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At the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO), our mission is clear: to protect and serve this community with integrity, dedication and compassion.
From the 911 call takers who answer your most urgent cries for help, to the deputies on the streets, from our Cyber Crimes Bureau tracking digital threats, and to our Strategic Response Team handling the most high-risk situations — we show up, every single day, committed to keeping this community safe.
Now our ability to fulfill that mission is in jeopardy. The proposed budget reductions for public safety threaten to undermine the very foundation of our operations. These cuts will force us to reduce the number of sworn deputies and hinder recruitment at a time when demand for service continues to rise. In fact, the proposed allocation fails to meet the financial commitments made by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners in 2023 through collective bargaining agreements.
Make no mistake: a reduction of this magnitude puts the safety of our entire community at risk. It affects our ability to respond effectively to emergencies — whether it’s a neighborhood crisis or a large-scale international event like the upcoming World Cup. With the current proposal, it would take at least three years to return to the staffing levels we had in 2024.
I submitted a budget that reflects significant reductions. Let me be clear. I am not asking for enhancements. I am asking the board to fund a budget that meets the financial obligations made before the Sheriff’s Office even came into existence — and allows us to continue protecting this great county to the best of our ability.
The budget I have submitted for approval is $936.146 million for FY 2025-26, which includes a $93.848 million increase over last year’s amended budget. It’s important to understand the reason for this increase and why it’s essential to public safety.
Prior to becoming sheriff, Miami-Dade County entered into a collective bargaining agreement that accounts for $64 million of the $94 million increase for FY2025-26. I’m financially obligated to honor those agreements. Also included are increases in Florida Retirement System rates, county health insurance costs, and funding for merit raises and previously negotiated collective bargaining agreements — including cost-of-living adjustments and state-mandated training incentives.
Due to budget limitations in FY 2024-25, all Basic Law Enforcement academies were eliminated. As a result, we are currently carrying more than 200 vacant sworn positions (as of July 15), with more expected by year’s end. To put this in perspective, our Kendall District relies on 180 deputies to cover 42 square miles and serve over 80,000 residents.
With no new academy graduates since January 2025, and the next possible class not entering the field until mid-2026, we face a serious staffing gap that impacts service and safety.
The submitted proposed FY 2025-26 budget also includes a focused effort to fill all existing vacancies and rebuild our staffing levels. Full staffing is essential to enhance public safety, improve response times, strengthen investigations, and support the well-being of our deputies. It has been decades since we augmented our civilian staff, so we’re also requesting funding for 54 civilian positions — each tied directly to the operational needs that support our mission to serve and protect.
As your sheriff, I am committed to being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. Every dollar in this proposed budget is directed toward one goal: keeping the people of Miami-Dade County safe. These investments are not about expanding government; they’re about ensuring we have the trained personnel, resources, and infrastructure required to meet the challenges of modern law enforcement and deliver the high-quality service our residents expect and deserve.
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