Key Observations and Analysis: 2025-2026 Miami-Dade Budget.
- Frank Landrian
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
🔸 1. Sheriff's Office (New)
Reorganized and fully funded at over $1.09 billion, becoming the largest line item in the budget.
Represents public safety and law enforcement under the newly elected constitutional sheriff.
Staff: 4,720 positions (most of any department).
🔸 2. Water and Sewer Department
Funded at $879 million, supporting critical infrastructure, environmental regulation compliance, and system upgrades.
Modest staff increase to 3,088 positions.
🔸 3. Fire Rescue
Increased by 13.5% to $853 million, reflecting public safety demands, emergency response expansion, and potential cost-of-living adjustments.
Staff: 3,001.
🔸 4. Transportation and Public Works
At $825 million, this department supports transit operations, traffic signals, road maintenance, and fleet management.
Slight budget growth (+2.65%) may indicate capital project stabilization.
Staff: 3,939.
🔸 5. Corrections and Rehabilitation
Increased to $561.7 million, covering jail operations, correctional officers, inmate services, and health care.
Staff: 3,086, unchanged from FY 2024-25.
🏛️ General Government Offices
🔹 Office of the Mayor
FY 2025-26 Budget: $9.27 million
Staffing: Reduced from 50 to 45 positions
Change: −3.88% from previous year
Despite its modest share of the budget (approx. 0.11%), the Mayor’s Office plays a central role in policy direction, budget planning, and executive oversight.
🔹 Board of County Commissioners
FY 2025-26 Budget: $49.7 million
Staffing: Stable at 292 positions
Change: +7.56% increase from FY 2024-25
The Commissioners’ budget supports 13 district offices, legislative staff, constituent services, and policy development.
📌 Summary Insights
Public Safety (Sheriff, Fire Rescue, Corrections) dominates the budget, receiving nearly $2.5 billion combined, or ~29% of total spending.
Utilities and Infrastructure (Water and Sewer, Transportation) also see major investment amid growth and climate adaptation pressures.
Administrative offices like the Mayor and County Commission, while critical, remain less than 1% of total expenditures.
The county maintains a nearly flat staffing trend, adding only 649 new positions across all agencies—most in law enforcement and customer service transformation.
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