The City of Miami Springs has been trying to grow via annexation ever since the City of Doral incorporated to our west. The reason is that Miami-Dade County Commission had ruled it did not want unincorporated enclaves. In other words, the County did not want unincorporated areas that were surrounded by municipalities. The area to our west was not an enclave — It was not completely surrounded by municipalities…That is, until the incorporation of the City of Doral.
Well, we recently found an early map of what Miami Springs wanted to annex. The original proposal went very far west into areas that have now become part of the City of Doral or the Town of Medley. You see, those two cities have successfully grown and annexed nearby areas thanks in large part by support those cities have received by their representative on the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Article from Jul 13, 2003 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
Meanwhile, we all know how the City of Miami Springs and the Village of Virginia Gardens were let down by then representative, County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera.
Fast forward to November of this year. On the ballot is a referendum that will allow voters to decide whether or not homesteaded properties will be exempted from local municipal property taxes.
Will it pass? According to a report by WFLA, they referenced a study by Sachs Media claiming 64% of Floridians are in favor of passing the property tax relief bill.
Meanwhile, we shared a report from the State of Florida that indicated Miami Springs is projected to lose $21.1 Million in Revenues over the first 5 years if the property tax bill is approved by voters.
We could be wrong, but the tea leaves are telling us, the property tax bill has a very strong chance of passing. Which by the way, is going to provide homesteaded property owners thousands of dollars in annualized tax relief. We’re talking serious money.
On the flip side, municipalities like Miami Springs, a bed room community, with only a small commercial base, is going to suffer. With an expected revenue loss to the city exceeded $20 million, it’s time to think outside the box.
It’s time to re-evaluate our annexation efforts once again.
First, let’s get a quick win. Why oh why doesn’t Miami Springs annex the unincorporated enclave immediately east of the city of Miami Springs? This area is directly adjacent to Miami Springs’ southeastern border along the railroad tracks. It could extend the boundary along NW South River Drive further east towards the natural border located where the Tamiami Canal meets the Miami River.
It would also extend our border south along Le Jeune Road to just south of NW 21st Street and the same Tamiami Canal. This would put Miami Springs directly adjacent to the City of Miami and the Miami Freedom Park and Soccer Village.
The City of Miami Springs abandoned the effort to annex this area 20 years ago. I think it’s time we take a second look at this parcel as a way to help Miami Springs survive in an era where homesteaded properties no longer pay property taxes.
Also, it’s time to ask for county help. It’s time to ask Commissioner Natalie Milan Orbis to support the City of Miami Springs in its efforts to annex the same way Doral and Medley have the last few years.
It’s time to push hard once again to annex the area west of Miami Springs. Miami Springs voters have twice voted in support of this effort. We have a new commissioner who appears to want to help our municipality.
If the City of Miami Springs loses the property tax revenues from homesteaded properties we don’t have many choices:
- Accept major cuts to city services
- Push forward with annexation
- Merge with another municipality
- Create a Home Owner’s Association to make up for lost city services (I hate this idea so badly, I didn’t want to publish it, but it is an option.)
What do you think?
Should the city attempt to annex the area to our east?
Should the city just cut services?
Should we merge with a sister city?
Should we create a Home Owner’s Association?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom or via social media.
