Miami-Dade County drops plans for $2.5B November bond referendum

Miami-Dade County, Florida, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has dropped plans for a proposed a $2.5 billion municipal bond referendum in November that would have funded infrastructure projects.

Instead, the mayor said Thursday she will work to propose an even larger bonding plan that will include money for transit projects.

Proceeds from the “305 Future Ready” bonds Levine Cava proposed in her State of the County address in January would have provided funding for affordable housing, septic to sewer conversions, flood prevention and resilient parks, but didn’t include money for transportation initiatives.

“We have listened closely to the community’s feedback on this major undertaking, including the need to put forward a transit plan,” she said in a post on Instagram.

“Based on your input we have decided to present an even stronger, more comprehensive bond proposal to tackle our biggest challenges and transform our future,” Levine Cava said. “This will require building greater public commitment in the months ahead to ensure our residents trust the process and plan.”

She said the new proposal would be put together over the next 18 months with input from residents and other stakeholders, put before the public for comment and would be ready for a vote in November 2026.

While the county has seen record population and economic growth, Levine Cava said, it has also faced challenges in the areas of affordable housing and transportation.

“Over the course of the last 60 days, my team and I have had productive and thoughtful conversations on getting the job done with a commitment to a highly accountable and fiscally responsible plan,” she said.

“Through these conversations with our County Commissioners, business leaders, city mayors and commissioners and residents the need to put forward a transit plan was clear,” Levine Cava said. “This will require building greater public commitment to ensure our residents trust the process and the plan.”

She said that while she has seen support for the current bond proposal, she was confident “we will be building even stronger support for a comprehensive proposal … a bold, visionary and fiscally responsible, expanded ‘Future Ready 305’ bond.”

Levine Cava is running for a second term in the Aug. 20 mayoral election. She was elected in 2020 with about 50% of the vote becoming the first woman and Jewish person to serve as its mayor.

She was polling ahead of other candidates in the race including Manny Cid, mayor of Miami Lakes, according to a November survey by EMC Research. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held on Nov. 5.