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When I took office as Miami-Dade County’s first elected Tax Collector in more than six decades, residents were facing a system in collapse. People slept overnight on floors to obtain basic driver’s license services. Families waited weeks or months for appointments. Lines wrapped around shopping centers. Public trust was breaking.
That collapse opened the door to abuse. Appointments that should have been free were being sold by scalpers for up to $200. Residents were forced to pay simply to access services they were legally entitled to receive. Fraud thrived because inefficiency had become the norm.
Within the first 100 days, the most urgent failures were corrected. Overnight lines ended.
Same-day service returned. Appointment scalping operations were identified, documented, and shut down. Fraud networks were disrupted and stopped. Order began returning to a system that had lost public confidence.
Over the past year, the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office expanded from a single location to 12 full-service offices across the county. These were essential investments in access, dignity, and fairness. Offices were built, staffed, equipped, and modernized to meet real demand.
Technology was modernized. The outdated queue system that contributed to chaos and bottlenecks was replaced and restructured. Digital queueing, real-time tracking, and new operational standards replaced disorder with efficiency.
Structural accountability also required confronting fraud directly. Disabled parking permit abuse was investigated through the largest audit in county history. Hundreds of improper permits were identified, revoked, and prevented from reentering the system. Fraudulent documents were detected earlier, and identity misuse was stopped before causing harm.
We expanded how services reach the community. Mobile Office TC Connect now brings government into neighborhoods, libraries, schools, parks, and senior centers. Self-service kiosks at Publix stores allow residents to complete transactions in minutes. Saturday service now reflects a simple reality: government must work around people’s lives.
Fiscal responsibility was handled with the same discipline. More than $10 billion was distributed to schools, law enforcement, fire rescue, libraries, and local governments. Over $40 million was returned to cities, and $15 million in unused fees were returned directly to taxpayers.
This progress was possible because more than 700 servants delivered consistent, professional service under higher expectations and stronger accountability.
But responsible government is not only about solving today’s problems. It is about preparing for tomorrow.
That is why, in 2026, we are advancing major reforms to eliminate outdated requirements and end unnecessary burdens on working families and seniors.
• Eliminating the yellow vehicle registration sticker. Florida no longer needs a physical decal. Electronic verification is already in place. Removing the decal will save time, reduce fraud, and modernize our statewide system.
• Eliminating double taxation on mobile homes. For decades, many mobile-home owners have faced an unfair situation, paying twice for a single property classification. We are pushing to end this burden and bring fairness to thousands of families.
• Eliminating property taxes for qualifying seniors 65 and older. Seniors living on fixed incomes should not face the fear of losing their homes to taxation. In 2026, we are advancing a proposal to eliminate property taxes for eligible seniors who meet income and residency requirements. After decades of contributing to this community, they deserve stability, protection, and respect.
• Eliminating the requirement to display the Local Business Tax receipt on the wall. Businesses no longer need to post a physical certificate. Our office now verifies compliance electronically through secure, real-time systems. Removing this outdated requirement reduces unnecessary penalties and modernizes business regulation while maintaining full accountability.
These proposals reflect responsible leadership: reforms that simplify government, protect vulnerable residents, and make the system work for the people.
This first year proved a simple truth: effective government is not built on slogans. It is built on leadership that accepts responsibility and systems that earn trust.
Miami-Dade County waited more than 60 years to elect a Tax Collector. In one year, the results made clear why accountability matters.
The work continues. And the direction is unmistakable. This is what responsible government looks like.
Dariel Fernandez is Miami-Dade County Tax Collector.
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