Miami-Dade County Ponders Sales Tax Hike

Miami-Dade County commissioners at their regular meeting May 7 will be asked to create a task force to study increasing the local sales tax to pay for needed infrastructure.

The so-called 2030 Infrastructure Task Force would identify projects that have "significant" countywide benefits.

It would also prepare a funding plan that proposes new state legislation that would allow the county to increase the local sales tax by 1% for a 10-year period to pay for the projects, according to a resolution sponsored by County Commissioner Juan Zapata.

The plan would allow the projects to be funded on a pay-as-you-go basis or through the issuance of bonds by the county with a maturity of no more than 10 years.

The nine-member task force would be asked to provide a preliminary report on its progress to the commissioners within 180 days.

Then, within a year, it would be required to deliver a final written report recommending an infrastructure and financing plan.

If the plan is eventually approved, and authorized by the Legislature, the county's sales tax would increase to 8% from 7%.

Zapata is a former state representative who was elected to the County Commission in November.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Tax Florida
MORE FROM BOND BUYER