The county commissioners in Miami-Dade County approved a bill last week that will boost the cost of twice-weekly waste pickup for over 350,000 households by 27%.
All residences outside of the municipality limits and all homes inside the nine municipalities that have trash service contracts with Miami-Dade would be subject to the $150 increase to the existing $547 annual county waste cost. Moreover, the price covers recycling, which is collected twice a month.
Even though the county commissioners’ decision to increase the fees was 8 to 4, there is still a possibility that they will remain unchanged. Until Friday, the law is subject to veto by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Miami-Dade County is planning to increase garbage rates, yet the county is still facing financial difficulties due to waste
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If the new tax weren’t in place, the impoverished Miami-Dade Department of Solid Waste Management would have to borrow about $39 million in 2025 just to cover collection services, continuing a troubling trend. While Levine Cava’s 2025 budget called for a flat rate, the panel decided to raise prices to cover the cost of the county’s garbage vehicles.
During the meeting on July 16, Commission Chair Oliver Gilbert, who is also the proponent of the fee legislation, remarked, “Let’s just pay for what we’re doing right now.”
The decision to increase fees was made just weeks before Levine Cava and three commissioners, Roberto Gonzalez, Keon Hardemon, and Raquel Regalado, are up for reelection on August 20. Increasing garbage fees is being compared to a tax increase by Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, who is running against Levine Cava.
“The middle class continues to be hammered by Levine Cava and her band of elites,” Cid stated in a statement following the vote.
The budget plan for 2025 by Levine Cava maintains no change to Miami-Dade’s trash fees or tax rates.
Aside from René Garcia and Anthony Rodriguez, commissioners Gonzalez and Regalado voted against the increased costs. Without Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, the meeting would not have taken place.
Just last week, a representative from Levine Cava chose not to comment on whether or whether the mayor was contemplating vetoing the garbage charge ordinance.
In a statement, Natalia Jaramillo, communications director for Levine Cava, stated, “The Mayor looks forward to meeting with her leadership team… as we work to bring fiscal accountability and future-ready service to Miami-Dade residents.”
If all thirteen commissioners show up at the next meeting, nine of them might still get the price increase passed despite the mayor’s veto. Even though the next regularly planned commission meeting isn’t until September 4, there is a space on the agenda for an Aug. 1 meeting in case of an unforeseen topic or veto override vote.
