Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez today formally notified Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Anthony Rodriguez that he will waive approximately $13 million in Tax Collector commissions on voted school millages for Fiscal Year 2026-27, following discussions regarding the County’s fiscal outlook and opportunities to provide meaningful financial relief to residents.
In a letter to Chairman Rodriguez, Fernandez provided official written notice of the waiver pursuant to section 192.091(2)(c)2., Florida Statutes. Based on the preliminary School Board taxable value certified on July 1, 2026, the waiver is estimated to provide approximately $13 million in savings. Fernandez urged the Board of County Commissioners to dedicate the full value of those savings to direct and measurable benefits for Miami-Dade County residents, with property-tax relief as the priority.
“Miami-Dade families are facing rising costs, and government has a responsibility to look for every opportunity to provide meaningful relief while protecting the essential services our residents depend on,” said Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez. “By waiving approximately $13 million in commissions for the upcoming fiscal year, our office is putting additional resources on the table. I am asking the County to prioritize property-tax relief and to publicly report how these savings are ultimately used.”
To the extent funds are necessary to protect core County services, Fernandez asked that the savings support police, fire rescue, emergency response, and other essential direct services. He also called for public reporting detailing how the approximately $13 million is allocated.
The waiver represents the latest financial contribution made by the Tax Collector’s Office to Miami-Dade County and the other taxing authorities it serves. At the close of the current fiscal year, the office projects approximately $97 million will be available for return among all taxing authorities, including approximately $84 million to Miami-Dade County.
Through responsible financial management, the Tax Collector’s Office also operated during the current fiscal year without requesting up to approximately $24 million in statutory advances that could have been requested from the County in October and November to support early-year operations. In addition, the office did not collect the 2 percent commission that could otherwise be charged on UMSA and municipal tax rolls, representing approximately $40 million in additional foregone revenue.
The commission waiver announced today is intended specifically for Fiscal Year 2026-27 and should not be considered a recurring commitment. Fernandez will provide written notice by March 1, 2027, to reinstate the commission for Fiscal Year 2027-28.
Fernandez thanked Chairman Rodriguez for working directly with him and his team on the proposal and said the Tax Collector’s Office will continue identifying opportunities to operate efficiently while protecting taxpayers and maintaining services for Miami-Dade County residents.
