The $2.5 billion bond proposal that Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava surprised on everyone at the State of the County address Wednesday has not been well received by everyone — especially some members of the county commission, which would need to approve any ballot measure.
Sen. Rene Garcia issued a statement late Friday that said the mayor is out of touch with residents.
“Mayor Cava’s $2.5 billion bond referendum is disconnected from the significant economic challenges our residents are facing,” he posted on social media, with a longer statement. “Let’s save taxpayer money instead of asking for more.”
In his “sound the alarm” statement, Garcia says that property values in Miami-Dade have risen significantly and have yielded more revenue for local government.
Read related: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava drops $2.5 billion bomb, er, bond plan at SOTC
“The priority of Miami-Dade should be focused on successfully completing pending housing projects, streamlining its current $10 billion budget, fulfilling promises already made for transportation infrastructure and ensuring urgently needed and long overdue renovations at Miami International Airport are properly and timely completed,” Garcia said. “We need to ensure we identify where we can save the taxpayers money, not ask them for more.”
Many of the commissioners were blindsided.
“I was surprised to learn of the proposed bond while sitting in the audience,” said Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, who was the commissioner who moved to reduce the county millage rate by 3% during the past budget hearing. “As a matter of principle, I think we should be lowering taxes and providing relief to our residents.”
Cabrera, who recently got Donald Trump’s endorsement for vice chair of the state GOP, can’t afford to support such a measure.
Commissioner JC Bermudez, who is still waiting to see how the county is going to fund the replacement of the incinerator in Doral, said he was more surprised about the amount and the lack of details.
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“I had heard discussions about looking at a bond for parks,” Bermudez told Ladra Saturday. “This is a little different. We don’t know the details. We’re going to wait and see what she proffers.
“But, after the experience of the half penny sales tax, I’m never going to be supportive of something that’s not specific,” he said. “We need to know exactly what it’s going to be spent on. And it has to be something we need.
“I also don’t think it’s the time to ask the residents to support a bond for that amount of money,” Bermudez added.
Hard reception for Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s $2.5 billion bomb bond added by Ladra on
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