The Coral Gables City Commission on Aug. 24 unanimously approved a resolution to formally initiate conflict resolution procedures to hold Miami-Dade County to its promise that 20 percent of revenue derived from the People’s Transportation Plan, approved by voters in 2002, be limited to municipalities in existence as of Nov. 5, 2002.
The county receives the remaining 80 percent of the revenue share. Miami-Dade County is now proposing that new cities created after 2002 share in the pro rata distribution of the 20 percent share currently allotted to the existing cities.
The City of Coral Gables objects to the proposed change because it violates an interlocal agreement in effect between the county and the city, and more importantly, because it defies the agreement reached in 2002 between the county and all of the existing cities wherein Miami-Dade County pledged to limit 20 percent of surtax revenue to existing cities in exchange for their assistance in obtaining voter support for the tax increase in 2002.
The Coral Gables Trolley program is funded by the half-penny transportation surtax. The cities of Miami, Miami Beach and Hialeah also are objecting to the county’s proposed change.
