Miami Beach property owners will learn Wednesday, Sept. 23, whether the City Commission locks in a tax rate lower than this year's but above the rollback level.

The commission is scheduled to take a final vote on a general operating millage of 5.8060 mills for fiscal year 2027 (FY2027). That rate is 4.1% above the rolled-back rate of 5.5762 mills, according to the city's meeting agenda. A separate debt service millage of 0.2693 mills is also on the table.

Combined, the two rates total 6.0753 mills. That is 0.0586 mills below the adopted FY2026 combined rate of 6.1339 mills, the Miami Beach Journal reported.

For the median homesteaded property, the city's share of the tax bill would rise about $33, according to the Journal. The projected general fund property tax revenue is roughly $307.9 million.

Commissioners Approved Tentative Rate Unanimously

The commission approved the tentative rate 7-0 at a Sept. 10 public hearing. Under Senate Bill 4-F (SB 4-F), a new state Truth-in-Millage (TRIM) law signed June 24, the final vote requires a supermajority of five of seven commissioners. The Sept. 10 vote cleared that bar unanimously.

The rate can still be lowered before the final vote. Raising it above 5.8060 mills would trigger a new TRIM notice to every property owner in the city, the Journal reported.

City Manager Eric Carpenter told commissioners at that hearing that non-police and fire spending rose just 1%, less than half the inflation rate, while police and fire costs climbed $21 million, or 4%, due to collective bargaining obligations. The budget also eliminates more than 40 full-time positions and adds $10 million in capital funding.

"Property taxes for the average homesteaded property owner increased by only 1.7%, which is half the rate of inflation," Carpenter said at the Sept. 10 hearing.

Debate Continues Over Who Gains From Cuts

Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt pressed Budget Director Jason Greene at the Sept. 10 hearing on who actually gains from year-over-year millage reductions. The gap was stark. Of the roughly $3.1 million the city gave up in the prior year's 0.05-mill cut, about $170,000 reached homesteaded properties valued at $1 million or under. Non-homesteaded properties worth more than $1 million captured about $1.85 million of the benefit, the Journal reported.

Bhatt said at the hearing she wanted it on the record that the reduction "might have been better served if it were put directly into, let's say, our capital infrastructure needs instead."

The commission also voted to hold about $1 million in budget stabilization reserves, deferring any spending decision until after the November election on Florida Amendment 3, a ballot question on homestead exemptions.

How Residents Can Attend or Submit Comments

The second reading public hearing begins at 5:01 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Commission Chamber at 1700 Convention Center Drive, Third Floor. The meeting is hybrid; residents can also join via Zoom (Webinar ID: 813 9285 7671) or by phone at 305-224-1968 or 888-475-4499 (toll-free).

Written comments can be emailed to [email protected] with the agenda item number in the subject line. Comments must arrive by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22. The city's Office of Management and Budget can be reached at 305-673-7510.