Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Announces State Approval of FY 2026–27 Budget

Florida Department of Revenue approves budget supporting expanded services, fraud prevention, and continued savings for Miami-Dade residents

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez announced today that the Florida Department of Revenue has approved the Tax Collector’s Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget, allowing the office to continue expanding services, modernizing operations, combating fraud, and improving access for residents across Miami-Dade County.

The Florida Department of Revenue formally notified the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector on September 30 that it had completed its review and approved the office’s budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026.

“This budget is about continuing to deliver results for the people of Miami-Dade County while being responsible with the money entrusted to us,” said Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez. “Over the past year, we have expanded access, reduced wait times, modernized services, returned millions of dollars to our community, and taken aggressive action against fraud and abuse. We are going to continue building on that progress.”

Since taking office, Fernandez and the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office have:
 

• Eliminated long wait times for driver license services and taken action against appointment scalping and fraudulent third-party appointment schemes that take advantage of residents.
• Expanded to 13 Tax Collector offices across Miami-Dade County, bringing services closer to residents.
• Launched T-Connect Mobile Offices, including three full mobile units, two Mini T-Connects, and iGo Cases designed to assist residents with mobility challenges.
• Installed self-service kiosks across Miami-Dade County, allowing residents to renew vehicle registrations without visiting an office.
• Cracked down on disabled parking permit fraud, reviewing tens of thousands of permits, revoking more than 5,700 improperly issued permits, launching PERMiO, and working with law enforcement on investigations that have resulted in arrests.
• Expanded access beyond traditional business hours by adding Saturday service, including a monthly service day for the neurodivergent community.
• Returned more than $84 million to Miami-Dade County while continuing to expand services for residents.
• Waived approximately $43 million in collection fees for municipalities and unincorporated Miami-Dade.
• Waived approximately $13 million in collection fees on voter-approved school millages for FY 2026–27.
• Committed an additional $20 million to help fund deputy payroll and overtime, subject to state approval, and committed to a second consecutive $20 million early repayment to Miami-Dade County for 2027.
• Distributed more than $10 billion to support police, fire rescue, public schools, municipalities, and other essential public services throughout Miami-Dade County.
   

The approved budget also reflects continued attention to controlling administrative costs. Operating expenses increase by less than 2 percent, while spending on capital equipment and improvements decreases from the prior year.

The budget increase largely reflects costs tied to employees: the County’s workers’ compensation charge, calculated per full-time equivalent employee, and across-the-board increases in health insurance costs. The office has kept other spending in check. Operating expenses rise by less than 2 percent, while spending on capital equipment and improvements declines from the prior year. At the same time, the Tax Collector’s Office is continuing its transition away from County systems, contracts, and shared-service structures where greater efficiencies can be achieved, with the goal of lowering the cost of services and generating additional budget savings in future years.

“Residents expect government to work, and they expect us to respect every dollar we collect,” Fernandez said. “That means making it easier to get a driver license, opening offices where people need them, using technology to eliminate unnecessary trips, stopping fraud, and making sure that when our office does not need taxpayer money, we return it.”

Fernandez said the approved budget will allow the Tax Collector’s Office to continue its focus on accessible services, technology, accountability, fraud prevention, and efficient operations throughout FY 2026–27.

“We have accomplished a great deal in a short period of time, but there is still more work ahead,” Fernandez said. “Our commitment is to keep improving this office and delivering the level of service Miami-Dade residents deserve.”