Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava opened the public comment window on her proposed $14.261 billion budget Monday, Aug. 10, holding the first in a series of town halls where residents could hear the spending plan and push back before the County Commission votes in September.

The "Conversations with Cava" session gave residents their first formal chance to weigh in on a proposal that would eliminate Route 70, the contract-operated bus line serving Cutler Bay, along with 11 other routes countywide. The budget also cuts early-morning and late-night service on four additional routes and eliminates more than 400 vacant county positions.

The county confirmed the town hall on its official X account, saying residents learned about key priorities and shared feedback on the spending plan.

What's in the budget

The $14.261 billion operating and capital budget represents roughly an 8% jump, about $1 billion, over the current year, according to the Miami Times. It holds the county's operating property tax rate flat for a fourth consecutive year, its lowest level since 1982.

Despite the route cuts, total county transit support would rise $66 million to nearly $336 million. To cover funding gaps for Metrorail, Metromover and the bus system, the mayor proposed tapping the county's Transportation Infrastructure Improvement District fund. Levine Cava has not ruled out raising transit fares or the gas tax. At a July 15 budget presentation, she said those decisions "will be debated" by the commission.

South Dade stakes

Route 70's elimination hits Cutler Bay directly. The six Miami-Dade-operated routes slated for removal are 132, 203, 204, 279, 288 and 338; the six contract-operated routes are 42, 16, 25, 272, 57 and 70.

In an op-ed published Aug. 6 in the Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay Community News, Levine Cava directly invited South Dade residents to attend the August town halls and share feedback on the budget.

At a Miami-Dade Transit Honor Guard luncheon on July 19, the mayor struck a different note. "Transit is key, and I hope our commission is going to help us find a path to not be cutting transit, but to grow it," she said, as reported by the Miami Times.

What's next

The Board of County Commissioners will hold final budget hearings on Sept. 3 and Sept. 17. Residents who missed Monday's town hall can still submit feedback through the county; additional August sessions were advertised but specific remaining dates have not been confirmed.

A statewide November ballot measure to phase out property taxes could compound the pressure. If it passes, the county estimates it would lose $385.8 million in General Fund revenue in the first year alone.