Tentative School Budget Lowers Taxes on Miami-Dade Homeowners

MIAMI, FL — The Miami-Dade School Board has tentatively approved a $5.1 billion budget that would lower the tax rate on homeowners while maintaining existing staffing levels. If the spending plan is approved, the typical Miami-Dade County homeowner would save about $27.84 a year on their school tax bill. The first reading of the budget was approved at a meeting on Wednesday.

"The proposed $5.1 billion budget reflects fiscal priorities, which support academic enrichment and protection of the workforce while ensuring the fiscal prudence of the district during difficult economic times," according to school officials.

Officials said that the proposed budget does not increase health insurance costs for employees, harm elective programs, reduce the district’s reserves or increase the size of the district's central office.

The board will hold its final public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. Sept. 6. Officials are expected to adopt its 2017-2018 budget at that time. The meeting will held in the auditorium of the School Board Administration Building, 1450 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami.

Officials said that the typical savings assumes that the homeowner is living in the same homesteaded home, town home or condominium as in the prior year and that he or she has not improved their property during that time.

"The proposed budget prioritizes services to students and provides for the protection of our highly effective instructional staff," school officials added.

Miami-Dade School Board photo courtesy of Miami-Dade County Public Schools