I look at the role of government, I think that it's important that we understand that the first priorities that we have should be providing essential services. And that, to me, are police, fire, water and sewer, solid waste, transportation. And so, it doesn't make sense that I want to, at a time when so many of our residents are facing such an affordability crisis, that the solution would be to put even more people out of work who have mortgages, who have families to support. And so, I'm going to urge the administration, please, to try to find ways in which we find savings somewhere else. I mean, I think certainly the unions are concerned that management certainly is making lots of money. And they have expressed that they need to see some parity so that their workers are not put out on the street. But in fact, I think that, can you well imagine what residents would do if their solid waste is not picked up? I mean, I think it would be anarchy in the streets. And so, to me, that is one of the most important things that we can, you know, address. And I know that the mayor is committed to looking at ways in which to do so. And then the other thing that really is important in my district, and so, I have over 70 senior buildings. And every time I go to visit the seniors, their biggest complaint is the bus routes. It really is. If you think that seniors have the ability to get around without a bus, you're sadly mistaken, at least in District 5. They use it to go to the doctors. They use it to go to the store. They use it to visit their families. And currently, there are complaints. Well, imagine what will happen if, in fact, in my district, there are 33 bus routes. Two are being eliminated. 25 are suffering reductions. And five will remain the same. And I'm so grateful to the mayor and her leadership team and to Director Miller, who spent a great deal of time with me talking about this already. She's committed to going out into my district to really actually talk to people who may not understand, first of all, their bus routes. But also, that they can share what they are experiencing currently with their bus routes and then what would happen if they had any further reductions. So, we look forward to hosting some town hall meetings in District 5 to discuss this very issue that is important. But it's not only important to seniors. I have a lot of people that work. People, I think, think that District 5 is somehow immune. I want you to know how many people from your districts come to work in District 5. The financial district is located in District 5. Parts of downtown are located in District 5. And the entire hospitality district of Miami Beach is in District 5, in South Beach. They are using not only the bus routes to get to work, they're also using the metro rail and the metro mover. And so, it's not just being used by wealthy people. It's being used by everyday workers who are traveling from all of your districts to come into my district to work. And so, I think it's important because one of the largest complaints we get is that the metro mover and the metro rail and all of its ancillary services like the elevators and the escalators are often not functioning. And that is creating a problem for people who need to get to work on time, need to get to school on time, and need to get to doctor's appointments on time. So, I hope that we will continue to invest in the metro rail and metro mover because in my district, it is one of the most important forms of transportation that not only the residents of District 5 use, but all of your residents who are traveling and working in my district. And I also have experienced, for the first time I am seeing elderly people who are on fixed incomes with food insecurities. I am actually bringing food every time I go into a senior center. I am actually doing more food distributions, and I think the funding of CBOs is such an important part of my district. I have one senior center in District 5 on Miami Beach, and that is Jewish Community Services, who every day is feeding elderly people and providing entertainment that they need and socialization. And so, thank you, Mayor, for making sure that they have what they need to continue to serve the elderly. I also, you know, want to talk a little bit about the DEI bill, the famous Senate Bill 1134. And as you all know, I've somewhat taken a little bit of a leadership on this commission to try to figure out ways in which we are going to address this. When I look at the CBO list, I already can tell, just by glancing at it, without going into much detail about each of the CBO's programs and activities, that some of them will run afoul to this particular bill. And so, I've talked with the mayor about it, I've talked to the county attorney's office about it, and I think that it's incumbent upon us to be fair. When people see that we are allocating funds to them, they believe that they're getting that funding for an entire fiscal year. However, Senate Bill 1134 takes in effect on January 1st. And so, I think the sooner we can identify those agencies that we know for sure will not be able to be funded, we should at least start telling them, because what will happen is many organizations will hire people. They'll have new programs. And then, come January 1st, we'll have to tell them that you're not able to have this money, thanks to Senate Bill 1134. And so, to be fair to those CBO's that are doing much of the work, I think we have to get to work very quickly, because there will be those organizations that, in fact, are clear of this bill. And then there will be those that we know absolutely run afoul, and then there are those in the gray. And we have to start making decisions because the CBO's have to make decisions. As well as those who are serving our residents today, if they will not be able to be funded by us, then what? And I think that that's going to be something that we're going to need to look at as we move forward. And lastly, if there's one thing that we're all facing, it's an affordability crisis with housing. And I'm so grateful to the leadership of Commissioner Bastian as our chairman of the Housing Committee. She has been leading this with her initiatives on AMI. But we all know that we have an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. I don't believe that we should be rating it to balance the budget. I believe that the Affordable Housing Trust Fund should be increased. We need to find ways in which to provide safe, sustainable, and affordable housing for everyone that lives and works in this community. And I think we have to start looking at solutions for that. And lastly, as Commissioner Bermuda said, I have extraordinary experience in a budget process at a state level, which is ten times our budget, maybe 20. And the way this budget process works, in my opinion, probably should be improved. If, in fact, the constitutional amendment that we are facing does, in fact, pass, I believe we'll have to start budgeting much sooner rather than later. And, you know, it's unfortunate because what Commissioner Gilbert said today is that we all enjoy a quality of life that is funded currently by what we, you know, collect in property taxes. There is going to be such a severe reduction. We will have to make some very hard choices here. And I believe that that will have to, that requires us to begin budgeting much sooner so that we know what we have to do and what services may or may not have to be eliminated. But I believe it will be a good exercise for this commission to have to actually start setting priorities. And I don't think we should wait until July to get the mayor's budget. I think we have to start sooner rather than later. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think, I'd like to thank the mayor, her leadership team, the constitutional officers, our public safety first responders. Thank you so much. And to all the residents that came out tonight, if you know me, you know that every voice matters. And for those of you that live in my district, thank you so much. For those of you that couldn't be here but are watching from home, thank you. Our office is always available to hear what you think about this budget as we move forward into our final budget hearings. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner from District 11, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, you know, I want to start by saying that I like the tone of this conversation. I really do. Because I've said in the past that there are things that are necessary. And then there's things that are nice to have. And the primary function of government is essential services. And then so. And so I submitted some questions to the administration. So I won't ask them now for Keon's sake and Oliver's sake. But the administration has already assured me that they're working on the answers. And that I'll have them by the end of the week. Through the Chair, we'll have them by the end of the evening, sir. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. I appreciate it. I appreciate it. I was highly critical of last year's budget, especially the process. This summer, when I met with the mayor for our first meeting, and you said I could say this. You said, I've become more of a fiscal conservative. And I assure you, Madam Mayor, that we're going to help you get there. WISE 305 is a good start. After last year's discussions, the administration took vacancies and realized those savings. Ray, I don't know. I see you. Carla Denise, I know you're trying. I see the willingness. I see it. But we can together and we must do more. Very respectfully, as of now, I have a philosophical disagreement with the direction that the proposed budget is taking right now. Especially with the top three issues that I've heard today a lot of people care about and what I'm hearing on the streets. See, this is what folks are telling me when I go to Publix, like Commissioner Bermuda said, or when I go to Islas, or folks that call my office. They're saying that the top three priorities right now are public safety, endless traffic, and the high cost of living. I'm worried about how this budget treats each and every one of these points. And so the first and highest duty of government, as has been said by the chair and by the mayor, is public safety, period, full stop. Everything else flows from there. When our children play in the streets and in our parks. When our spouses, our parents, our friends drive on our streets. When businesses are creating jobs. When our CBOs go out to help the community. When tourists visit our beaches and amenities. When we are proud to host major events. When investment flows into Miami-Dade County. It all happens because we're kept safe. The sheriff is asking for the resources that are needed to carry out this paramount mission that Miami-Dade County has for their residents. To recruit and retain deputies we are losing to better paying jurisdictions. Now we've seen with corrections what happens when we don't have enough men and women that are willing to risk their lives to keep people safe. She's asking to improve facilities that many of us on this days have seen are outdated. To bring resources closer to the communities that need them. As Commissioner Regalato pointed out just this week. Just now I learned that one of our deputies was struck by lightning. Yeah, today. We're all praying for a speedy recovery and for his family. But folks, when you were coming upstairs, you saw black shirts on stands. Those black shirts downstairs. These aren't just empty reminders. Each one of those shirts represents a body. A soul that was lost defending all of us and keeping us safe. Just this past Tuesday, we named two streets after fallen officers. These men paid the ultimate price. And I'm willing to bet everything that the green shirted men and women that you saw earlier. And the tan shirted folks that you see in the front and in the back. All of them would do the same thing. Because that's what being a sheriff's deputy is all about. We must do everything to make sure that these brave men and women who wear the badge have everything they need to face danger and to keep us all safe. This is why I stress that the sheriff must be fully funded. I know that the administration is working with the sheriff. We're all going to roll up our sleeves and make sure that we can get there. And I expect the issue to be resolved by the next budget hearing. And let's talk about traffic. Traffic is especially bad in West Kendall, in South Dade, in the Southwest. But it's a county wide issue. In 2002, voters of this county taxed themselves to expand transit. These resources became part of the funding strategy for the smart plan. Yet, we learned that the smart plan is in jeopardy. And I quote from a May memo from the administration, the remaining corridors of the smart program cannot be implemented under the current financial trajectory. That's a cold dose of reality, ladies and gentlemen. This is why I'm greatly worried that this budget takes roughly $89 million in TID funds to plug the hole in the transit department. The Herald called this the latest sign that Miami-Dade leaders are moving away from efforts to build new transit projects as they scramble to keep existing operations afloat. It's from the Miami Herald. I want to know how this effort is going to affect the North Corridor. A long time promise made to the residents of the northern part of the county or the Northeast Corridor. The Kendall Corridor is the least advanced. Meanwhile, there are efforts to intensify housing density along Kendall Drive because it's supposed to be part of the smart corridor. We can't increase density without increasing mobility. It doesn't make sense. It's just not smart. And we can increase mobility when we have a department that's structurally unsound. As one of my colleagues so eloquently put it not too long ago, there's a crash coming. DTPW is broken. I cannot continue assuming that it's going to keep operating in the same way. Some tough decisions need to be made by this body. And it's not increasing the gas tax. This is going to require operational changes, folks, and they're not going to be easy. Here's one example. DTPW has a chief external affairs officer supervising two marketing communications managers who supervise a graphic designer supervisor and a social media manager who also supervise others. Listen, marketing is important. Communication is extremely important. And it's really important to bring people into the process and keep them informed. I'm not saying to eliminate it completely. But what I am saying is, do we absolutely need so many managers and supervisors? It's just something that we need to think about. We do have an independent communications department that we should consider. Here's something else. We've seen what happens with electric buses and electric cars. The proposed budget includes the purchase of 70 vehicles at 8.29 million. That's a bit over 118,000 per vehicle on average. Now, I understand that these are not necessarily 70 ordinary passenger vehicles, but are there opportunities for savings? Just things that we need to think about and we need to work through. Additionally, that same fleet replacement program was supposed to help reduce overtime. The same language has been included in the past two budgets, but overtime costs continue to increase. 17.1 million, according to the commission auditor. There's an overtime reduction plan, but the auditor states the plan has not been finalized and the anticipated savings have not yet been determined. Finally, this department has a director with 12 supervisory director reports. It's got chief inflation at the top of the director's 12 direct reports. Five are chief or advisory titles, each managing just one to three people. Less than half of the director's span is genuine operational management. The rest is staff and advisory. Now, I'm not saying that this is not necessary, but what I'm saying is we can look at it and maybe these roles can somehow be consolidated. Now, this brings me to housing. Last year, I was very critical of the use of general funds to pay for various positions. This proposal will not have any funding from the general fund. I appreciate that. HCD is doing better with Section 8, especially with the new program manager. I don't know where Nathan is, but I appreciate you. Volume 2, page 81 in the budget book states existing county processes create delays that impede efficient day-to-day operations. Now, something that we need to ponder, are other departments experiencing these delays from county processes? The narrative states that there is insufficient and uncertain funding by HUD to support existing programs and operations, but you're developing a public awareness and engagement strategy. Now, when you have insufficient and uncertain funding, I'd like to better understand how a public awareness campaign leads to the construction of more housing units. Because at the end of the day, I understand communication is necessary. But like a lot of my colleagues on these days have said in the past, what we need is more housing. There's a proposal to spend $2 million for the eviction diversion program, just like last year. There's no information about the organizations that receive funds from this program and how many clients are served. I'm not saying it's bad. I'm not saying it's good. What I'm saying is I want to make sure that these funds go toward helping residents and not just outreach. And I'm sure the administration and my colleagues want to see the same thing. Now, finally, this department has a director, and I appreciate you, Nathan, with a deputy director and five assistant directors. It could be top heavy. This gets me to the larger structural issue. I've already said that YS305 is a good start. Last year, we saw departmental mergers. It saved some money. Maybe we can consolidate more. We should wherever that's possible. And I'm happy to help. Several departments have duplicated support functions. Can some of these be centralized? Things that we can ask. We switched healthcare providers and were promised $40 plus million in savings. Where are these savings reflected? It's something that we need to really, really, really understand. Finally, this government structure needs to change. PIOD is over 22% managerial with eight layers. RER is more than 20% managerial with nine layers. WASDE is 17% managerial with 13 layers. Structurally, there could be a tall hierarchy. It elevates costs through uneven managerial identity. This is why I will be working to have an independent firm conduct a comprehensive organizational efficiency review. And we're going to do it with the private sector. I will end with this. There's not a single industry. And Commissioner Garcia pointed this out earlier. There's not a single industry that has not been disrupted by innovation and AI. Lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, bankers, you name it. Everyone has had to embrace the change of AI. Government has remained immune. County government today looks pretty much the same as it did 5, 10, 15 years ago. What other industry in the world can really say that? Aside from government. Regardless of what happens this November with Amendment 3, because we've had a lot of chatter about that. The status quo is not sustainable. Folks, tax relief for residents is going to come. It's coming. If it doesn't come in November, it's going to come shortly after that. Shout out to Congressman Donalds. But right now, it doesn't seem like we're ready for it. I do appreciate the strides that we've made to try to get there. And you have my commitment that I will work with you so that we can make the tough decisions that need to be made so that we can be there. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Regalado, District 7. I was. Got you. Thank you. Ms. Norbis. She's still writing. So let me know when it starts. I'll go. I will do, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank everyone who came out tonight to speak. It was very, very moving to see the testimonies, especially from the residents of District 6. I heard you at the microphone and I've heard you in our neighborhoods. I knocked on doors through election season and through this budget process. And the number one question that we always get is about taxes. Seniors who are afraid that they can't stay in their homes and the homes that they have worked a lifetime to keep. And young families who want to buy here, who want to stay where they were born and raised and raise their families here, but they cannot because the tax bill and insurance has made it feel impossible. And that is the lens that I always bring to this budget process. Madam Mayor, I want to thank you and your team for working with my office for holding the millage flat. And that is that is the right starting point. Putting public safety first and putting real work into efficiencies that matter. I appreciate that. And your job is to propose the budget and ours, of course, is to own it. Every month, families across Miami-Dade County sit at a kitchen table and make hard choices about what they can afford and what they can't afford. And I believe county government should be held to the same standard. We owe the taxpayers the hard working, the hard work of finding savings, cutting waste and controlling spending, protecting the services that their families depend on. Miami-Dade families are not a checkbook. And every dollar that we collect, every dollar that we spend belongs to them. So that's the test that I apply to this 14.3 billion dollar budget. This plan still leans on fee increases, one time money and habits that this board has continually worn that cannot last. And we are doing this just two months before voters decide on Amendment 3. If we want to protect our first responders, still stand with the people who pay the bills. We have to run a tighter government now, not after November. We can't wait. Now is the time. We've heard everyone say this tonight. Public safety is the first job of county government. And I fully support our sheriff, Rosie Cordero Stutz, and the men and women who are out there protecting us every single day. And I fully believe that we should fully fund our sheriff's office. If we can't keep our people safe, then nothing else that we do matters. And I know that it's going to take hard work to make that happen, but I am willing to do that work. Between now and September 17th, I am happy to work with this board and the administration to identify the dollars to close the public safety gap that is still open. I also want the proposed bus cuts restored for the people who actually use those routes. Our seniors, our workers, students, our own county workers, our airport workers. They should not lose service so that we can paper over structural problems. And I'm committed to making that happen. The way to do it is not a fair hike. It's not a gas tax. It's not new parking fees. It is finding the offset inside of our government first, department by department, so that we can put those routes back without asking working families to pay more. I am also extremely concerned about repeatedly dipping into the TID to cover transit operations. That fund exists so that we can protect future transportation projects. And the memo lists a fare increase, a gas tax increase, and new parking fees as alternatives. And I do not accept making riders and drivers the first answer. We can support transit, restore service, and still refuse to raid our future. What we need is a sustainable plan, and as some of my colleagues have said, to be honest about cuts, honest about the ridership, honest about how we pay for service without draining the TID or stacking new costs on our families. We also need to maintain the parks that we already have and finish what we started. And for example, in my district, keep the improvements at our beloved A.D. Barnes moving and finish the work that we have promised our residents and that we are continually asked about in our community. Finally, the needs in water, sewer, and solid waste are real. Our aging pipes, drainage collection, and disposal are not optional. But residents are struggling to make ends meet. So before we raise costs, we need to exhaust the savings. The change memo states $121 million in WISE 305 efficiencies. That's good. Now, I would like for you to show us what is left on the table before another utility increase hits the same household. Let's review the contracts. Rebid what can be rebidded. Manage our projects better. Because our residents should never be the government's first answer when it needs more revenues. And before this board approves another utility increase, I want to know what savings were identified. What contracts we can rebid or renegotiate. And what would be the combined hit on a typical household if water, sewer, solid waste all go up in the same year. I've said this before. Every commission meeting is a budget meeting. And this is how I treat this job. I do have a few questions for our administration. The first, the tax collector waived approximately $13 million in school millage commissions. And that is not in our budget today. So I want to ask where is that money plan to be going? Because I believe that first and foremost, it should be used to fully fund the sheriff's office and or restore our bus services. You're recognized. Director. Thank you, Commissioner. So, Commissioner, in the second change memo, we will come back with a full reconciliation of the tax collector waiver that he announced the other day. And for sure, our first recommendation will be that it goes to reserves unless this board directs otherwise. So that will be our plan for the second change memo at this time. That it goes to reserves? Yes, ma'am. I think that we should consider making sure that our sheriff's office has what she needs to accomplish her goals and also restoring the bus routes. Thank you. My second question is that this budget cuts 303 bus operation positions and proposed route cuts while the transit overtime is budgeted at over $75 million and up to $17 million. The department says that it has overtime reduction plan in action, but the auditor says that plan is not finalized and the savings are not in the budget. So why are we cutting the service before those savings from cutting overtime show up in the budget? Through the chair, Stacey Miller will respond. Thank you. You have the floor, Director. Thank you, Stacey Miller, Department of Transportation and Public Works. Commissioner, I'm sorry, could you repeat your question? Why are we cutting service before the savings from cutting the overtime is accounted for? Yes, ma'am. So our primary proposal for cutting overtime is associated with our new scheduling system. That scheduling system is enacted in three different service plans, three lineups that we do annually. The first lineup is in November. That's already been associated. So all savings that may be associated with that are included. The next is in the spring, March, and then the final is in summer. We don't believe that our plan will be fully, our use of the scheduling tool will be fully available to us because we're still learning the process until next summer. Unfortunately, because we do these three lineups, we haven't realized what those potential savings are for the March lineup or the summer lineup. So what we can't do is presuppose what those potential cost savings will be with our scheduling software until we actually perform the lineup process. And when did you say you would have that, next summer? Next summer, we anticipate fully utilizing the service of our new software package. Okay. Thank you. And then I have a question about Solid Waste. I know that Solid Waste released the Scrap app, and I wanted to ask how much is the marketing budget for the Scrap app? Excuse me, through the chair, as I suspected, zero. We did some social media posts. We practiced it, and pretty much that's how it went. It's zero? Yes, ma'am. Okay, because here it says that you're working on a plan through next year, through 2027, to launch an app that's targeted at... Specifically to Scrap or...? Yeah, it says it here in the book. Okay. Rolling out the Scrap app through a targeted bilingual public education strategy. All right. Our lead on reducing our waste overall, Nicolas Ciancio, is going to approach. Nick, I believe your name is at the podium at this time. Thank you. Through the chair, Nick Ciancio. Would you mind repeating the question again, Commissioner, for me, please? So, Solid Waste Department, you launched the Scrap app, right? And in the budget book, page 18, it says, I believe this is volume three, that by March 2027, the department, through its marketing budget, will facilitate the rollout of a Scrap app through a targeted bilingual public education strategy, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So, you know, there is mention of a marketing budget here. So my question is, what is the marketing budget for the app? So currently, the marketing budget for the Scrap app is $0. Those Scrap was something that we're piloting through the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Challenge. If we were to expand on that pilot, we would use existing marketing dollars that are already in our existing budget. It would not cost additional dollars, and it's dependent on the impact and how effective the Scrap app is. So, for example, we currently have outreach dollars for other initiatives, like for Metro Rail ads, billboard ads, things like that, to help us reduce our recycling contamination. If we're able to learn that the Scrap app is more effective at reducing the recycling contamination, we would propose moving the funds from the billboard ads and the Metro Rail ads to help us reduce recycling more effectively through that type of outreach and engagement. How will you know if it's effective? Yeah, great question. So our recycling routes, we do an annual recycling contamination study. And so what we're able to do is each route on an annual basis each May, we have all of the recycling trucks go to the vendor, and then they take a sample and they categorize the materials to determine what's in the trucks. And most importantly, if the residents are putting what should or shouldn't be in the cart, and then that determines our contamination rate. With Scrap, because it's an app, we're able to have essentially a GPS to see, or GIS to see where Scrap has been deployed. So we'll be able to see, okay, this is where Scrap was most downloaded, and we'll be able to cross-check that with the route's contamination rate. And that's going to help us to determine whether or not it was effective in reducing the recycling contamination. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Because I agree with the workers that came here from solid waste. They matter tremendously. Bulky waste pickup matters tremendously in our communities. And I, you know, I definitely believe they are more important than an app. So I'm hoping, you know, I guess my question is, you have staff dedicated to doing this app, or is it your existing social media staff? Are you adding additional resources to make this happen? Because I don't know what the effectiveness of it. There may be other ways to educate folks, you know, and it says marketing budget. So that's why I'm concerned about that. Through the chair. Commissioner, recycling obviously has improved. Our rate of not contaminating has improved through education and outreach and enforcement. And that's overall good because our landfill is limited space, and recycling saves us space. You know, our current landfills are going to be at capacity within just a few years. And, you know, anything that we take out of town costs us more money. So all of this is part of an overall approach to reducing not only our waste, but our costs. Well, thank you. Thank you to the director as well. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and our administration to ensure that this budget stands with the families of our community. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you so much. Commissioner Regalado, you're up next. All right. Let's go. Let's do it. So excited. So excited. Okay. All right. Just making sure I have all my motions ready to go here. So I'm going to start with transit because that's just the easiest one, I think. I'm so excited to hear Commissioner Garcia and Commissioner Bermudez with me on the mover. So I'm going to talk about the mover. You'll remember in our last year in our budget meeting, I talked about the mover. And since then, I've done a lot of research on a lot of the things that we were told when we first mentioned that the mover was, we'll just say that it's a bad idea. So I wanted to start with the mover and an explanation of what we've been able to find and get in writing from our attorneys. The Metro mover was open in April 17th of 1986. Currently, its operation costs for the year 2025 was $38,873,953. The capital program for the mover is $52.682 million. And it has an unfunded capital need of $4.450 million. Currently, the passengers boarding the Metro mover are estimated to be 7.3 million people. So there is a PTP, CITT reimbursement. In year 2020, it was $427,581. Then in 2022, we have $505,000. Then 2023, $605,000. 2024, $605,000. And in this current budget, we have a reimbursement of $3.2 million. But there is a discrepancy at CITT as to our formula. That money is not lost if we charge for the Metro mover. It can be reallocated to capital for the very Metro mover. And as I mentioned, we have a $4.4 million unfunded mover plan. So what should we do with the mover? Many years ago, when a prior commission tried to change the way that we operate the mover, Barbara Jordan was told that you couldn't operate, you couldn't charge for the mover because the mover had to be free. That that was part of the half penny. That is not true. The Metro mover was actually added to the ordinance, the implementation ordinance that Miami-Dade County did for the half penny. And that ordinance can be changed by this board. And we have it in writing from our attorneys. If we change that ordinance, then we just set the fare and we could charge for the mover. So if we charge, let's say a dollar and 50 cents. All right. So while we're talking about raising fares, you know, and, and Commissioner Gilbert is correct. Something has to give. I've always said that we need to start with the people who are not paying at all. And receiving a service at the cost of everyone else. Because the people's transportation fund that should be funding the smart plan has been subsidizing the Metro mover since 1986. And now that it is older and we're refurbishing it, we're subsidizing it all over again. And as for the comments that were made about our stations, you know, and our need to fix our stations, I personally have fixed my stations in grand part with developer money. I fixed Grove Central with developer money, not with PTP. I fixed Link with developer money, not with PTP. I'm fixing South Miami with the vehicle that we created for that development. So, you know, I think this idea that we're not fixing our stations because we don't have more PTP is an issue. I think we need to deal with the zoning piece of that when we negotiate our TODs. That being said, let's say that we lose a million riders because we're charging $1.50. That's $9 million a year that we could be making from Metro mover. And you could allocate the money that you're getting from CIT currently, which is 3.2, to fix some of those capital projects that we have at the mover. And also, as we continue to redevelop around the mover, just be mindful that we can also make it a priority to include that in the community benefits when we approve those developments, which is what I have done in my district, what I think we should all be doing every time that we're developing around these stations. So I will have a motion on that. I will say I have been talking to a lot of folks in downtown and in Brickell. And a lot of people want us to charge for the mover because they're asking us to clean up the mover and to get our act together on the mover and to fix, you know, the escalators and the elevators. So I think we should definitely fix the mover and then we can have a real conversation about the smart plan. Because the myth that we cannot charge for the mover is just that, a myth. And now we have it in writing. All right. Moving on to other issues in transit. We're talking about the buses. I also agree that we should not cancel the early buses or fire our employees. But, you know, a desire is a wish unless you have a plan. So here's my plan. Currently, if you all remember, we spent $32 million on Metro Connect for four years. Last year, during the budget process, we all agreed that we would no longer be completely subsidizing what was supposed to be a ride share and ends up being just an independent chauffeur for a small group of people. Here are the numbers on what's happened to Metro Connect since we made the decision last year to charge $3.75. Currently, Metro Connect, up to June of 2026, had 212,435 rides. That was only 8,209 unique riders at the cost of $3,965,124.08. That means that the average Metro Connect rider in Miami-Dade County is being subsidized at $483 a year. The bus routes that we are currently talking about cutting is a subsidy of $103 to $113 a rider. So let's put that in perspective as to how much more we are paying for unique riders with the Metro Connect system. The current budget has Metro Connect at $5.5 million with an expected $1 million to be paid by the $3.75 that are being paid for the riders at a total cost to our transportation system coming straight out of the general fund in the amount of $4.5 million. So what is the proposal? I know if I say I'm going to cancel Metro Connect, you're all going to lose your minds, even though this is also very popular in my district. So here's what I'm proposing. If we flip it, if we flip the dynamic, and instead of the rider paying $3.75 and the county picking up the difference for the rest of the ride, which in some cases is being very long, do the opposite. The county provides a $3.75 credit, and then the rider pays the difference. By the way, I did this at TriRail for two years. Works very well. You just have to change the contract and get them to flip the switch. And we still had people using it. And the people who are using it for the first and last mile, that incentivizes them to use the technology to get to transit. We should not be paying for $20, $30 rides. That's not equitable. And for people who need to get to a transit station, that $3.75 is a workable incentive. That brings us down in terms of Metro Connect to $1 million. Now, what does that do to the rest of the budget? Well, it frees up $3.5 million that we can then use for the 5 o'clock bus routes. And I think that's equitable because at that point, when we flip it, what we're doing is we're subsidizing Metro Connect users at $121 per user. And that means that the bus drivers, the bus riders that we're cutting, that we are now removing because we're saying that paying $113 per rider is too much. So their subsidy is still going to be less. But that bus will be available. And those folks couldn't even get a ride share at 5 in the morning if they wanted to because it's just not available and it's going to be too expensive. So I'll have a motion for that. But I really ask you all to consider really flipping the dynamic on Metro Connect so that we can help our bus riders and save our county employees and invest in our buses. And speaking of investing in our buses, in the current plan, we still have Baylink. And I know that we've reduced it, thank you, Stacy. But Baylink is still showing up in the budget at $233,000 from the PTP Capital Expansion and Reserve Fund. This is not a viable corridor. Commissioner Gonzalez, you were talking earlier about the smart corridor and how we need to have that conversation. And I said this last year, and I said it the year before, and I said it the year before that. We need to stop spending money on a corridor that nobody wants. Miami Beach doesn't want it. FDOT will not pay it. The federal government will not fund it. And yet we continue to plan a corridor that we are not going to build. So I have a motion. Hopefully we can do the right thing here and direct the mayor to take whatever is left when we cancel the contracts out of Baylink of the $233,000 and use it for, here's an idea, a viable smart corridor. I think we should put it in a viable smart corridor. I think that would be smart for our not so smart plan. So, next up, solid waste. So, solid waste, we have to have a serious conversation about what we're spending our money on. I understand that the easiest thing to do, Madam Mayor, and I appreciate your candor in doing so, is to cut the one thing that most politicians care about, and that's illegal dumping. That being said, you know, I think it's an opportunity for us to have a conversation about what exactly is coming out of the rate payers pocket. Okay? The people who pay for solid waste in the most part are people who have a green Miami-Dade County trash can. And the problem is that we are using that money to do a lot of different things, not all tied to that trash can. When I brought the item so that we would leave it flat, one of the things that I told you all is that Miami-Dade County solid waste had picked up the garbage at the City of Miami FIFA event at the tune of $350,000 because the City of Miami said that they could not pay it. That is not okay. And one of my motions is asking the mayor to send the City of Miami the bill. I don't care if they pay it through the Bayfront Trust. I don't care if they pay it through the DDA. I don't care if they pay it from the general fund. The residents of Miami-Dade County that pay for their trash cans should not be paying for the City of Miami FanFest. That is not fair because people from everywhere went to that, and the City of Miami was supposed to cover that. And they called us because they couldn't do it, and then we went over there, picked it up, and ate the bill. And that is not fair. So, yeah, the City of Miami has to pay $350,000, and that can go, guess where, back to picking up illegal garbage, right, which is where it should have been from the beginning. So, continuing with solid waste, you all know that I love zero waste. I am a huge proponent of recycling. I am a huge proponent of composting. I love me some recycled stuff. However, if you go to page 17 of Volume 3, you're going to find a problem. And that is that currently we are funding the Zero Waste Master Plan at the tune of $990,500 out of operating revenue. Why is that wrong? Okay. First of all, this operating revenue means that we're paying it out of the trash can again, right? So, even though the Miami-Dade County Zero Waste Master Plan will benefit every single resident of Miami-Dade County, not just the people who have a green trash can. Once again, the people who have the Miami-Dade green trash cans are the ones that are paying for something that is a county-wide benefit. Also, there was a bill that was passed by Senator Avila, and that bill said that we had to be very careful when expending money that had to do with net zero. So, what do I think we should do? I think that we should fund part of this Zero Waste Master Plan, but we should not fund it out of these revenues. So, I have an item that moves that, and then we can take the $990,500 and apply it to picking up illegal trash. Because that makes more sense. That makes so much more sense, right? Now, I have been talking to some folks because, obviously, how do you pay for the Zero Waste Master Plan? You know, you could apply for grants. We know that that's, you know, difficult. That's going to take some time. But I did reach out to the Goodwill. So, Goodwill is having an issue finding sites because there's so much development. And they pay $1,000 per location a month, right? So, that would be $12,000. So, they're willing to partner with us because they want zero waste too. They want people to recycle clothing and give things away instead of put it in a landfill. So, my proposal is that we take five solid waste sites. We partner with Goodwill. They're willing to pay us $12,000 a site for five sites. So, that's $60,000 right there, folks, that we could put towards the Zero Waste Master Plan. And we have someone at the solid waste sites where people can donate the stuff instead of putting it in the trash. So, guess what? It's zero waste. Look at there. Zero waste and you made money instead of spending money. All right. So, keep going. I did want to mention something before we leave solid waste. And that is what happened with the notice. At some point, I don't know how many of you got the call. I got the call. After this board unanimously approved leaving the rate flat, the administration decided to send out a notice. The cost of that notice is somewhere between $350,000 up to half a million. There's differing numbers. But the fact that this board took a position and that then the mayor sent a letter to everyone saying that we were going to raise the solid waste fee and that that cost us $350,000 on the low end, half a million on the high end. That's also money that could have gone to pick up illegal waste. So, if every time that we're going to have. So, we need to figure out when we send out these notices because we're wasting money. We're not raising the rate. That's not before us today. So, we sent everyone that letter. Sending that letter, sending that notice costs money. We sent it before. So, now let's say we sent $350,000 and $350,000. So, we have spent $700,000 sending out letters about how much we're going to charge for solid waste when we could have, I don't know, used that money for picking up illegal dumping. So, at some point, I think the board needs to deal with when that gets triggered. It's not just because someone is thinking about it. It's actually because the board has something on the agenda. Or better yet, there is some consensus on what that vote is. A few of you already talked about overtime in solid waste. So, I'm not going to belabor that. I will say also in solid waste, there is a travel and registration fee. That line item is $145,000. I get it. Last year, we cut advertising. I know some of the advertising that left is notice. But in this case, I think if we're going to be talking about firing employees and not picking up trash, we should probably cut our travel and registrations. In terms of police, I want to thank the sheriff and her officers for being here. Listen, I'm more than happy to leave it to the mayor to find the money. But I think that part of the problem that we have here is that there's a lot of miscommunication. Excuse me, Commissioner. I think somebody has their mic on and might be breathing into it. We found the code. Those are like his little signs. I'm still going to miss you. I'm going to miss you, too. I'm not. Let me miss you. Be quiet. Oh, my God. Mic drop. You can miss me. Let me miss you. Let me miss you. Jesus, Lord. If we if we would have had a workshop, if we would have had a committee meeting on the budget. Well, that's why we're here now. You don't have a workshop. You don't have a committee. I brought my breakfast. This is what you get. We could have solved these problems before. I was more than happy to solve them before. You all decided to do it at the last minute. Here we are. Make choices. This is what we get. I just want to hear all of your suggestions without the editorializing. Please. I heard everybody else's suggestions. I didn't want to hear. I didn't want to hear theirs either. But honestly. But OK. Just give me the suggestions, please. Point of order. I am here solving the problem. Point of order. Go ahead. Man, this is a free for all. No, no. It's point of order. She deserves to finish her comments. She's she's last or latest in the discussion. She's doing a good job. You didn't come up with the idea. Right. So let her let her let her do what she's doing. I'm the one with the solutions like everyone. Always, always, always, always. Everyone else is just making making. You know, I'm actually suggesting solutions. And listen, I. The time that we spent here. How talk having this conversation is less time we're going to spend at the second meeting. OK, so I really think that it's it's worth the investment. And I want to thank Keon for always being such a gentleman. Oh, so cute. Oh, or he's the best. He's the best. He's the best. Heart, heart. All right. So. I've never done that before, actually. Look, it's a little hard. A little hard. I've done that before. It's like a thing. But if you like. Yeah, it's more like. No, no, there's love there. There's love there. OK, so back back to back to the sheriff. All right. So last year we decided to fund the sheriff with the Red Speed money. And we took a portion of it for the BCC at the tune of 4.5 million. That money is there. It still hasn't been allocated to our offices. There is an interesting cost associated with Red Speed that, you know, is about 700,000. Red Speed is administered by DDPW. So what I think we should consider is giving Red Speed completely to the sheriff. Giving the whole kit and caboodle. She can administrate it. Now you've got all those people that are running around because they can't do flock. Right? You can give them that. They can do Red Speed. And that gives us $9 million, you know. I mean, that's $9 million that we can give to the sheriff. So, you know, if that's what we want to do is support the sheriff, that's $9 million right there, folks. That gets her a long way to solving some of these problems. So I think, you know, instead of starting to pull its strings, if we really want to, you know, support the brown now instead of the green, then I think we need to actually put some of our money in. You know, all of the departments cut their budgets. We have not cut our budget. Right? We have not cut the money that's coming to the Board of County Commissioners. So I think giving the sheriff the Red Speed is the right thing to do. So happy to present an item doing that also. Okay. WASDE. WASDE. All right. So much with WASDE. We'll get to WASDE and the rate increase, but I do want to mention one thing that I mentioned last year that I think needs to come up again. And that is the money that we pay to the RO. So right now we're looking at $3.2 million. We've been talking about different options, and I think we need to be mindful. I know that there's been some conversations about having a joint meeting with Hialeah and then potentially, you know, either resolving it with them through dispute resolution or bringing a lawsuit. I think we need to change the line item and see about holding it, see if we can hold it in the court's registry, see what we can do. I don't think we continue with this contract in its current form. So I do have an item to deal with the RO. We talked about it last year. We talked about it the year before, you know. And as we look at raising water rates, you know, and a million here and a million there, $3.2 million is a lot of money when you look at water, right? So I think we need to look at every single contract. That's one of the contracts we need to look at. It's like you're like a little, you move over here, you move over there, you move over here, you move over there. You're guessing. It doesn't bother me a bit. Not at all. I know. I think it's cute. I've been called cute before. I think it's cute. All right. In terms of the water, I will say, the water rate, I will say this. You all know I love WASDE. I support WASDE. I think six is too high. I think we need to discuss our options before we go all the way to six. And I'm the person that brought the item that would take us to six several years ago. But I think our economic situation is very different and we can still comply with a lot of it without going all the way to six. For the folks that came to speak on EO, thank you so much. EO is such an important program. And one of the things I wanted to mention about EO is after this budget, we go to zero on EO. And that's why Kelly was important. That's why we need to change a conversation in terms of how we protect endangered lands. We can't talk about wetlands. We need to have people donate the wetlands. We need to have them pay for the restoration of the wetlands. And we need for them to pay for it in perpetuity through EO. Kelly did that and I think that that's a new model that we need to start applying countywide. Because we do not have the funds to sustain this portfolio. I'm working with staff to find a recurring revenue stream. But as many of you know, the state of Florida makes it very difficult for us to have different permits. The impact fee thing is very complicated. We already have several funds that cover this and we have been using some of the tree trust money to do EO. But we definitely need a long term solution for EO and I'm going to continue working on it. I just think we need to be mindful that when different projects come before us, we also have to try to make the community benefit for EO. So it's not as easy as just slapping something on something else. Because the state has really preempted us when it comes to this area and being able to raise funds. So parks and recs, I want to thank the director and the administration. I think, you know, all things being considered, you did a very good job. I want to say that moving the special taxing districts out of parks and moving it to RER is a smart move. So I appreciate that. You know, the folks that are doing that have always done a good job. And I think one of the things that whenever we deal with special taxing districts, they're very well administered by the county and they're very fair. But I am concerned about the special taxing district that have cameras. So there are some special taxing districts that have flat cameras and that have cameras. And the reasons that they have them is because they want the police to be able to access them. So I think between now and the next budget, we need to figure out how that's going to work because I have several in my district. And there's a lot of concern as to what happens now with those cameras. So if there's not going to be a monitoring, if we don't know where we are, if we're putting a pin in it, then I think we need to notify those folks that have those special taxing districts, explain to them what's happening with those cameras, and either wind them down or figure it out because they shouldn't be paying for a service that they're simply not receiving. And that's been a concern in several parts of my district. And let me see. I think that's mostly it, folks. I mean, I could keep going, but I got more ideas. But I know Oliver wants to go home. He loves his napkin. Oh, no, no, no, no. We can stay. I just want you to stop talking. I'm joking. You can keep talking. I'm joking. I'm joking, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman. I'm joking. She can keep talking. I was joking. The congressional speaking. Yes. Yeah. That's going to cost you. You made a good point about the flock cameras, though. I don't know what we're doing with those and whether they're going to be, that was a very, very good point. And we keep calling them flock cameras. That's actually a brand. It's like Kleenex. There's actually tissues. LPRs. Like, what are we going to do? Yeah, what are we going to do with those? That is a very, it was a very interesting thing. And then the long term, what actually happens, because there's a personnel cost that can be assigned to the investigative stuff that actually goes with the technology that we use. All right. Thank you, Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner. I'm just saying, yeah. Commissioner from District 4. One minute talk. I just want you to be quiet. Yeah, we want you to be quiet now. Commissioner from District 4, you're recognized. Okay, my turn. All right. I apologize ahead of time, Oliver. All right. So, a couple of really interesting things were said tonight. And so, there are just a few things I want to just hone in on. The first is, I guess, Commissioner Regalado just spoke before me, so a lot of my thoughts now are kind of swimming around what you just said. In terms of the transit, you know, it's interesting. There are many early bus routes that are being cut that are going to be detrimental to our workforce. And so, obviously, I don't think any of us support that, right, conceptually. So, I'd like to know, have we also explored, you know, we were talking about the fees for using some of these, you know, user fees, customers pay fees for whatever service they get. And have we looked at also looking at how many of the people who are using some of our transit are not necessarily residents, maybe tourists, maybe people coming to visit? Do we have a different price point that we could charge? Have we explored how we could look at that to take advantage so that we don't have to keep raising it on the residents, but maybe other users who use some of these transit options we could look at? In terms of the, I don't know, can you answer? Can we, like, jump in or are we all, like, jump in now? I didn't jump into anybody. No, we're not going to jump in. Okay. I know you know the answer to everything. I got you the smartest person sitting on the stage. We all know that. Smarter than the mayor, smarter than her administration. We got that. But we're not going to jump in. We're not going to answer all that. All right. Through the Chair, if I may jump in. Yes, Madam Mayor. I just want to clarify, nobody in DTPW is losing jobs as a result of this reduction. So I just wanted to clarify that point, because several of you have mentioned that. But, Director, we'll speak to the issue that you raised specifically. You're recognizing. Through the Chair. Commissioner. Specifically speaking, I know we're talking about some of the routes that might be eliminated in the morning hours. And I know for some of us, I know in my district alone, we have an impact of about $5 million cut from the transportation. I also know that there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, about a dozen routes that touch my district in some capacity at those early morning hours. And some of them are truly important. For instance, Aventura is a main hub, and the route to get to downtown, which is our other main hub, is going to be cut in the morning. And so I was wondering if one of the cost, maybe, solutions to this issue is also trying to understand the end user. How many of them are a workforce that really rely on this transportation to get to work, and how much of that is not a workforce end user, maybe a tourist or something else, that we could look at the pricing and make sure that Miami-Dade residents get one price point, and maybe visitors or tourists or other people necessarily, maybe not full-time residents, have to pay a different price point? Thank you for that question. Because of the nature of how we charge, we don't know the location of the individual. So we don't know if they are a Miami-Dade County resident, a tourist, coming here to go to work. That's not incorporated in the purchase of a fare ticket. We only know that for individuals who receive either reduced fare or free fare. But you just tap and go. So I don't know where you come from, right, if you're just tapping a credit card at a fare gate. I have no means of determining your address. So, unfortunately, we would have to change our process to determine where you lived in conjunction with how much you paid. That's not part of our process today. I think it's worth exploring to see if maybe the technology that we use could be updated to maybe determine that. Because if you're using a credit card, that could be potentially traced back to an address of sorts. I don't know. It's just something to explore. Our current software definitely is not capable of doing that. It's something we could evaluate as we move to a new fare collection system. But I do need to be mindful of what kind of information we do collect regarding the use of that credit card. We have cash transactions as well. But we could evaluate it. I understand. Look, I guess it's frustrating because a few years ago, everybody was told that the better bus network would be more efficient and would also reduce costs. That's what I was told anyway. That's what a lot of our residents were told. And that doesn't seem to be the case. I bring that up because I'm trying to find a solution here. The reason we have some of the, what is it, Metro Connect or what, those other options were because we eliminated those bus routes to begin with. And then we realized there was a gap that we needed to fill. So then we started getting creative with freebie and with other modes of transportation to try to make up for the routes that we eliminated during that better bus network transition. Because we found there were shortcomings, and we found that the residents were actually not necessarily better served in some capacity. Maybe in some areas it was, but overall. So we're in this position today. So it's funny to me that it's almost costing us more now, and we're trying to find a way to reconcile that. And so I just wanted to say that I think we need to do a little bit more fine-tuning as it relates to that because I don't know that that's the solution. I also know that, obviously, yes, public safety, there are a lot of things that we want to fund and we need to fund. But we also need to make the hard decisions if we're going to fund these things. Where is it going to come from? How are we going to do it? What are we going to be willing to do? I'm ready to, you know, I'm ready to do. I love the idea of maybe the program that Commissioner Regalado brought up. We could potentially use those dollars and give it over to the sheriff as one avenue to make up for it. And I agree with you. We are all in this together, right? We're all in this together. We're all in this together. In terms of the Metro Connect. No, not the Metro Connect. The Metro Mover that you mentioned. You know, what I was told when I had brought that up was not so much that they couldn't charge for it, but that the infrastructure to put in the mechanism in order to charge may be too cost prohibitive. I'm just saying that's what I was told. Obviously, they're going to look at that. I don't necessarily agree with removing dollars from any sort of smart plans at this time because it doesn't necessarily tie you to a specific mode of transportation. It just talks about the fact that those are identified main arteries that need real transit solutions to help alleviate the traffic. And I think anything we can do to help alleviate traffic, because I know that's a major concern for many of us, should be a number one priority as well, along with public safety, with parks, with infrastructure. I do have some questions for our water and sewer department, or as it relates to the ocean outfalls, actually. I know that was brought up before, ocean outfalls. Where are we with that? What's happening? Because I know that's not just part of our consent decree, but that is also part of a state mandate. Can you explain to people exactly what that is and how we're going to be able to fund that? I mean, I know you brought forward a proposal in order to fund that, but can you please explain? Yes, Commissioner. The ocean outfall legislation is a state legislation separate and apart from our consent order. Florida set in statute in 2008, directing Miami-Dade County, through its ocean outfall legislation, to greatly reduce its usage of ocean outfall for treated wastewater effluent. It also directed us to reduce nutrients that go into the bay, as well as directing us to reuse our drinking water. When Mayor Cava came in office, the program was about 13% complete. State law said it had to be finished by 2025. It is about 50% complete today. We meet with DEP on a monthly basis and update them on the status of the work. They recognize that we've done a tremendous amount of work in a few years after going a number of years without doing much work, and they have not proposed, at least at this point, penalizing us. But if we signaled in any way that we were not going to finish the work, there would be consequences to that. I have gone to Tallahassee myself and had senators say to me, why would we fund anything in Miami-Dade County if you're not going to comply with ocean outfall legislation? We're very committed to finishing it. Now, the challenge with ocean outfall to pay for it, when the previous Board of County commissioners that submitted the work plan to the state for ocean outfall, they agreed to do the projects and said they would raise the money along the way, which means every year when you need money, you have to raise it, and that's what we're doing now. So we're complying with the original work plan that was approved in 2013, and that is to come to you every year and raise the money we need to pay. If you don't give us the money, we won't do the work. And then what happens? Well, I think, first of all, the state's got to decide how they're going to penalize us, because it's not in the legislation how we would be penalized. They would have to make that determination and come back for us not complying. I think the greater consequence is it gives Tallahassee lawmakers an excuse not to do anything in Miami-Dade County if we're going to just refuse to follow the law. For example, if I may add, the funding that we've received to improve the bay. I mean, those dollars would be at risk if we were violating their directive to clean up our outfall. Yeah. I mean, look, these are things that we have to make the hard decisions. And I think, you know, at the opportune time, I think we need to have that conversation so that we're not putting ourselves at a further risk. You know, it's interesting, Commissioner Lopez, I know you brought up sargasm. Obviously, we have the same issue, a few of us up here. Yes, we need to be mindful in looking at that, which is why I passed that resolution to give us more flexibility. The loan assessment program that you did discuss, you know, that's not general tax dollars. That's surtax. And I just want you to know that it actually is not open right now. It was only, they actually paused that. It was open and then they had to stop the program because they needed to find, make it more efficient. And they did try to prioritize seniors. Hold on, it reopened June 1. Could you all in the back stop talking so much, please? Could y'all just stop talking just a little bit or just, you could leave. But I actually want to hear the conversation. Thank you. So, it actually closed. It reopened June 1 and closed June 30th. It was open for 30 days over the summer so that they could make sure there was a backlog. There were a lot of, you know, this is a great program and we know that there's a real need. And just in the 30 days, 518 total applications were submitted, 261 senior applications were submitted. And so, and there's still 424 total applications still in progress. And of that, 220 of them are senior applications in progress. So, the truth is, this is such an important, important lifeline for many people that I would like to see if there's any other opportunity, mayor, to perhaps continue funding that. And some, it's surtax dollars. I know it's part of the housing program, but to really look at trying to help fill that necessary gap. So, it's something to think about. And, I mean, I'll save some of my final thoughts. But I think we all know our main priority are to keep our streets clean, to keep them safe, to make sure that we are doing what we can through that local lens that we look through. So, public safety, our parks, our infrastructure needs, our roads, our sidewalks, our stormwater management, our flood mitigation. You know, back to the basics. We really need to make sure that we're looking at the basics and making sure that we're truly looking at the needs to have more so than the nice to haves. So, I'm open to hearing what everybody else has to say. I'm looking forward to hopefully not too long of a night. But, you know, a lot of important things were said. And, you know, the sentiment, I think we're all in agreement. It's just a matter of how we get there and what that looks like. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Next up, we have Commissioner Keon Hardiman. Would you like to have a few words at this moment? Wave. District A. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Thank you. Thank you to all of the members of the public who came and spoke to us tonight. There was one individual that really stood out to me. He was representing the organization Best Buddies, and I thought he did a really beautiful job. So, I applaud him for his bravery. And to everybody who came down and spoke to us tonight, to our mayor, thank you for the work that you've put into this budget. You have scaled back. You have listened to this board when we have said, find ways to find deficiencies. And I think that's reflected in this budget. And so, I thank you for your work in that. Our new budget director, I think, has done an extraordinary job. So, kudos to you, Director Baker. Honestly, you've really, really done great work, and you've been a pleasure to work with. To all of the directors that scaled their budgets back and did a very modest 3% increase. I thank everybody in the administration for recognizing the times that we are in. And I say the times that we are in because I think it's an important caveat. Only in government does the budget grow by over $450 million, and I'll repeat that. Only in government does a budget grow by over $450 million, and people are having a conversation about difficult times. This year is not reflective of difficult times. Difficult times was 2008. Difficult times is when you cannot fund a department because you don't have sufficient funds. Difficult times is not being experienced in Miami-Dade County government. The money is there. Our budget has grown substantially year over year. Difficult times are being felt by our residents. Difficult times are being felt by the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County. And I know that intimately because of the thousands of doors that I just finished knocking on, and I heard some of my colleagues mention it. The number one issue that I heard at the doors, at least in my district at District 8, is I need some sort of relief. Gas is extremely expensive. Eggs are through the roof. Milk is through the roof. This is the feedback that I got repeatedly. How are you going to help us make ends meet? And so I think that a lot of what my colleagues said regarding the reality of property tax relief is real. Whether it passes in November or not, I think is completely inconsequential because if it doesn't pass come November 3rd, it is highly likely to be back on the legislative floor in the next legislative session in some form or another. And so we need to be prepared. You know, we talk a lot about being future ready in Miami-Dade County. There's a lot of programs and initiatives that focus on being future ready. As much as I appreciate this budget, it concerns me greatly that we are not fiscally future ready. There is very little in our reserves that we talked about earlier today. If a storm hits our county, we are going to find ourselves in a very difficult financial position. And so knowing that we are likely to get hit with hundreds of millions of dollars in forced cutbacks in a very, very short amount of time, I think it would have been prudent for us to have that reflected in this current budget showing and messaging that no, we're not in difficult times now, but we are preparing for what we know is likely to come. And if it doesn't come, then we have a lot of money either in reserves or that we can do different things with. But if any household knows that hard financial times are coming in the future, they immediately cut back in a very, very substantial way. And I'm just not entirely sure that this budget reflects that. So in addition to reserves and my concern about whether or not this budget is future ready from a fiscal perspective, I'm also very, very concerned regarding our roadways and our transportation budget. And frankly, the future that it is heading in, I think everybody recognizes that our transportation budget is not sustainable. Um, it is at the cliff and we are staring over the edge of our transportation budget. Um, and whether it's reorganizing the entire organizational structure of that department, whether it is charging fees on services that we've never charged before, whether it's a modest raise of fees to the users of that service. I do firmly believe that we have to look at ways to make sure that our working class people in Miami Dade County, which are the people that are catching the bus at four and five o'clock in the morning are not losing service. Because I talk about this all the time. Yes, we are a world class community here in Miami Dade County, and we're always on the world stage, but we have to be world class, not just for the wealthy, but for the working class. And I want to pass a budget that reflects that. So I can, I look forward to working with our mayor. I don't have a punch list of ideas. I appreciate my colleagues who do. I think that's the work that we all need to be doing. I look forward to working with our mayor. We've had meetings in the past. We'll continue to have meetings moving into the future. Any and all of these ideas need at least seven votes, I think, in order to pass. And so I'm not sure what the procedure that we plan to engage in tonight is going to be. If we're throwing out motions without memos, without consequences being attached to that, without a fully briefed memo placed in front of us showing us what the consequences of those decisions will be. I'm not sure how I will vote on those motions. But I do know that there is, I think, a lot of work that needs to be done between now and the final hearing regarding the priorities that we all have and finding a landing place safe and square between now and the final budget. I have said it before and I will say it again. I don't think that there is a dollar that our residents pay more thoughtfully in their taxes than to public safety. I've said it before. I'll say it again. I think that that is reflective in the values of this budget. And thank you to the mayor for allowing a 6% increase versus a 3% increase across all other departments. I do think that there needs to be a compromise position reach between our mayor and our sheriff, whether that's funding it at the full 12% or finding somewhere in between. I really hope that a compromise can be reached between now and the final budget. And I think that's a substantial difference between this year and last year. I think last year a compromise was reached. I'm not sure if one is going to be reached this year. I certainly am hopeful that that is accomplished. Um, but for my district and for my priorities, um, I have said to the mayor and I'll say it that it for us, it's, it's the roads in district eight. It's the roads in the Redland. It's the roads in deep South Dade where taxpayers find it very, very difficult to understand how with a $14.3 billion budget, they are driving through roads where their wheels are cracking. Um, literally wheels are cracking, um, because of how deep the potholes are in some of those areas. And so I've already had those conversations with our mayor. I'll continue to have those conversations. I really hope we can find creative ways to fund what I consider. We talk about essential services to me. One of the most core functions of government in addition to public safety is obviously providing safe roadways for our residents to, uh, traverse. And so, um, I thank everybody again for the work that's been put into this budget. I think it reflects a lot of the values that this board has echoed. And I think our mayor for moving in the right direction. I personally would like to see greater funding for our roadway system in South Dade particularly. And I absolutely would like to see a compromise position reached with our sheriff's office. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Of course, um, Mr. Vice Chair. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll be very brief. You know, from the podium today, from the well, we've heard so many different voices. And I've always stated, voices do matter. Especially for those who come here and waited hour after hour, gave up opportunities to be with their families, spent hours on the road, gave up time at their work they could have been earning overtime and or other monies to help with their quality of life. So I just want everyone who spoke this evening and earlier today to know that your voices do matter and we actually heard them. Uh, secondly, I'll say to the mayor and to the administration. Thank you so much. Um, you have done a great job, great starting point based on the conversations and the meetings we've had with you, my office. I just want to personally and publicly commend you on a job well done. As it relates to the department, thank you so much. And I know your work is not done at this particular moment, this particular stage. It's actually 13 minutes past midnight. And I know you're probably going to be up again by 7 AM working on these concerns and reality checks that you've heard from this day. So I say thank you so much. And I also want to thank my colleagues for their hard work, reading every page of this proposed budget, ensuring that it actually meets the requirements and the expectation of the people of this great county. When I told you that my remarks would be very brief, it's because I realized that my remarks are going to be found within two words. And those two words are public safety. Oftentimes we think public safety is just law enforcement. And I just want to make sure we correct the record. Public safety also includes parks. Public safety also includes potholes. Public safety also includes those individuals who are taking care of our kids at daycares. Those things in those places also should be considered public safety. I don't want us to lose sight. We love our law enforcement. We do. And I don't want us to lose sight about the great men and women of our law enforcement department, because they do risk their lives each and every day for us. And I think, and I don't think, but I know, we should do everything in our powers to ensure that our sheriff has all the resources she needs for her men and women to ensure that we have a safe community. But I can't forget the reality of the parks. Parks and the staff, they save a lot of lives. And these are lives that you're not going to see on a spreadsheet. You're not going to be able to count them as part of your status report, but you can measure them in the impact that the individuals on those parks are having on the future of our future generations. I'm talking about the kids who leave the school bus to find themselves at an after school event at the park. I'm talking about where kids can actually go and use public Wi-Fi. I'm talking about where they learn how to swim and also where they go to feel safe when their parents are at work. So I never want anybody to feel as if when we're speaking about public safety that we're just relegating just simply to law enforcement. So, Madam Mayor, I thank you so much because I understand your commitment to ensuring that our parks are going to be recognized and are recognized within this budget with based on the parameters that we've seen. But I also have to tap into the reality that essential services, essential workers, without a doubt, they are the backbone of this entire system. And without them, none of this stuff would work. And if we're honest with ourselves, they need raises and not pay cuts. Essential workers, they need raises and not pay cuts. The service providers. We think service providers are those who hold the telephone often and give us advice over a phone or through a computer. That's how we have defined service providers. But if you really want to talk about service providers, look at the young men and the young women. We get up every single morning, board a truck to come and ensure that our trash is picked up. That's real service. Or the bus drivers who have to leave their homes at 3 a.m. in the morning to ensure that a 5 a.m. bus route is active and where the bus drivers will actually greet these individuals and sometimes been the first ones to say good morning to them, which would set their day off in a great mode. But now I want to talk about the essential hearts of this system. The essential hearts of this system are really found with those community based organizations. Those are the ones who I always have said and I'll continuously stand by it. Those are the ones who are always doing God's work. They don't complain. They don't make a lot of fuss. They just put their heads down and deliver the results. And I always want us to understand that when we're talking about essential hearts, we're talking about people who could actually gone to the private sector, provided the same services, made more money and received more accolades. But they didn't. They chose to simply say God works needs to be done. We're going to substitute what the county cannot provide and give an opportunity to kids who either have been molested, those who have run into the criminal justice system, those who are part of the Head Start program, those who are considered to be elderly at this moment, those veterans who need a second chance, and those women and young boys and young girls who feel left out of the system. Those are the essential hearts that we have to tap in each and every day. And finally, Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Regalado has made some great recommendations as it relates to the motions that I believe she's going to bring forth. And quite a few of them, actually, I found to be very fascinating. Fascinating in the sense that a few of them have actually given us some real solutions to some real problems. And I look forward to hearing her motion because I do believe I will rush to the forefront to second quite a few of them because I understand that what she has actually proposed can actually work at this moment. And I do believe, I do believe, transportation should not and cannot be on the table for cuts. And the reason being is this. I represent the Deep South. I represent all of Florida City. Exit one, all the way up. And when I looked at the list of potential bus service cuts, I saw four bus numbers. Each one of them provide real, real service to people who've actually been left out of the equation, not just one time, not just two times. But last time I checked, it seems like every time. It's difficult for me to sit here and agree with a proposed cut to bus 35. Bus 35 is the bus that takes workers out of Florida City and take them to the Target off 216 where they can get on the BRT, transfer over to the metro rail, transfer over from the metro rail to the metro mover, then take another bus over to the beach to provide services to those who utilize our hotels. These people are not leaving their homes at 6 a.m. These people are leaving their homes at 4 a.m. Because you know if you live in the south, to leave your home anytime after 6 a.m., you're dead on arrival. It's impossible for you to even get through traffic past 6 a.m. And then I looked down and I saw bus 287. 287 is a bus that actually runs east and west. It runs east and west because it runs up and down 152. And 152, for those of you who know, it connects Country Walk to Richmond Heights, Richmond Heights to the BRT, BRT to US 1. And why is that important? Because 287 is the bus that takes Richmond Heights workers and teachers and bus drivers to give them opportunity to tap into the vein of our transportation system on the BRT. And then there was another one, bus 52. How is it that bus 52 can be on this list when in fact bus 52 runs down the vein of Goose? Not only just Goose, but it actually touches Perrine. Not only Perrine, but it touches South Miami Heights. Not only South Miami Heights, but it touches the outer skirts of Cutler Bay. Let's be absolutely clear. To cut the services on bus 52 is to say to a working community, we don't see you and we don't recognize you. Some of which I would actually disagree with you and the cutting of the services for bus 52. But here's the thing that I believe really, really sets everything in motion. Bus 152. Bus 152 also touches Zoo Miami on the weekends. That's a bus that also runs east and west. It also touches Country Walk. When you put all of those bus cuts together, you've just alienated approximately 95% of the people in District 9 who take the bus in order to provide a quality of life for their families. That's what it means in terms of reality. Taken apart, just simply looks like you were cutting back two or three hours per bus, per route. But collectively, when you put them all together, it seems like a direct attack on the great people of South Dade. Something I will not stand for. And the reason why I won't stand for it is because these are the very same people who I interact with on a daily basis. People who I've represented since I was in the Florida legislature. People I represented since I was the minority leader of the Florida House. And some of the people who I represented who were victims of crimes when I served as a prosecutor here in Miami-Dade County. So, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the discussion of the debate, the presentations of motions, the appreciation of what the mayor's office has done, and what our great men and women of uniform continuously do, and the great people who provide essential hearts to the great people in our community who simply need help. But I don't want us to leave this meeting this evening. I don't know, we're not leaving in the evening, this morning. I don't want people to leave this morning and not appreciate that at the end of the day, public safety has many, many tentacles. And they all include police, parks, people, potholes, and public service and public servants. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to my colleagues and Commissioner Regalado. Let's get going with those motions because I am very interested in making sure at least we have an opportunity to discuss those. Because I believe your motions are going to actually do what I believe to be true. And that is to give strength and power to the voices that we heard earlier today from the well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair, and thank you colleagues for all of your very inclusive and thorough remarks to each and every one of you. I do think actually, and it's something that I did last year, we did last year, and it worked out well. And, you know, we not just asked, you know, and I said this, I remember saying this in my remarks last year, and we implemented it. And I know Commissioner Regalado said it as well. And she did it as well last year as she did it this year, is we can't just ask for money from the administration, but we have to find it, right? And I'm a believer in that. So I do recognize that Commissioner Regalado has done that. I think I would probably support a lot of those motions if I had the information of what those repercussions would be. I can't, I won't be supporting any of those motions tonight because I need the information of unintended consequences of, you know, some of the numbers just aren't accurate. For example, the red speed money, you know, it's not the numbers that were projected. We've got a fraction of that. The projection is for this year is going to be maybe 4 million, 4 and a half million that comes to the county. Whereas it was projected much, much more in a 52, $53 million deficit that the sheriff has, that's going to, that's a drop in the bucket. So the numbers are not what was projected originally to raise from that program isn't what's actually coming in real numbers. And then, you know, so on and so forth for, you know, if we're going to talk about the Metro mover and we're going to start charging for that. I don't know if you said you had a motion for the Metro mover. I'm passing them all out. We can talk about them. But, but, you know, there's things that I think we need to study before we just vote on, on, on these things. But I think I could probably get behind a lot of them. We just need the full information. And I'm not there today without working with the administration on, on what that, those repercussions could be on some of those. But with that, Madam Attorney, can you please read the first item? Yes, Mr. Chair. We are on item A, which is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for the countywide general fund operating budget. For the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. And the budget director has a statement. Budget director, you're recognized. Good morning. Good morning. The proposed countywide operating millage is 4.574 mills, which is 5.63% above the state defined rollback rate of 4.3301. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the services and programs provided by Miami-Dade County and the constitutional offices included in the proposed budget. Is that it? All right, I'll entertain a motion on item A. Moved. Second moved by Commissioner Cohen Higgins, seconded by the Vice Chair. Clerk, please call the roll. I've got a question. What comes out of this budget, this pays for like the general fund stuff, right? This is the millage. The millage? Yes. I just wanted to make sure because- Clerk, please call the roll. No one's suggesting raising it, so okay. Commissioner Bastien. Commissioner Bermudez. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. For. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. No. Commissioner Gonzalez. No. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis. Commissioner Regalado. Yes. Commissioner Steinberg. Vice Chairman McGee. No. Chairman Rodriguez. I vote yes. Motion passes nine to four. All right, Madam Attorney, please read the next item. Item B is an ordinance approving adopting and ratifying the millage for countywide bonded debt service for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. And the budget director has a statement. Please read your statement, Director. The proposed countywide debt service millage is 0.3937 mills, 0.3042 mills for countywide debt service, including the building better communities bond program and safe neighborhoods parks program. And 0.0895 mills for the public health trust Jackson and Miracle building bond program. I have a motion to entertain at this time. It's been moved by Commissioner Cohen Higgins, seconded Commissioner Bastien. Any amendments or discussion? Seeing none, clerk call the roll. Commissioner Bermudez. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. Four. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. Yes. Commissioner Gonzalez. No. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Steinberg. Commissioner Bastien. Vice Chairman McGee. Yes. Chairman Rodriguez. I vote yes. Motion passes 12 to 1. Madam Attorney, please read the next item. I understand some of my colleagues may have to bifurcate the CBO portion of this item. It's item C. Yes, Mr. Chair. Item C is the ordinance approving and adopting the countywide general fund budget for fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. This item will need to be approved as amended to incorporate the mayor's memorandum dating September 2, 2026. Titled information for first budget hearing fiscal year 2026, 2027 proposed budget. I understand you'll take up various motions later, but for now we need to bifurcate for some potential conflicts. Both Senator Garcia and Commissioner McGee will need to bifurcate, I believe it's the non-legacy portion of the attachment to the first changes memo, the non-legacy CBO portion. So Senator Garcia and Commissioner McGee each have a statement to read. Go ahead, read your statement and then I'll entertain a motion to bifurcate those. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I may have a potential conflict of interest regarding the discussion and allocations of funding for the non-for-profit legacy CBO. An initiative included in our attachment C of the mayor's memorandum dated September 30th. I sit on the board of directors of the South Florida Behavioral Health Network, a non-for-profit organization that is an intended beneficiary of grant funding. Abundance of caution, I will be abstaining from voting on this matter and removing myself from the commission chambers while the matter is considered. Vice Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I may have a potential conflict of interest regarding the discussion and allocation of funding for the non-legacy CBO's events. And the initiatives included in the attachment C of the mayor's memorandum dated September 3rd, 2026. I'm a contractor protruding an event, a non-profit organization that is intended to be a beneficiary of a grant funding. And abundance of caution, I will be abstaining from voting on this matter and removing myself from the commission chambers while this matter is considered. The statement also applies to items E and H. Me too, Mr. Chairman. E and H as well. All right. Madam Attorney, do I need to actually take a voice vote on bifurcating the CBO's from this item? Not for this conflict. No, you do not. So all we need is for Commissioner McGee and Senator Garcia to step out and then you can entertain a motion to approve. All right, so I'll entertain a motion. Move it. Move the CBO's portion of this item. It's been moved by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Lopez, and a voice vote is fine for this. A roll call, please. Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins? No. Commissioner Gilbert? Commissioner Gonzalez? No. Commissioner Hardiman? Commissioner Lopez? Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis? Commissioner Regalado? Commissioner Steinberg? Commissioner Bastien? Yes. Commissioner Bermudez? Yes. Chairman Rodriguez? I go yes. Motion passes 823. All right, any other bifurc, can I have my colleagues come back in? All right, any other bifurcations from item C? Yes. Do you have another bifurcation? I'm bifurcating the waterway. On item C, any bifurcations? I'm bifurcating H. Okay, but on C, none? All right, so do I have a motion for the remainder of item C? Mr. Chair, excuse me. A number of the motions that some of your colleagues wish to make would be applicable to this item. I asked if I had, so, okay. For example, the ones that were mentioned on the dais by Commissioner Regalado that relate to transit would potentially impact item C. It would be, in light of the breadth and scope, it would be beneficial to have all the motions done for each of the budget items. This would be an appropriate time to start going through this. Mr. Regalado, are you recognized for motion? Yeah, they're ready. They're passing them out? All right. Is your attorney going to read them or? No, they're passing them out. They printed them out for you guys. We did them all in writing so that everyone could read them. No, they could stay because we already voted on the CBO. We don't have copies, no. Yep, they're getting them. They printed them out for everyone. All right, does the attorney have them that they can start reading them while it's being passed out? We can certainly read the ones that we have from Commissioner Regalado. Would you like for us to do that? Sure, start with the transit ones. We're bringing them out. So the first transit related item would be amending items C, E, and H. Commissioner Regalado moves to amend the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget to reduce the funding allocated for MetroConnect from 4.5 million to 1 million. Direct the county mayor or county mayor's designee to negotiate and execute a modification of the MetroConnect contract. To provide a $3.75 credit for MetroConnect passengers up to $1 million total for this fiscal year. And allocate the $3.5 million resulting from the reduced allocation to MetroConnect to the restoration of the early morning county transit bus services prior to 5.59 a.m. So colleagues, yeah, no, they're bringing it. Let me just give them a second. If we can have the director come up, I did talk to her about this so that we can talk about it. The contract has a 30-day termination, but I think we can also negotiate this portion of it. The director was actually on the board of TriRail when we did this at TriRail. So she is well-versed on how we flipped this switch. So it's a credit. We put in a million dollars, and then everyone gets a $3.75 credit, and then they pay the rest of the ride. So, Stacey, if you could explain how we did it at TriRail and what the idea would be. So thank you, commissioner, if I can do the chair. You may. Let's do this quickly. Yeah. While I was on the board, while we made those decisions, I do not recall, and I apologize for this. It was several years ago. I do not recall the contract that we had in place. We were, I think, working with TNCs at the time. And that's a very different scenario working with a TNC than the contract that we have currently today. The contract that we have today is we pay on an hourly basis, not on a per ride basis. So we would need to have a negotiation opportunity and to discuss with our existing contractor to determine the viability of moving in that direction. We also want to be sure that we understand that the current contract expires in January of 2028. So we have a little over a year associated with that contract. But we would need to sit down with our contractor and determine the viability of moving from the current scenario to a subsidy scenario. Again, while I was at SFRTA, that was with TNCs, and those were paid on a per trip basis, not an hourly basis. So a slightly different scenario. Right. But that's why the item says to negotiate and execute the modification, which we can do. We looked at the agreement, and we could modify the agreement for the flip. We just have to sit down with them. Mr. Chairman. Senator Garcia. Mr. Chairman, first of all, Commissioner Regalado, I think I could maybe support most of these. But I'm just getting these right now. And honestly, it's 1230. Is there anything that precludes us from voting on these amendments for the next budget hearing and see if we can analyze these and the cost associated with these? No, there's not. We could still make all these more. And listen, I know you're well-intended. I get it. I know and I understand the work that you put into these, but I wish we would have gotten these a little earlier so we could have at least come back with my staff and gone through some of the issues with them. So I honestly don't feel very comfortable voting on these right now. I agree. Mr. Chair, Commissioner, the issue is that we didn't meet on the budget until now. I drafted them. But you didn't just come up with this on the wind. I mean, your staff could have printed this hours ago. No, we were working with staff. And by the way, I've met with staff on this and we've been working through it. But that being said, if we leave it all to the last meeting, then this doesn't solve all the problems, but it does start allocating some of the money. If not, the amount of money that we're asking the mayor to find between the police and everything else, I mean, it's going to be a 10-hour by the time we come back. So I'm proposing these to start moving the needle. And just so that you know, Mr. Chair, the feedback that I got from staff is that there would be zero interest in changing anything about Metro Connect. And I don't think that that's true. So, I mean, I think that we need to demonstrate to the mayor that there is an interest in making this change. If not, she's just going to go back to what she was proposing before, which was the $5 million. Mr. Chairman, if I may, and I'll just leave it at this. There's some good proposals here. I'm not going to take that away from you. I like some of the things that are here. I think it's worth having a conversation with the folks of Metro Connect. I think it's worth having a conversation with this administration and the Department of Transportation. I also may have some amendments that I may want to have conversations with you guys about. But I think it's a little onerous to ask me and my staff to try to go through all this without having been able to vet it properly. So if you would just indulge us, indulge me at least, and give us the opportunity to go through all this, I think you will find that you have a lot more support than you think you would have. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Metro Connect is very important in my district. And one of my municipalities, if I'm not mistaken, reimburses the expense at 100%. So that's simply one example of why I would want to take a closer look at this and have a conversation with my municipality that would be heavily impacted in addition to Metro Connect and whether or not they would even be able to implement the idea that is before us. I.e., insert a credit, have that a credit apply. That looks like and sounds like it requires technology. I don't know if they have it. I am not knocking the idea. I appreciate the work. I appreciate the ideas. I need time to run this by my district, my affected municipality, and Metro Connect to see if they can even implement it. Have you spoken to them to see whether the idea of having a credit implemented on the front end by each rider, whether they have the technology to actually implement that? Have you spoken to Metro Connect? This is to the maker of the motion through the chair, if that's okay. I have not spoken to Metro Connect, but I know the modality that they use. We did it with Uber. We've done it with other people. It can be done. It's just a matter of flipping the payment. It is not outside the scope of the agreement. The agreement can be canceled in 30 days, but that's why it says negotiate and modify. So, you know, I mean, I have the number of users. I went through the numbers with everyone. District, it's very popular in my district also. It's just $5.5 million is a lot of money. The issue is the subsidy of almost $500 a person while we're cutting the bus fee for 113. And I don't disagree with you on that, but considering how popular Metro Connect is in your district as well, making a motion like this that has such a fiscal impact and an impact to our community, I would want to consult with Metro Connect. I would want to know and be assured by them that they would be able to actually implement the idea that's being proposed. So I'm not a no on it forever, but I can't support it if it's going to be made at this time for a final vote. I think it should be adopted in the changes memo so that we can have time to review it between now and the final hearing. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Madam Mayor, I know that you're. Yes, through the chair. First, I would appreciate being asked directly as to my opinion about these items rather than it being represented. We are supportive of some of these ideas and we're grateful to the commissioner for her creativity and putting them together. There are some there is some misinformation. For example, the zero waste master plan was a one time study. There's really nothing to reallocate or refund through billing. The city of Miami cost was one hundred and fifteen thousand, not three hundred and fifty. Maybe at one time we thought it might be that high, but it turned out not to be. We certainly be willing to submit a bill to the city to see if they would pay. That would be fine. Obviously, we were at the zero hour and there was going to be garbage or we were going to pick up the garbage for the Fan Fest. And, you know, we are certainly concerned about the RO plant in Hialeah and eager to move forward. And that's consistent. What's here with what we were planning to develop in any event. And so so, you know, those are just a few of the things. But I do want to say, folks, we need to increase the transit there. That is really the bottom line. And these other things will help. They are. There are other things that we can do to help. But this is a systemic problem. It is not going to be solved by these these items. So I just want to say that as far as transit. All right. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mr. Chair. So what do you want to do? Yeah. So so comfortable with. Right. So first of all, to respond to the mayor on the on the FIFA trash, I didn't put the amount because there were different amounts. So if you if the item says trash collection invoices, so whatever the city of Miami owes us for Fan Fest is what we want to be paid. So on that in terms of Metro Connect, Mr. Chair, if we could just have like a straw vote of hands as to who would be interested in flipping it, because the issue is I don't want it to go back to the administration. And then we end up with a five point five because one of the things that I that they're saying is that we're not that we're not interested in changing Metro Connect period. So are we are is that is that a possibility? No, I'm not. I'm not calling a straw vote because there's more to it than just the possibility of if there's an interest. I think what is the replacement of it? What are we going to when we're taking this away from the users? Because that's what we were making a cost prohibitive for some people. So what when we do that, we are. I mean, that's what you're doing. You're charging more. You're making a cost prohibitive. We're giving them. We're giving them a credit. What we're not paying is for a 20 or a 30 dollar ride. The whole point of this was to get them to transit or to get them to short distances. OK, I mean, you're not talking to your child like I'm you're paying more. The rider will pay more for the ride. So what are we giving? Are we giving them another bus route? Are we giving them a trolley freebie? What are we giving them to supplement or subsidize that new cost? Because what I heard, because when I wasn't sitting here, I was listening on my TV when I was being briefed. What I heard, the people that came up here more than half were talking about transit and they were talking about how high the transit cost was already. So to charge more. Yes, I agree. Madam Mayor, you just said that the transit fees may need to be increased, but there needs to be a plan, not almost one in the morning plan that was given out in the last minute to see a straw vote of who would agree. No, I mean, of course, we all want to save money and have these ideas, but we need to do it with the right means. We've got to do it. We negotiate could be in the second change memo of the mayor when it's done the right way. Can we at least agree that we should have the same level of subsidy? Because my point is, and that's why I gave the numbers, the level of subsidy per user for Metro Connect is almost $500 a year. The level of subsidy for the bus riders at 5 a.m. is $113 a year. I am asking for continuity. I'm asking for equality. I don't I don't think that the service is transit, but I'm willing to. I mean, so we cannot agree to that because the equality has to be across the board, not just on finances. It has to be on what's available to them as well. So, yes, I agree on equality across the board, not just on what the fair number is, but on the availability of a bus route of the transportation method. So, yes, we could agree on that, but not just as it pertains to the fiscal number. It has to pertain to how the folks are going to get on a public transit system to get to where they need to get. That I think we can all agree on, but not just on the financial fiscal portion of it. But this is only 8,000 people. This is 8,000 people. I mean, when you compare. That's a lot of people. But when you compare. 8,000 people is a lot of lives. And they're still going to get, they're still going to get $3.75. And listen, if you want to say. What do you want to do here? I'm not doing a straw poll. Do you want to do the motion and see if it passes or fails? Do you want to? I mean, you see kind of, you can read the room. You see what everyone's kind of said. I mean, what do you want to do? Do you want to work with the administration? I want to hear what Oliver has to say. Well, what, I'm going to get to Oliver and before you. Well, before you, I have Commissioner Steinberg. He's a chairman. He can tell whoever he wants. But. I want to hear what they have to say and then we'll decide. Okay, Commissioner Steinberg. I actually really appreciate the thought process behind this. And I understand the logic. Although for me right now, I need to know what that dollar amount would be per passenger. Because it's, it's, we don't have an actual concrete. Yes. Figure. That being said. I think one of the concerns that I'm trying to reconcile. Like wrapping my arms around is the fact that in some of our districts. In mine, I can speak for mine. The Metro Connect happens to be in my unincorporated. Because during the Better Bus Network, they removed routes. And so now, this is what we ended up with because we realized there was still a need for transit in that area. And so until I understand better the ridership numbers in that area, the cost that it's costing the county versus what it would cost the patron, I'm not going to be able to just on a blanket, you know, conceptually, I totally understand where you're coming from and I understand the thought process. The reality, I need to understand better. So for those reasons, I'm, I'm hesitant today to support that. Commissioner Gilbert. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The idea is innovative. I don't dislike it. And I don't think the administration is actually opposed to it. I think what they're saying is they need to evaluate it more. And I'm happy to change the motion to evaluate it. That's not one of those things where we're going, no, no, no. That's what the chairman's saying also, we need to evaluate it more. We need to have a full, like, evaluation of it. So that being said, that's on Metro Connect. I think the mayor and the administration said something that was very interesting, telling and truthful. Listen, whatever you all do, whatever decision is you make on transit, if you do not fix the fare, it is a problem that is going to reoccur every year, no matter what. There's no way around this. Unless we suddenly invent an economy that's not fossil fuel based, our fare is going to become more and more out of balance with what it takes to actually operate the system every year. So right now we're trying to curate essentially what's a lie. And this system is going to be balanced or fair or equitable. It's not. It can't be because we never right sized it. We haven't addressed the actual fear. And so people don't want to hear this, but the fear is literally the same fear that I took when I went to law school. That's crazy. Gas was like 119. That's just, that's crazy. I just want you all to process that for a second. Sometimes we over complicate government because the numbers are so much bigger, but I don't think about it like that. I simplify things in my head. So I think about our bonds as car payments. I think about our ability to operate things, just how I do in my same house. So if it takes me $85 to fill up my car last year and now it takes me $100 to fill up my car this year, that means all of our officers, it takes them the same amount more. And our buses, it takes them the same amount more. We never address it with the fare. And so I get it. People struggle, Commissioner Bastian. I hear that. I hear it. But there's a side of fiscal responsibility that we never really address. We always assume that fiscal responsibility is not charging a lot. Fiscal responsibility is being honest with how much money you have and what you have to pay for something. And so right now we're debt financing this system. That's what we're doing. We're subsidizing this system with the general fund, Commissioner Regalato. And on the ballot is an issue that would severely restrict the general fund. So what you're literally doing is playing with fire. When the mayor said the fear needs to be addressed, we can never charge folks what it costs to actually ride the bus. That's not done anywhere in the entire country. Save one place, one little strip in Las Vegas. It actually fair box. They get full recovery. One little second mile every place else. It doesn't happen. I'm not suggesting that what I'm suggesting is we don't take an honest look at this and determine what our level of subsidy is going to be for transit and keep it at that point. Then this question will reoccur every year no matter what. It doesn't matter which 13 people are sitting here. It's going to be the same problem unless we actually address a system that compensates for it. And we're not doing that right now. So Commissioner Regalato is being very creative. And that's why I'm willing to look at your, because you're actually trying to solve the problem. But it's not a, it's not a, it's like a Band-Aid for a bullet wound. It's really, really, it's really cosmetic. Mr. Chair. Lip gloss. This is my, this is my suggested amendment. Hold on, hold on. I have, I have like other commissioners, you wanted to hear everybody speak, but. But I'm happy to amend it. It's given what everyone is saying. I don't know that. I mean, look, it's, it's, I think you're grasping for it here. No, I'm not. It would be directing the mayor to evaluate the possibility to change the Metro Connect contract to provide a credit for Metro Connect passengers for 1 million, 1.5 million and 2 million. And to provide that information to the board before the next meeting, just so that we can evaluate the numbers. You're grasping for it. No, the answer is no. Because you got to do that across the board. You got to do that across the board. Are you going to do it for Metro Mover as well? Are you going to do it so that, are you going to do it so that the half penny is shared with UMSA as well so that we can have trolleys? Because the half penny doesn't get, like every other city that gets a piece of the half penny, but the UMSA doesn't. So are you going to, you're talking about equality. That's not true. But it is. No, my father sued on the half penny. That's why the municipality sued the half penny. Your father's not on this board. Like it's not about. No, but the UMSA gets all of their portion of the half penny because they don't have a municipality. Commissioner, you started, but you brought up the word equality. You brought it up a little while ago. So you, you, when you make a motion, you got to do it, you got to do it equal across the board. You got to be equal across the board, but you, but Commissioner Gilbert's right. You're trying to cover a bullet wound with a bandaid like usual. I mean, it's half baked. You got to do the work fully. I mean, I'm a lot of things, but not half baked, but I appreciate your commitment to the subsidy of almost $500 a person for 8,000 people. I appreciate your commitment. That's a nice talking point, but that's not, you're leaving over 8,000 people without, without. Why can't we evaluate it? I don't understand. What's the problem with evaluating, asking the mayor to bring us the numbers. So why don't you do the same way that we've all worked things with the mayor? We work with her and she did a bunch of things in her change memo and she could do it now in her second change memo. Do you not meet with the mayor and discuss this information with her the way that the majority of us do? Yes. So then do it. So then put in the work and do it. And the mayor said that there was no appetite to change Metro Connect, which is why we're having this conversation to see if there is an appetite to change Metro Connect. Madam Mayor, is that what you said? I'm respectfully, I do not recall ever having said that. We are very open to changes in Metro Connect. Metro Connect said that the, that the board of county commissioners had no appetite to change. I am so sorry. I do not recall that. There are several members of the board, as you can see, that are very committed to the Metro Connect model. We did not do a poll. We just did not in our meetings with the commissioners have them tell us affirmatively, yes, we're open to changing Metro Connect. That's different than that there's no appetite or that I am not open. I am open to addressing Metro Connect. All right. So that solves that. If I could just add one other point. Of course, Madam Mayor. Mr. Chair. So we don't have to make all these decisions, even in the budget, because the changes would not take place until March. I just checked with the director. For example, if the board chose to increase fares, it's a six week turnaround. I mean, there's notices, there's a lot of things that have to be done before it could be implemented. But it could, we could make changes that could affect the lineup for March. I just put that out there. Commissioner Bermudez. And I think because much like Senator Garcia, I don't necessarily disagree with some of the things that appear to be on this paper. But I also received it right now. I would like to know the numbers to evaluate it. I think you probably have, and I'm not here to tell you how to do things because there's a tactic to dropping this at the last moment also. But I think if we have the, because I've withdrawn the motions I was going to proffer because I, Commissioner Cohen Higgins made a good point. Hey, if I'm going to ask it here, why don't you, then you Bermudez should probably do the same memo. Right? Because it's logical. I don't want some, Commissioner Regalado to be treated differently than I. So I believe that, and this is just my point of view, but I think Commissioner Regalado, you probably have the opportunity between now and, and you can't, I do believe that absolutely you're going to be able to talk to the mayor as you've done in the past. And, and, and it would give me a much, much, there's like, let's see how many are there here, 11. And we're not, we're talking about the first one. And some of them, by the way, would impact our relations with the cities that three of the commissioners here, Commissioner Orbis, Senator Garcia, and I represent. It doesn't mean that I don't disagree with, that I disagree with it. I'm just like, this gets dropped on me at one o'clock in the morning, what day are we today? Yeah, Friday, whatever, September 4th, I guess, right? So we're, you know, I know the Canes are playing at nine tonight, so, and I want to get some sleep. But the bottom line is the, you know, I think, Commissioner Regalado, and it's not for me to tell you how to do, you're right. You can all, and you have a right to do whatever you want. I just think you have a real good, you have an opportunity to have some colleagues agree with you if we discuss some of these things at the second budget hearing. That's what I understand from some of you, and I share that because I'd like to see how it impacts. Like Commissioner Steinberg, Metro Connect really filled the area in part of your district, Mr. Chair, that went to the area that's unincorporated in my district, which is the area that some of these bus routes were removed. And some people said, well, we don't have that. You know, what's going on? How come we're getting, so I would like to look at it a little bit. But I'm just telling you, we're talking about the first one. So there's 10 more on this page. So you've got to make a decision now, because if that's the case, then, you know, we're going to be here until, you know. And I do think you have a chance of getting these, some of these really, from what I hear from my colleagues, and at least what I feel, you probably have a good chance of getting some of these passed if you give us an opportunity to review it. But if I have to do it tonight, my vote's going to be no. Commissioner Regalardo, do you, what do you wish to do? I can call a vote, I mean, if you want. No, again, I mean, the motion that I'm making is directing the mayor to evaluate the possibility of changing Metro Connect to a credit, and modifying the contract and providing the board with information on how that would occur. Okay, I'll call a question on that. There's a motion, is there a second? There's no second. Motion fails by lack of second. Next motion. He seconded it. He just raised his hand. The motion is directing the mayor to evaluate the possibility of changing Metro Connect to a credit for passengers, and providing that information to the Board of County Commissioners before the second hearing. There's a motion, is there a second? There's a second. Second by the Vice Chair. Is this a motion? So all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Nay. Nays have it. All right, next motion, Commissioner Regalardo. Yes. The next motion is eliminate the proposed allocation of $233,000 of funds from PTP Capital Expansion and Reserve Fund designated for Capital Program 663947 titled Transit Corridor Beach Bay Link, and contained in Volume 3, Page 104 of the proposed budget and instead allocating said funds to the cap owner improvements for the smart plan. All right, there's a motion by Commissioner Regalardo. Is there a second? Second by the Vice Chair. On favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Nay. We have it. Next motion. Directed County Mayor. County Mayor's designee to provide a report to the board prior to the second budget hearing regarding the Metro mover that details needed maintenance, capital investments, and past and future operation costs. An analysis of digital fair collections, estimated revenues based on various potential rates, and use of surtax funding for capital improvements rather than operation and maintenance costs for the Metro mover. Such reports should be attached as an exhibit to the Mayor's second change memorandum. There's a motion, there's a second. Just a report. I would second this. Second by. Second by. Yes, let's have the conversation. Second by Commissioner Gilbert. Yeah. You're recognized. Just on this motion, and listen, I'm all for voting down Raquel's motions. But notwithstanding, why wouldn't we, so they ride this thing for free. We were told for years that that was the only option. It's not true. It's not actually the only option. Why wouldn't we figure out, just try to figure out what it would take for us to actually make them pay for their free ride. No one else gets a free ride. No one in your district gets a free ride. No one in my district gets a free ride. I mean, the people in this district, yeah, we need the sheriff to give them a free ride in our district. They go, yeah. Let's second it. Let's go. There's no, yeah, I second this. It's a good idea. Would you raise your hand or no? Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I certainly support the motion. My only concern is the time frame. The last sentence on the motion says that the report has to be attached as an exhibit to the Mayor's second changes memo. That's in less than two weeks to the administration. Is that enough time to complete the analysis that is included in this motion? And if it's not enough time, has this never been studied before? Have you ever, has no one ever looked at monetizing Metro Connect? I mean, like, is this, I mean, it's the mover. They said it was illegal. Have we never studied this and considered a financial analysis? This is the first time this is being proposed in the history of Miami-Dade County, two weeks before we pass a final budget. I mean, like, what are we doing right now? Through the chair. Yeah, you're recognized. So we have done some. Can we be quiet in the back, please? Elasticity analysis on incorporating a fare and what that would result in ridership and operational costs. Because, obviously, currently PTP pays for a portion of the operational costs and we would. Move to capital. Move that to something else. But we would. So we've done some analysis on that. We have not fully analyzed what the cost would be to transition the existing stations from a non-fair scenario to a fair scenario. That would incorporate fair box or fair gates, ticket vending machines, et cetera. There are other costs associated. We have not done an in-depth analysis of how we would shift those stations to a fair scenario. Okay. And when is the second changes memo due? What's the due date on the second changes memo? Through the chair. We, unfortunately, are often waiving the timeline to get it to you. So, for example, when we submitted this change memo, which was yesterday, it was late. About two weeks. But, you know, we do the best we can. So, again, I think this is a great idea. Commissioner? I just feel like in order to actually capture the money that is intended to be realized by this motion, this would have had to have been brought months ago, not two weeks prior. So I love the idea. I support it. I'm concerned about the timeframe and whether or not anything will be accomplished for this budget cycle. So to the administration, can you accomplish what this motion is asking within the timeline that you have that is actual? No. I don't believe you get the full analysis in time for the second change memo because technically we would have to have it done in about a week and we won't have it done. But do you want to amend your motion? Point of order really quick. Roy, since you and I talked about this, when did you first receive in writing from legal that we could actually charge for this? Because we've been talking about this for a long time. When did I finally get it in writing and we figured it out? You gave it to me today. Today. Okay. We've been working on this for a long time, legal for years. The opinion had been that this could not be done. So. Commissioner, I think you could get a yes on this motion. Do you want to amend the last sentence of it to not a one week timeline essentially? I mean. Because it's not going to make it for the budget. They're just not going to have it. It's not even that we don't want to do it. They're not going to have it in a week. I think. Yeah. Commissioner Gilbert for a friendly amendment. A friendly amendment is that we amend the motion to be three months. Is that more reasonable, Madam Mayor? Yes. But just to clarify, this will require a build out, so it would not affect this coming budget. It would affect the future budget. Perfect. So I don't think there's a rush. Perfect. In that sense. But three months should be added. Three months. Okay. Is that a friendly amendment? As long as it includes also digital fair use. And I'll talk to staff about that because we're looking at that at TriRail. You don't need fair gates for everything. There are digital ways to do it. I would agree with that. That's fair. That's in motion. I would agree with that. Thank you, and I would ask that this would have to be definitely something that we discuss at the mid-year budget because I really want to guarantee we actually have one this year. Okay. Thank you. So it's a friendly amendment? Accepted. All right. So accepted by the maker of the motion. It's seconded by Commissioner Gilbert. Yeah. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed nay. The ayes have it. Did you want to be recognized? No. The ayes have it. All right. Next motion. So the mayor said that the solid waste master plan had been paid. It's in the budget. It's a line item. So again. What is that? This speaks to. What number is this? Five? This is four. This is five. Yes, five. Five, five. Yeah, it's five. This. I'm happy to allocate this money to illegal dumping. I mean, if she's saying that zero waste is already paid, but it's in the budget and there's a line item and it has a number. So, I mean, if they're on the record saying that that's not the case, because there's a lot of questions about that. I got a question. Commissioner Bermude, is your recognized? You know, first of all, I'm getting tired of I'm happy to allocate. We allocate. We all do respect. Okay. It's not I allocate. We, collective body, 13 people, allocate. Okay? It's a vote, number one. Second of all, again, this is something that may make sense to me, but since I got it at this late time, I would like to know what could be allocated. How can it be allocated? Et cetera. So. I'm happy to leave the allocation empty and we just say to the solid waste department. As long as it goes to solid waste, I'm just looking for money for solid waste. I'm just trying to actually do zero waste and put less stuff in the landfill. This is a simple one that you could work with the administration? Like this is a super simple one to just bring in for the next change memo? Yeah. This is a simple one that we could figure out. I mean, it's $60,000 that could go to solid waste. Okay. Why don't you work with the mayor and. And through the chair. We have no problem with number five as to explore working with. Okay. Can you work with her and. To see if that could be feasible. So she's going to work with you on this one. Okay. Happy. Simple one. I think it's fair. All right. Number six. No, that was five. That was five. Now we're on six. Okay. No, we didn't. All right. Submit one or more invoices to the city of Miami. All right. This is the city of Miami. So submit one or more invoices to the city of Miami. The Bayfront Trust Management Trust of the Miami Downtown Development Authority. For estimated amount in kind trash collection for FIFA FanFest. In whatever amount we're due, Madam Mayor. There's lots of different numbers. So whatever amount we're due. I'm okay with this. Let's. Yeah. But no number, right? No number. Whatever number they owe us. Let them pay us back. All right. It's been seconded by Commissioner Cohen Higgins. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed nay. The ayes have it. Number seven. Yes. Yes, please. Lower it in the back, please. Commissioner Regalado. You recognize your motion. We don't need seven because we just took out the number. Okay. Number eight. Directed county mayor and mayors-designee to proceed with the Florida Statute Chapter 164 dispute resolution process with the city of Hialeah concerning the reverse osmosis water treatment plant RO. And if the board decides to pursue litigation against the city of Hialeah relating to the RO plant, direct the county attorney's office to seek to petition the court to have 3.2 million allocated in the water and sewer department budget for payment to the city of Hialeah for the RO plant instead of be placed in the court's registry until the resolution of dispute. We've been in dispute with the city of Hialeah. We take 3.2 million dollars every year and we give it to them even though they owe us money. We're moving towards an arbitration. I want to put it in the court's registry. This is how to end. We do this every year. Commissioner Bermudez, you recognize. Again. I don't necessarily disagree with Commissioner Regalado. But in this morning, receiving these documents, three of us represent the city of Hialeah. Hialeah, I will probably, once I can understand what's happened subsequent to the time that former Mayor Bovo appeared on our screen or lest we forget that we had a sunshine meeting here on this issue with Mayor Bovo and some of the members of the commission. And Mayor Bovo is on the screen because he was out of town, but some of them were here. Yeah. So, I'm going to repeat the same thing. It's the concept. Why, at the last second, it's just, and I would agree with you, probably in two weeks, once I could get answers from Roy and everybody else, what's happened in between those meetings. Because you haven't been at all the meetings, I would suppose. I don't know if Senator Garcia has been at any of those meetings. You know, I know that some of us may have been spoken to by the new mayor of Hialeah. Maybe not. So, that's my problem with, it's the process. If I could respond respectfully through the chair. Mr. Chairman, if I may look at Commissioner Regalado, I will support this. It makes sense to me what we're trying to accomplish here. The city of Hialeah, there is a dispute with the city of Hialeah back and forth as it relates to the water. And we are constantly paying the city of Hialeah for the RO plant. But I see where Commissioner Bermudez is, and I think Commissioner Natalie Orbis is in the same place. I think we can get them to a yes, but I would think we could do this at the second round. If I could just make one point, and I'm happy if you guys want to take it up at the second round. But here's the point that I want to make. Again, this was a legal point. Absolutely right. There was a legal determination that while we had a Sunshine meeting, the RO was not the subject of the Sunshine meeting. So, we have to call another meeting with the city of Hialeah in order to be able to make a decision as to litigation because the two things were not combined. Meanwhile, in this budget, we are once again, another year, I mentioned this last year, another year, we're going to be paying them 3.2 million. They owe us money on a separate issue that is already being litigated. But all I'm asking to do here is to start that process so that we can at least put it in the registry. But, Commissioner, with all due respect, and I don't want to get into arguments about litigation, litigation between a municipality and a county, a municipality that encompasses part of the county, is something that I don't think can be, and I don't necessarily disagree with you, by the way, I'm probably going to end up on your side. But the problem is, it's still a serious decision. I would ask the county attorneys before they, you know, if, have we, because right here, if I read this correctly, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm, maybe I'm, but we're looking, if the board decides to pursue litigation against the city of Hialeah, okay? The one we were talking about is direct the county mayor or mayor's designee, because we combine both. You know, we are directing, we are starting the dispute resolution process. Are we in the middle of the dispute resolution process right now? That's my question to the county attorneys. And what are we actually disputing in that dispute resolution process if we are in the middle of a dispute resolution process? Commissioner? That's a question because the attorneys, I don't, I don't, I didn't think we were in a dispute resolution process, but maybe we are. Commissioner, we were in a dispute resolution process, I believe, on both issues. We came to this board with the joint meeting on the payment of the water disputes, but they did not want to address the RO plant as part of the joint meeting. So the- They being Hialeah. Well, and I think there was agreement on this board to bifurcate the two issues. So we wouldn't have to go back to the mediation to be able to do the RO portion. If we reach impasse at that mediation, we'll be back here with a joint meeting with Hialeah on the RO portion. So what's happened on the other portion since we took out the RO portion? Because that meeting took place when former Commissioner Bovo was Mayor Bovo. We're in litigation. That was a long time ago. So at this point, then that concerns me because we've got litigation that apparently is in limbo or, you know. So this is the problem because I don't, I haven't gotten an explanation from you guys or from the administration. I don't necessarily disagree with the decision because at some point we've got to fish or cut bait on this issue. And it's going to lead to, it's going to lead to litigation because Hialeah is not going to agree with us. Okay. Because they're going to claim that they were forced to build this plant by the county, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. So, and there are three commissioners here that represent Hialeah. Before that decision is made, all I'm saying is I really want to have a clear understanding. I respect Commissioner Regalado. That's wonderful. But you're the county attorneys. She is not. The last time I looked. So- If I may, Mr. Hold on, hold on, hold on. I know it is your city and I want to follow the lead of those that represent it. But Commissioner Gilbert has been patiently waiting and before he starts doing the thing where he like, just Commissioner Gilbert and then we'll go. Go ahead. All right, so I just, the first thing is I agree with your hesitance about this. So I thought to myself, why wouldn't you just four day rule it? And then I asked the county attorneys and they said, well, you can't four day rule it because it's a motion dealing with the budget. And I thought to myself, is this really dealing with the budget? And technically it is, but technically everything is dealing with the budget. So that means in these meetings we can make a motion about anything and it's not four day ruleable. I just want us to be clear about that because I'm concocting motions in my head. Like I think that's an amazing interpretation, Mr. Chair, that can't be sustainable. Like that, that, that interpretation just can't be sustainable. But if it is, that's okay. I'm sure you all take advantage of it. The other thing is this, Raquel's right. I mean, I appreciate the folks who represent Hialeah voting against it. I think we ought to force the issue. I think we ought to force the issue. I just think we ought to force the issue. I would vote for this. I'll second the motion. Commissioner Cohen Higgins and then Senator Garcia. Okay, so I get the part of the motion asking us to institute the dispute resolution procedures. I'm trying to understand if whether the spirit of the motions is to claw back the 3.2 million to not have it paid to the city of Hialeah. Okay, I get that. So I'm with you so far. But then the balance of the motion speaks to asking the county attorneys to petition the court to have the money deposited into the water and sewer department instead of at the court's registry? No, it's instead of giving it to Hialeah, it's to give it to the court. So if we go into litigation to put it in the court's registry, we don't want the money. If it's due to Hialeah, we'll put it in the court's registry. Right now, because of the way it's in the budget, we pay it to Hialeah. Okay. And to the attorneys, is that what the motion, because I'm reading it a little different, but the explanation is helping me understand it. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, the contract with Hialeah for the RO plan does not have a right of set off. So Commissioner Regalato is asking us to petition the court to see if as an alternative the court would agree that we would pay the dollars into the registry of the court and not be in violation of our contract with Hialeah until we could resolve this dispute. Okay. Absent that, the payments are due to the city of Hialeah pursuant to the terms of the contract. But all of that takes time, filing, petitioning, and that is full litigation. So I'm assuming that the payment is due at some point in time on a calendar. And while you all are petitioning the court, waiting for an order from a judge to say, I order you to deposit the $3.2 million into the court's registry, aren't we going to be in violation? Because of the necessary time that all of this takes to accomplish. Our understanding from this motion is to immediately institute the mediation process, right? So to reinstitute it, because this was part of the original dispute resolution process. When this came to this board as part of the joint meeting, we were instructed to not include the RO plant as part of the resolution to proceed with litigation. We are, in answer to Commissioner Bermudez's question, actively in litigation on the water and sewer payment portions. So if this motion is to be approved, we will immediately seek to go back to mediation on the RO plant, see if we can reach resolution, and if we cannot, we would have to have the joint meeting again, between the council and this commission, before we can institute litigation proceedings. Once that plays out, we'll go and proceed with petitioning the court on the payments of whatever amounts are due at that point in time. And that's my question. There are no deadlines in order to make this payment throughout that process that you just described legally. We won't miss any necessary deadlines on this $3.2 million payment during that list of things that you just described that is necessary in the legal process? I'm being told that they're based on invoicing, so I'm not exactly sure about the timing of that. I don't know if Roy has an answer. It's a monthly payment. Okay. So are we going to miss monthly payments? We will make the payments until we get a court order. I see. And otherwise. Okay. Because I don't want to create additional exposure. Okay. Thank you for clarifying. Senator Garcia. It's just to clarify this, folks, and I know we get the attorneys involved in it. The city of Hialeah is disputing that they owe us $18 million. We're paying $3 million for an RO plant that was not part of the mediation for the dispute of what we claim that they owe us. We're still trying to work that part out. I think what the county is asking to do is try to hold off some of these payments, a $6 million maintenance fee for the RO plant, which half of that is ours, and that will be always in dispute whether that plant should have been built or not. That's a whole other conversation, but I don't necessarily disagree. I mean, in reference to try to protect what we have up here and protect my part of the county, because it's my responsibility to protect the county taxpayers as well as it is to protect the city of Hialeah, I'll defer to the commissioner, and I think we should go ahead and do this. All right. So we have a motion. We have a second by Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner? Mine's a question because I am not against, again, and I will reiterate, it's Fisher cut bait. We should have included the RO. I don't know why it was bifurcated. It's ridiculous that we did it. And you know what? At that time we should have done it, not now, back then. But anyways, that's okay. My question is, is it the best litigation strategy? Your microphone. Ask the judge, is it the best litigation strategy? I would like to ask county attorneys. In your opinion, is the best litigation strategy to make the $3.2 million request to put it in the court registry? Or is the best litigation strategy is to keep our end of the deal and say they don't keep their end of the deal? Because that's the way I would look at it as a lawyer and a judge. So I would like to know what you think. Commissioner, as your lawyer, I'd like to have that conversation in private. Yeah. Vice Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And look, Commissioner Regalado, I see exactly where you're going and I think it's a brilliant idea. But it does, in a sense, appear that it runs afoul of court strategy and tactics. And have self-help. Right. But I also understand where the commissioners from the city of Hialeah are coming from when they're saying that, you know, in fact, they're there with us. They're there. But I'm wondering if it would be a safer approach to allow for strategic conversations to happen amongst the attorneys and the commissioners individually, not on the record. Because I don't believe at this particular moment, even if we were to proceed down this route, the $3.2 million would really make impact on the budget one way or the other. But then again, that is my interpretation of reading both 8 and 9 and then incorporating the conversations from the commissioners that represent part of the city of Hialeah. And putting them into a position where it may create another problem. So I'm just there and I just putting that out there to let you know to see if there's a world where we can honor what they're asking for and still get to the same destination at some point and not at 126 in the morning. Commissioner Orbis, unless you're withdrawing the motion. Thank you. I am 100 percent. I agree that we need to resolve this issue with the city of Hialeah in a way that is favorable for the county, but also for the city. Would it make such a big difference if we consider this at the next budget hearing two weeks from now? Would it make such a big difference because receiving this at 115 in the morning and I don't think it's the right time and I don't think it's a good practice to do this without notifying at least the city of Hialeah as to the intention either. I just don't think that's good practice. Would it to the attorneys or to the administration? Would this make such a big difference between now and two weeks as Commissioner Bermuda said? Does it make a difference if we take this on now or then? Because I do agree it's a good idea and we do need to resolve this, but do we need to do it right now? From a legal perspective, the two weeks would not make a difference. I defer to the administration as to the economic impact. Okay. So it doesn't make a big difference. So then another payment perhaps. Listen, Renee supports it. I understand that the two of you, you know, we can vote on it now and you can vote on it again. I mean, it's not that we don't support it, it's just that we just got this right now. And we're expected to make a decision on this at 1.30 in the morning about a city that impacts three commissioners on this board that we have to deal with. I'm not the only person who's going to wait to be recognized. Well, I have recognized. I just need to know. Help me understand. I'm recognizing the Hialeah. Well, you started this ruckus. I just held my hand up. You started this ruckus. So do you have a second on the motion? Yes. There's a motion that's a second. Yes. All in favor signify by saying aye. Well, because we're going in circles. Mr. Chairman, my own readiness was this. The attorney won't say this, but generally speaking, from a litigation perspective, anytime you hold somebody money, it actually makes them more incentivized to actually negotiate and to come to the table. I don't think this is a close call. Listen, man, but why? Mr. Chair, may I respond as an attorney to my fellow attorney who's now going to Congress? No, because I understand. Because I think he's wrong on this one in particular, because it's a municipality with the county government that we decided not to go after the RO, number one. And number two, it's a two week difference. I'm fine. And by the way, she has my vote. She's going to lose my vote because in two weeks, because she's speaking for me. I don't like anyone speaking for me. Neither her or the congressman. Read the room. No. So do you want me to call a vote on this, Commissioner Regalado? Call the vote. All right. So I have a motion. I have a second. All in favor signify by saying yay. Yay. All opposed nay. Nay. The nays have it. Motion fails. Number 10. I would ask that she bring it. She's going to bring it all, yeah. In two weeks? Or one of the Hialeah commissioners should bring it, yeah. One of the Hialeah commissioners should probably, yeah. All right. Number 10. No, it's nine. No, nine is the same thing. Well. Eight and nine go together. Okay, well the next, the last one that's left is work with the office of the sheriff to negotiate the office of the sheriff's assumption of administrative duties related to the school zone speed detection program and further moves to amend resolution number R1099-24 to transfer the school's speed enforcement penalty funds retained by the county that remain after deducting the county's expenses for installing and administrating the school zone speed detection system to the office of the sheriff. The numbers. The numbers that I got, I got from Ray. I mean, I guess Ray could speak to the numbers and what they are. But I didn't mention the numbers here. I'm just talking about transferring the program, the administration and the funding to the sheriff so that we can do our little part to help the sheriff get to her end number. I'll second that. So there's a motion. There's a second. There's a second. Um, this is, this is for me, a no, because we are doing our little part. It's not a little part. We're doing a 14 and a half million dollar part. We did it last year. We're doing it again this year. Um, and we don't know exactly what's coming in from this. So we're, this is not a little, our little part. We are doing our little part from this program. The sheriff knows that the sheriff and I have met about this. We discussed it. Uh, we did it last year as well. I think that we need to know a lot more before we transfer that money to the sheriff when the sheriff is getting a piece of that already for her employment, which she's using. And we spoke about that. And then we are giving her an additional from the county's portion, 14 and a half million dollars. By the way, that is restricted funds to begin with per Florida statute on what it could be used for. Um, so I, I, I'm not okay with this. I'm happy to call a vote. Can Ray speak to the numbers and the projections? Well, he could speak to the numbers. I mean, I have them, but Ray? Those are accurate, he says. What is accurate? The ones that I gave. What's accurate? I mean, there's no numbers here. Yeah, he can mention it. Call the question. Call the question. Okay, in the current year, there's approximately $36 million budgeted. It was estimated that 14, the first 14.5 million would go to the sheriff. And any remaining above that would be retained by the board for public safety purposes to be divided across all 13 districts based on the QNIP population formula. And what, and what is that rate? Okay. So far, the, uh, projection to the end of the year is a total of 19 million for FY 2526 on the portion being retained by the county and going to the sheriff. So that means the sheriff, the amount going to the sheriff was already fulfilled at 14.5 million. And there should be a remaining carryover of approximately 4.5 million to be divided across the board. And then for FY 2627, uh, set up approximately the same way. The first 14.5 million to the sheriff carry over from the board to go to the board for next year. The numbers that I said are the ones that are correct. The four and a half million dollars, not the. But it's nine when you put it, when you put it all together because it's from. Across two years. Across two years. But you're talking, we're talking, we're discussing the 2627 budget. Now you're, now you're suggesting to do both years. So I'll call a question though. I mean, I'm happy. So we're talking about transferring it completely to her so that she can. And by the way, and by the way, the last year, some of those commissioners have already allocated those funds. So we got to talk about the next year's budget, not the one that we already approved. Cause some of the commissioners have already allocated those funds. So, um, Keon, you need to. No, I'm at the unit on the head as far as the previous allocations. So that's one. And then two, I don't know if they just haven't written the checks for those who have previously allocated or you don't have enough money. Or if it's going to take last year plus next year's money to meet the request that we made as, as a board. So those things haven't been ironed out. I haven't heard from, from anyone regarding those, those matters for previously allocated things. So for this one, um, you know, I'm a little weary on it because I think part of the sale to us for this was that it was going to be able to help those of us, especially who were adversely impacted within those areas. And so now it going to the sheriff. I mean, that's another, uh, bill in some sort of way that those people who live in those areas where the sheriff was very active, uh, is they going to have to pay. All right. I'm happy to call a question. All right. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Nay. The no's have it. All right. Is that the last one, commissioner? Yes. That's, well, if the mayor can just, um, even though it's in the budget, she says that the zero waste master plan is paid for. Because obviously there was a question about that in the state statute and finding money for that. Because the budget we're talking about, book three, page 17, says that it's coming, that it was funded out of operating revenues. In the current year's budget. Okay. All right. Any other motions on item C? Commissioner Gonzalez, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so the county attorneys have a motion that I have. I move to direct the administration to identify all legally available funds to fully fund the sheriff's budget request and report back to the board of county commissioners prior to the second budget hearing on September 17, 2026. So that we can evaluate the opportunities, scenarios, and numbers for proper consideration. Second. There's a motion and a second by Commissioner Orbis. Commissioner Bermudez, you're recognized. I'm going to vote for it because I agree with it. But it's the same thing. Don't give me the motion. If you had it and your staff had it, give it to me before. I'm going to support it because I agree. It's the report though, but no, they should just do it. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, you're recognized. So I need clarity on the motion because it says legally available funding and the mayor said in her opening remarks that there is no more money. So are you going to just come back to us and say there is no legally available funding? Because if that's the case, I mean, I'm just trying to get clarification on what the administration plans to do and how they plan to respond to the motion. The motion is to find the money, give us the scenarios, we evaluate the numbers, and then we will decide. On what's going to be cut. On what's going to be cut. But the money would need to be found by the administration. Then we make the final decision. All right. Commissioner. Well, the commissioner still has the floor. She asked a question. Did you need an answer from the administration? No? Okay. Commissioner Gilbert. Mr. Chair, Commissioner Cohen-Higgins and to the administration, it's the general fund. So the motion essentially asked the administration to give them their money out of the general fund and find other things to cut and give us those scenarios. Respectfully, that's just our job. It's the general fund. The legally available funds to the sheriff are the general fund. That's it. So I appreciate the motion. The motion is literally why we have two budget hearings. It's literally the reason why we're balancing the equities here. Somebody's going to get less than they asked for. Somebody's going to, you know, everybody's going to get less than they asked for, actually. But it's literally, so we could pass the motion, but that is literally a fool's errand we're sending them on. That will, that's an inexhaustible task because you're asking for scenarios that says no to cultural affairs. No, no to no. Like you're asking for scenarios that that will always be changing based on whatever our values are. And so I'm okay with it. But, but commissioner, what's going to happen is they're going to come back and say it's the general fund because it's the general fund. And commissioner Gilbert, I, I respect your perspective, but at the same time, it's, it's up to the administration to figure out what those, what those cuts could be. That is literally, that is literally what the mayor could do. She gives us, if she gives us the scenarios, we can then decide what can be cut and what won't be cut. What I'm saying is find the legally available funds, show us those scenarios. We can then determine as a board, whether we agree, whether we don't agree, whether there's other scenarios or not. We're all going to look at our own scenarios, but I would like to see what scenarios the administration can come up with, what scenarios they can come up with knowing that we need to fully fund the sheriff. And then we can make that decision. I think if I could shed some clarity, cause I, I agree with what you're saying, commissioner Gonzalez, and I would support your motion, but I, I agree with what, and I see the mayor shaking your heads and I agree with what, what Gilbert and the mayor is saying as well. But cause I think it just needs to, I think you just need to rephrase it, right? As I think what you might be looking for, I think I want to put words in the commissioner's mouth is kind of like what you did with solid waste, right? If you don't approve an increase, then this is what we're going to cut. We would have to cut for bulky waste or whatnot, or whatever it is, illegal dumping. I think that's what you're asking for, is what would be cut? What would the mayor recommend get cut? Give me the scenarios of your recommendations of what we can cut in order to fully fund the sheriff. Deputy Mayor. Mr. Chairman, thank you, Mr. Chairman. The, the mayor has presented her budget as she's required to by the charter. That is her best judgment to balance the needs. And it's her determination that if, if this commission chooses to use different priorities, it's fine, but it's up to the commission to tell us what to do. Uh, we have presented the budget that we stand behind. So in other words, commissioner, she's presented her budget and we can cut it up and we can chop it up. And basically we decided what we cut is what they're saying. Because you're using the word recommendations and she's never going to recommend something other than her recommended budget, her proposed budget. So you're using the word recommendations. No, mine says identify. Just now you just said identify recommendations. That's what you said. So if you want her to recommend something. Identify all legally available funds. Okay. Keep going. Read the rest of it. To fully fund the sheriff's budget. So, so first of all, they think they're fully funding her budget now. They're not giving her what she asked for, but they think they're fully funding her budget now. But if you want to give what you asked for, it's going to cut to myself. It's going to involve her recommending something that she's never going to recommend, but I'm okay if they, you want them to have alternatives. Is that what you're looking for? Yeah. I mean, look, my, I want to make a motion. I want to make a motion right now to fully fund the sheriff period. Yeah. And we appreciate that. Um, and so, and so the reason I say that, and so the reason I say that is because I know that right now at this hour, there's no way we're going to get to that number. There's just no way there's too many things to consider. So what I'm asking for is scenarios where scenarios where they can give us what they legally have found that can be cut, make hard decisions. We can then decide what we can keep, what we don't keep, in order to fully fund the sheriff. Now, to Commissioner Cohen Higgins' point, if they're saying, hey, there's nothing we can cut, we can still direct them to. Correct, yes, we can direct them, and that's different than a request and recommendation. Chair, I have a question. We could direct them, for sure. Wait, hold on. Vice Chair, and then I'm going to go to you for a minute. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And inherently found within Commissioner Gonzales' motion is his way of saying, and he can correct me if I'm wrong on the record. Is that his motion essentially is saying we don't have enough time with our staff to go through all the scenarios found within the proposed budget. We're asking for the administration to give scenarios. Therefore, at least we will have a starting point in understanding whether or not there are legally available funds. That's number one, and maybe he can correct me if I'm wrong, if I am. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. What I'm looking for is we're all going to look at things that we're going to cut. I want them to also look at things that can be cut and give us those scenarios. I understand that this is the first budget. We're going to have a second budget hearing. I want them to identify other things that can be cut. We will all identify things that we can cut, and then we will figure out whether we can get there or not. But I do agree with Commissioner Bermudez that to just fully start saying, hey, just throw money this way right now is not the right thing to do. Respectfully, through the Chair, as I understand it, the general fund is a discretionary matter for me to make my recommendation and for you to decide. There is nothing in that $3.4 billion portion of the budget general fund that could not be cut. So I am not going to tell you what I would rather cut because I have put together a budget that I think is reasonable and balanced and protects basic services. So that is why we've said to you many times and in the memo, this is my best recommendation. If you want to do something different, then please tell us what you would not prioritize. Yeah, and general fund, really what she's saying is it's UMSA, which is all of your district and my district. So it's going to be parks, roads, things of that nature that we'd have to cut. But you still have the floor, Vice Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And Commissioner Gonzalez, if you're okay with this, I guess my recommendation would be because, again, it's 144, and it sounds like the mayor is extending an olive branch to say to you, come meet with me. And we can go from that route and have a conversation. And if it doesn't come out the way that we envisioned, what can possibly happen then at the second budget hearing is then when you put forth your, not her recommendations, but your recommendations as it relates to finding the funds to fully fund what the Sheriff's Department is asking for. So that's what I'm hearing, and that's my recommendation to you if that's something you would accept. Commissioner? Can you make her the motion? I stand by my motion. I mean, we can vote it up or down. I have a question. But she's not going to do it? All right. Commissioner Regalardo. Yeah, just to clarify something here. So when we're dealing with an enterprise fund, you know, we're going to deal with it now when we do the rates, it's a small universe, right? So it's easy for us to kind of pull at those strings and figure out what we're doing, which is why earlier I was trying to find the share of some money, because when you say legally available funds, that's the entire general fund. So that means you can pull the strings from transit, you can pull the strings from cultural, you can pull so many strings, she would have to give you 20 or 30 different scenarios. And that's what's untenable about that, right? That's why she's pushing it back to us and saying the priorities you make with the general fund, just find the money, just decide what you're going to take out. I'm not saying it can be done, but you're not giving any guidance. You're just saying everything in the general fund. So she'd come back and say, here's the general fund, you know, take out as many line items as you want. Because in the next two weeks, we're all going to do the same things, and then we're going to compare notes. But that's what this meeting is supposed to be. We can vote it up or down, and if the board decides not to vote it down, we vote it down. I'll come with my cuts, everybody will come with their cuts, and we'll take it from there. I'm happy to call a question. We have a motion. I have a question, though, of the administration. Go ahead. What is this motion? Okay. Senator Garcia has joined the chat. Yes. All right. This is what happens when we have these budget discussions at 146 in the morning. I have a question of the administration. Twice a year. And I will not speak on behalf of Commissioner Gonzalez, but one presumes that, like he said, some of you said, and I said, that public safety is one of the most important things, if not the most important thing. So I have a question of the administration. Is it your, I don't, I don't want to talk about the general fund and all the other funds. Will you meet with the sheriff's office between now and the second reading of this budget? Or is it your, is it your, is it your, is it your statement today that you will not meet with the sheriff's office on whatever that delta is between their request and what you budget? Through the chair. Through the chair. We've met frequently. I know you have. And we will meet again. And it's an ongoing conversation. And we're certainly open to seeing where there might be some compromise. We have worked hard to identify ways that they can meet all the needs that they have expressed. We are not holding back on anything that has been identified as a priority. We simply agree, disagree as to how much money must be transferred at this time to accomplish it. So the answer to my question is between now and the second reading, whatever that delta is, whether it changes or it doesn't change, you are not, you are not, you're saying, yes, you will still be willing to meet with the sheriff's office. Is that correct? Always. Okay. So, having said that, I would presume that Commissioner Gonzalez or myself or anybody else, which may meet with the sheriff and the sheriff's representatives between now and then, would also know if there was a change from the, there was a, let's just say some movement between the meeting that would take between you, the top administrative officer, Madam Mayor, and the sheriff. So, to me, I think this is more about sending philosophy across the board before the second reading. I think that's what Commissioner Gonzalez wants to accomplish. And to me, it's really not much different than one of those motions we approved with the 11 motions that were before, you know, which is like, hey, no, the answer is no, we're not. So, I think it's about philosophy, and I think that's his intent, and I may be wrong. And I don't think, I do think, you know, and that was my question because Commissioner Gilbert had said, well, nothing, you know, nothing's going to, well, yeah, I don't know, maybe she does change. Nobody knows. We don't know if the sheriff changes or the mayor changes, and maybe they bring something different. So, that's all I wanted to say. All right. We have a color question, but we have a solution. So, Commissioner Gilbert has a solution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and to the mayor, the sheriff, and Commissioner Gonzalez and the chair. I think what we all want is to make sure that public safety is funded in a way that actually provides for safety in this community. I think that's our unified goal. And so, if that's our goal, what we all also realize is that we have limited funds. What I've said to the sheriff and what I've said to the administration is this. We might not be able to do everything right now, but there are things that we have to do. She definitely needs more police officers, and she also needs to increase pay. She needs to increase pay to get more police officers, more deputies. That's just the truth. We just need a plan so that we can do it incrementally. We can't do it all in one year. And if property tax, you know, if that passes on November 3rd, we have some other challenges. But based on what we know right now, we really just need a plan. So, I would just ask that your motion be amended to have them sit down and come up with a plan. Come up with a plan about how we get there. The plan might not be this. Come up with a plan. Give this commission a timeline. Have this board commit to it. And then that allows us to fiscally understand whether it be whether we have to atrophy some in some departments. We get to understand what we have to do as a board. It doesn't have to be like it's not instant coffee. It's not drive through. Is that a friendly amendment? Yes. So, that's a friendly amendment. I'll accept that amendment, right? Find legally available funds, but make a plan as to how we're going to get this done. All right. So, we got a motion with a friendly amendment. We got a second by Commissioner Gilbert on that. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All opposed nay. Show the motion passing. Any other motions on item C? Vice Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I don't want to put this in the form of a motion, but I'll just say this to the administration. If you can look at the, and I don't mind meeting with you about this, the corrections inmate meals vendor contract. There was, I believe it was resolution 1028-25 where we approved a $19.7 million under that particular resolution. But I'm looking at what the auditor presented to us, and it shows that the 2627 proposed budget for the same contract takes it up about 25% of a cost, which is about $24.7 million as a final cost. So, if you can just look at that, and I can meet with you soon, to make sure that, you know, whatever that difference is, it's actually accurate, and or we can see what happened between that resolution that was had in 25 and now saying that it's worth 24.7 million. Perfect. All right. Sounds good. Mr. Chair, our Director Shreya Green is coming down. Are you asking? No, no, no. I just wanted to put it on the record so I can have a meeting with you, and we can discuss it, because the morning is long. Thank you. Senator Garcia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Madam Mayor, and to the budget staff. One of the things that we have noticed is that there has been an increase in rental expenses and leases. Maybe one of the things that we can look at, I'm not going to make a motion, but if we can start looking at collaborating more with the school system, the school system right now has a lot of vacancy, a lot of vacant schools and properties that we may be able to cross use, I guess, where they have under enrollment, and maybe we can start using those properties and come into a collaboration and to maybe lower our rental expenses and move some of our administrative offices into their schools. And through the chair, we have recently met with the new superintendent and exactly brought that opportunity. I appreciate that. Thank you, Madam Chair. All right. Any other motions on item C? I just have one comment. Go ahead. Just since Palmer's there, on corrections, I know that we went 10 rounds on the meals, and I know there was a kitchen, and there wasn't a kitchen, and then we don't know the cost of the kitchen. It's very confusing. So if you could just please provide us with some clarity, because it appears we're leasing a kitchen, but then what's the evaluation of the kitchen that wasn't ready, and how did that change it? So, yeah. All right. Definitely let's get that. All right. Do I have a motion on the rest of the item C as amended? Move it. It's been moved by Commissioner Cohen-Higgins, seconded by the Vice Chair. Clerk, please call the roll. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. You're at me for it. Commissioner Gonzalez. No for now. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis. Commissioner Regalado. Yes. Commissioner Steinberg. Commissioner Bastien. Commissioner Bermudez. Yes. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins. Four. Vice Chairman McGee. Yes. Chairman Rodriguez. Yes. Motion passes 10 to 3. Madam Attorney, read the next item. The next item is item D. It's an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for the unincorporated municipal service area operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. And the budget director has a statement. Budget director, please read your statement. Opposed, unincorporated municipal service area operating millage is 1.909 mills, which is 6.16% above the state defined rollback rate of 1.7983. I'll entertain a motion at this time on item D. It's been moved by the vice chair, seconded by Cohen-Higgins. Any suggestions or amendments? Seeing none, clerk please call the roll on item D. Commissioner Gilbert. You guys got to follow along here. I'm serious. It's going to be 2 o'clock in the morning. Mickey, you got it. Commissioner Gonzalez? No. Commissioner Hardiman? Commissioner Lopez? Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis? Commissioner Regalado? Yes. Commissioner Steinberg? Yes. Commissioner Bastien? Yes. Commissioner Bermudez? Yes, for now. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins? More. Senator Garcia? Vice Chairman McGee? Yes. Chairman Rodriguez? I vote yes. Motion passes 10 to 3. Madam Attorney, read the next item. The next item is the ordinance approving and adopting the unincorporated municipal service area fund budget for Miami-Dade County, Florida for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. Mr. Chair, this item would have to be approved as amended to incorporate the first changes memo. As well as the three prior motions that I believe did get approval, which was the motion by Commissioner Regalado directing the mayor to provide a report regarding the metro mover and details on maintenance and capital costs. As well as her motion to amend, I'm sorry, to direct the mayor to submit one or more invoices to the City of Miami, the Bayfront Park Management Trust or the DDA for the FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park. As well as Commissioner Gonzalez's motion to direct the administration to identify all legally available funds and come up with a plan regarding the sheriff's budget. In addition, we do need to bifurcate the portion of the first changes memo, which relates to the non-legacy CBOs included in attachment C for purposes of the conflict. So if Senator Garcia and Commissioner McGee could step out, you can maybe take a vote on that bifurcated piece. So go ahead and step out, Vice Chair. Don't leave. I'll entertain. Step out. I'll entertain a motion on the CBO portion of item E. It's been moved by Commissioner Cohen Higgins, seconded by Commissioner Regalado. Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Gonzalez? No. Commissioner Hardiman? Commissioner Lopez? Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis? No. Commissioner Regalado? No. Commissioner Regalado? Commissioner Steinberg? Commissioner Bastien? Yes. Commissioner Bermudez? Yes, for now. Commissioner Cohen Higgins? For. Commissioner Gilbert? Chairman Rodriguez? I vote yes. Motion passes 8-3. All right. And Mr. Chair, for the record, the statements that both Senator Garcia and Commissioner McGee- Lie here as well. Correct. Of course. All right, they can come back in the room now. And do I have any other bifurcations on item E? Okay. Seeing none, there's a motion to move it by Commissioner Cohen Higgins, the remainder. There's a second by, there's a second by Commissioner Lopez. Any additional motions on item E? Seeing none, clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Hardiman? Commissioner Lopez? Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis? Commissioner Regalado? Commissioner Steinberg? Commissioner Bastien? Yes. Commissioner Bermudez? Yes. Commissioner Cohen Higgins? For. Senator Garcia? Commissioner Gilbert? Commissioner Gonzalez? Nope. Vice Chairman McGee? Yes. Chairman Rodriguez? No, for now. Motion passes 9-4. All right, Madam Attorney, read the next item. Yes, Mr. Chair, that was item E as amended. Item F is an ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Service District operating purposes. For the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. And the budget director has a statement. Move it. Budget director, please read your statement. The proposed Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Service District operating millage is 2.3965 mills, which is 5.83% above the state-defined rollback rate of 2.2644 mills. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the programs and services provided by Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue included in the proposed budget. I have a motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, second by Commissioner Lopez. Seeing no amendments, clerk please call the roll. Commissioner Lopez? Yes. Commissioner Milian Orbis? Yes. Commissioner Regalado? Commissioner Steinberg? Commissioner Bastien? Yes. Commissioner Bermudez? Yes. Commissioner Cohen Higgins? Senator Garcia? Yes. Commissioner Gilbert? No. No, I'm joking. Yes. Commissioner Gonzalez? Yes. Commissioner Hardiman? Vice Chairman McGee? Yes. Chairman Rodriguez? Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Madam Attorney, read the next item. Item G's the ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying the millage for the Miami-Dade Library System operating purposes for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. The budget director has a statement. Budget director, please read your statement. The proposed Miami-Dade Public Library System operating millage is 0.2812 mills, which is 5.71% above the state defined rollback rate of 0.2660 mills. The proposed millage rate generates revenue to support the services and programs provided by the Miami-Dade Public Library System included in the proposed budget. Move it. There's a motion by the vice chair, a second by Commissioner Gonzalez. Seeing no amendments or discussion, clerk call the roll. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis? Yes. Commissioner Regalado? Commissioner Steinberg? Commissioner Bastien? Commissioner Bermudez? Enthusiastic, yes. Commissioner Cohen-Higgins? Senator Garcia? Commissioner Gilbert? Yes. Commissioner Gonzalez? Four. Commissioner Hardiman? Commissioner Lopez? Yes. Vice Chairman McGee? Yes. Chairman Rodriguez? I vote yes. Motion passes unanimously. Madam Attorney, read the next item. Mr. Chair, the next item is the ordinance approving, adopting, and ratifying proprietary budgets, special assessment district budgets, and other budgets of Miami-Dade County, Florida for fiscal year commencing October 1, 2026, and ending September 30th, 2027. This is item H, which will need to be approved as amended to incorporate the Mayor's memorandum dated September 2nd, 2026, titled information for first budget hearing, fiscal year 26 and 27 proposed budget. In addition, we need to correct a scrivener's error to add pages inadvertently omitted from the version of the fiscal year 2026-27 pay plan attached to this item with corrected copies filed with the clerk. We also have to bifurcate this item for the same conflicts that were previously read by Senator Garcia and Commissioner McGee using those statements on the non-legacy portion of attachment C of the changes memo. Mr. Chair, I want to bifurcate section 22. Section 22? Yes. Okay, do you want to just move, Commissioner Gallardo, move the CBO portion? Yeah. Seconded by Commissioner Lopez. Clerk, please call the roll on the CBO portion of item H. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Steinberg. Commissioner Bastien. Commissioner Bermudez. Yes, for now. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. I'm sorry? Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner Gonzalez. Nope. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis. Chairman Rodriguez. Yes. Motion passes 9 to 2. Okay, they can come back in the chamber. Mr. Chair, excuse me, I also failed to mention that this item needed to include the amendments that have previously been approved. Of course, yeah, we know what they are, yeah. The other three, the two from Regalado and the one from Gonzalez, thank you. We've heard them several times now, yes. All right, so on section 22, which is the water and sewer, there's a motion by Commissioner Regalado, second by Commissioner Gilbert. I'll second it, but I have one ready. Clerk, please call the roll. No, I have one ready. Commissioner. No, she's just moving it. No, Mr. Chair, this is. You want her bifurcated just to vote no or to amend it? I want to amend it. Wait, Regalado bifurcated it, right? Right, yeah, we could just vote. Okay, you just wanted to vote on it. I just want to vote on it separately. But you have an amendment on section 22? Yeah, I would like to adjust the rate. Okay, so you have an amendment on section 22? Yeah, I would like to, listen, we've heard people come and talk about what needs to happen in the system, what the rate has to cover. We know that we're not doing that. So we've had this conversation about solid waste years back when we right sized it. I don't know why we wouldn't adjust the rate to allow for the 6% increase. Allow us to do the projects that keep us in compliance with the law. Like, this is a proprietary fund. We're giving a service and folks are paying for it. We've been told previously where we were doing bad, doing poorly. This is the rate that needs to be implemented for us to keep pace with what we're doing. And so if we're not going to do that, that's fine, but we need to be very careful. Because these are the decisions that we make at 2.07 in the morning that later, the federal government and the state government come in and just say, hey, you know what? You are crazy. What's the motion, Commissioner? I believe that the rate should be increased by 6%. Okay. It's flat right now. Go ahead. Direct, Deputy Mayor. It is proposed a 6% increase. Proposed. So the way it's proposed is the way the commissioner is wanting it. Yeah. So we're going 6%. That's the item that we have. She just bifurcated it. She just bifurcated it. She didn't move anything. Okay. So right now, we voted on water and surf as a flat rate. No. 6%. Okay. So there's no need for a motion. All right. So would you move the item, though? Yeah. Second. It's been moved by Commissioner Gilbert. Do we need to take a motion? Madam Chair, do I need to take a motion on the bifurcation of Section 22? According to your new rules, you need to have a vote to bifurcate what you would be, the motion would be to bifurcate Section 22 in Attachment J. There's a motion by Commissioner Regalado, a second to bifurcate by, but why do we need to bifurcate if it's not changed? Well, the board's rules, she wants to take a separate vote just on that portion, and your rules were changed recently to require first a motion to bifurcate and then a motion on the item. I'll second it, but shouldn't that have taken place before? That's fine. All in favor of the bifurcation. Aye. Aye. All against nay. Show Section 22 bifurcated. All right. Now we're on Section 22. It's been moved by Commissioner Gilbert, seconded by Commissioner Cohen-Higgins. Clerk, please call the roll. Mr. Chair, I have one question. Commissioner Bermudez. Just of the administration on this, we heard some of the individuals today, and we've heard it in the past, state that those projects need to be done to comply with the consent decree. Is that correct? That's absolutely correct and the ocean outfall legislation. Okay. So in your professional opinion, then we would need to have those, we need those dollars to have those projects done timely to eventually be able to comply with both of those requirements. Is that correct? It is my professional opinion as well as our outside bond consultant and financial consultant that without this rate increase, the projects can't move forward. Okay, fair enough. That's, but it's been said, but now you've said it. Thank you. All right. I got the vice chair and then Commissioner Cohen-Higgins. So I just want to make sure I'm hearing this correctly. So what we're asking is to set the ceiling tonight or this morning, and we can come back at the next meeting, if need be, and make a motion to bring it back down at a number we can agree upon. Is that what I'm hearing from the administration? I think you can always do that. You have to bifurcate it. At the second meeting. All right, sorry. Setting the rate though. All right, Commissioner Cohen-Higgins. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to understand the justification for bifurcating the item that's not being amended. Why are we bifurcating the vote no, Commissioner Hardeman? So the reason that we bifurcated because someone wants to bifurcate it. That was precisely why we had put the rule in. Because previously someone wanted to bifurcate and others didn't want to necessarily, right? So it gave everyone an opportunity to pull out what they wanted to vote for or against to make points. And so now we have a rule to move to bifurcate so that people just can't do that. No, no, you hear what I'm saying? So if, for instance, if you disagree with a bifurcation, you could just say, no, we're not going to bifurcate it. Vote for it in the budget up or down. But when you bifurcate it, it gives someone an opportunity to vote just for that little part up or down. You don't have to make any changes. You just want to say, I want everyone to know I'm against these rates. That's it. It's a political move, yeah, it's a political move. So, all right, clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Steinberg. Commissioner Bastien. Commissioner Bermudez. Yes. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. Four. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. Yes. Commissioner Gonzales. No. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. No. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis. Commissioner Regalado. No. Vice Chairman McGee. Yes. Chairman Rodriguez. I vote no. Motion passes seven to six. All right. Do I have a motion on the remainder of item H? Move it. It's been moved by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Lopez. Any proposed amendments or no? All right, clerk, please call the roll on the remainder of item H. Commissioner Bastien. No. Commissioner Bermudez. No. Commissioner Cohen Higgins. Senator Garcia. Commissioner Gilbert. Commissioner Gonzales. No. Commissioner Hardiman. Commissioner Lopez. Yes. Yes. Commissioner Emiliano Orbis. Yes. Commissioner Regalado. Yes. Commissioner Steinberg. Vice Chairman McGee. Yes. Chairman Rodriguez. Motion passes nine to four. All right. Mr. Chairman, before you end. Senator. I just want to say today's Iraida's last day and I just want, yes, Iraida's moving on to, she's going to kill me right now. She's going back to the school board. She's going back to the school board and I just want to say we're very proud and happy to have her here. So thank you, Iraida, for all these years of helping and we wish you nothing but good on the school board. She's going to kill me right now. And also, Senator, on that note, guys, while it's no longer the date, while it's no longer the date, guys, can you exit quietly, please? Guys, hold on, hold on. Can you exit quietly? While it's no longer the date, let's wish our former colleague a belated happy birthday. Ambassador Cabrera's birthday was now yesterday, so. That's right. Happy birthday to Ambassador Cabrera as well. All right, show us adjourned.