Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Prioritizes 'Crisis of Affordability' in Her Second Term

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Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has announced that her administration is prioritizing solutions for the "crisis of affordability" as she enters her second term. During a recent interview, Levine Cava also highlighted a lesser-known county fund designed to help residents of older condominiums with vital repairs, a program created in response to the tragic Surfside condominium collapse in 2021.

Levine Cava explained that the county fund provides financial assistance to property owners in older condominiums who face special assessments for crucial repairs due to inadequate reserves. The program offers up to $50,000 for 40 years at zero interest for individuals earning up to 140% of the area median income.

“It’s a middle-class program as well, and many hundreds of people have already benefited from that program,” Levine Cava said. She urged more residents to take advantage of the fund, emphasizing the importance of ensuring safety and preventing residents from losing their homes.

Levine Cava also discussed her broader priorities for her second term, including improving public transportation in Miami-Dade County. While acknowledging the challenges and expenses associated with expanding Metrorail, she pointed to plans for enhancing bus rapid transit as a more immediate solution. “People are voting with their feet because our transit ridership is up above pre-pandemic levels, which is unique in the country,” she noted, referencing the recent public transit referendum.

In July, Levine Cava unveiled the county’s 2024-25 budget, which totals nearly $12.7 billion. This includes an $8 billion operating budget and a $4.68 billion capital budget. The budget maintains a flat-tax proposal, following two years of 1% reductions in Miami-Dade’s countywide property-tax rate. Levine Cava highlighted that this rate is the lowest since 1980 and credited federal and state funding, particularly from the Recovery Act and Infrastructure bill, for supporting the budget.

The budget also ensures continued funding for public safety, including the corrections department and ancillary functions that will be part of the newly independent Sheriff’s Office. Levine Cava anticipates increased administrative costs associated with the Sheriff's Office and expects the next Sheriff to present additional requests to the commission.

As Miami-Dade residents prepare to vote in November’s partisan races for Sheriff, Election Supervisor, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Clerk of Courts, Levine Cava encouraged community involvement in the budget process. “We are doing a full round of public budget workshops. We have some special ones for women’s issues and for business issues, so we are very, very responsive. We want people to be part of it,” she said.

Levine Cava also addressed the recent resignation of Alex Muñoz, who served in various roles within Miami-Dade County government. While she declined to discuss the controversy surrounding Muñoz’s oversight of real estate acquisitions, she acknowledged his years of service and stated that he "decided to move on."

As she embarks on her second term, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava remains focused on addressing the critical issues of affordability, public safety, and infrastructure in Miami-Dade County.