Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Announces Updates to Budget Proposal Including Restoration of Cultural Funding – Sugarcane Magazine

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced an update to her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 that restores important programs and services by leveraging nearly $66 million in newly identified and recovered funds. The updated budget reflects feedback from County Commissioners, community stakeholders, and residents, while continuing to prioritize strong fiscal stewardship. 

Despite the unprecedented challenges we face, I am proud to present a balanced, accountable, and forward-looking budget that responds to our communitys most urgent needs, said Mayor Levine Cava. Through diligent work to streamline operations, update revenue projections, and recover unspent funds, as well as continued collaboration with the Constitutional Officers and County Commission, we are able to restore important programs and services while protecting taxpayer dollars and strengthening our financial foundation for the future. 

The newly identified $65.8 million includes $33.2 million in unspent funds from Constitutional Offices from the current fiscal year, $6.6 million in additional departmental adjustments, and $26 million already announced from the Tax Collectors Office. 

Mayor Levine Cavas updated budget recommendations include: 

• $12.5 million to increase County reserves for long-term fiscal health
• $7.5 million for additional public safety investments in the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office
• $11.5 million to nearly fully restore cultural arts programming grants
• $18.4 million to partially restore community organization funding
• $5.6 million to restore all programming in community parks and eliminate proposed parking fees
• $4.4 million for neighborhood road repairs, sidewalk fixes, and beautification
• $400,000 for senior centers and senior health services
• $5 million to cut the proposed gas tax increase by half
• $500,000 to reduce the proposed Special Transportation Services (STS) fare increase to only $0.25

The amended proposal maintains an independent Department of Arts and Culture and restores nearly all arts and cultural programming grants, along with partially restoring community organization funding. It also fully preserves operational hours and programming in County parks, eliminates proposed new parking fees, and protects essential services for seniors and vulnerable residents.  

Public safety remains a central priority as it has throughout the Mayors administration, with the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office set to receive $7.5 million of the $10.3 million in unspent funds returning to the County from FY 2024-2025. In total, the Sheriffs Office proposed budget for FY25-26 is $1.1 billion, and the County has increased our investment in law enforcement by an average of 8% each year since Mayor Levine Cava was elected.  

Residents asked us to protect arts and culture, community programs, parks, and essential services for our most vulnerableand we listened, added Mayor Levine Cava. At the same time, we are making smart investments in reserves and public safety to ensure Miami-Dade remains strong, safe, and financially resilient in the years ahead. 

The mayor will formally submit these recommendations in her first budget change memo, which will be reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners in the coming weeks.