Last month, the Miami-Dade County Commission, on a 11-0 vote, gave a preliminary nod on first readhing for an ordinance to turn over the special taxing districts to local municipalities, which would be placed on a referendum in August to determine if residents approve of their cities operating the mechanism to improve services not otherwise equitably rendered to certain areas.
For Miami Lakes, if residents approve the ballot, the town would take over the special taxing districts for street lighting and guard gates that the county has provided for more than 30 years.
The town would also take over the mechanism for maintaining the canals in the areas of Lake Patricia and Lake Hilda if residents approve a separate ballot to create a new special taxing district for water improvements in their neighborhoods.
The ordinance to turn over the special taxing districts to local cities was sponsored by Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., and co-sponsored by Commissioners Sally Heyman and Juan Zapata
According to the county, residents must approve the referendum for a charter change for the turnover to be official.
If so, the town would close the existing special taxing districts by settling any debts with the county and opening up new special taxing districts within Miami Lakes.
The same tax amount Miami-Dade charged to residents to operate the districts should apply to the new ones, according to county officials.
A second reading and public hearing on the ordinance was scheduled for February 2.