By: James Gordon
Miami-Dade County commissioners voted Tuesday
to raise property tax-rates in order to avoid impending library layoffs. The
commissioner’s 8-5 vote to increase the library tax rate for the next fiscal
year opposes Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s original recommendation, which called for
no tax increases. Gimenez now has 10 days to veto the commissioners’ vote.
The commissioners’ decision to increase
library funding follows notable public outcry against potential library
layoffs. As reported by the Miami Herald, over 100
library supporters filled the County Hall on Tuesday in order to show their
support for increased library funding. In agreement with library supporters,
the county commissioners ultimately voted to raise the library tax-rate ceiling
in order to bring the library budget to $52 million—$8 million more than Mayor
Gimenez’s originally proposed budget of $44 million, according to the Herald.
Though initially appearing as a victory, the
commissioner’s vote was met with mixed feelings. Though the increased funding
successfully prevents the highly opposed library staff layoffs, it does nothing
to improve current library services, which were strongly advocated for by the
attendees of Tuesday’s County Hall meeting. Furthermore, despite their decision
in regards to the libraries, commissioners ultimately voted to adopt all of
Mayor Gimenez’s other proposed tax rates. Gimenez’s proposal firmly opposes tax
hikes and instead calls for concessions from the county’s unions in order to
avoid service cuts and layoffs. Without these concessions, the Mayor’s proposed
budget could eliminate almost 600 county jobs, according to the Miami Herald. A significant
portion of these layoffs would come from the ranks of our police officers.
Also affected by Gimenez’s
proposed budget are Miami’s many Community Based Organizations (CBOs),
many of which face funding cuts of up to 10%. A chart from the Miami Herald breaks down the
proposed funding for all 374 of Miami’s CBOs. Thus, the decisions made by the
county commission on Tuesday were largely met with a degree of dissatisfaction,
with many calling for the commissioners to budget the limited funds without
making cuts to the many essential services that benefit our Miami communities.
With the final vote on the budget not scheduled until September, there is still
time to take action. It is essential that the time remaining be used to contact
our commissioners and express the need for a budget that meets the needs of our
community without making serious cuts to so many essential services. And with
almost a week left to make his decision, we must assure that Mayor Gimenez does
not veto the commission’s decision to increase the library tax rate. With the
final budget decisions fast approaching, now is the time to pick up the phones
and make our voices heard.
