By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Commissioner Melissa Castro used her town hall Monday evening to preview a modest property tax cut plan she intends to bring before the Coral Gables City Commission on Sept. 10.
The event, titled “Your Millage, Your Money: A Responsible Path to Reduce Taxes Step by Step,” drew about 40 people, roughly half of whom were city officials. Mayor Vince Lago arrived shortly after the meeting began, joining Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, City Manager Peter Iglesias, City Attorney Cristina Suarez and City Clerk Billy Urquia. Commissioners Ariel Fernandez and Richard Lara were absent, though Castro led a lighthearted “happy birthday” singalong in Lara’s honor that gave the evening a more convivial atmosphere than recent commission meetings.
The proposal
Castro outlined a phased four-year approach: lowering the city’s millage rate by 0.25 each year until reaching a one-percent reduction. She described the plan as “modest and safe,” designed to trim non-essential requests while preserving core city services.
“We’re pretty stable — we have the second-lowest tax rate for a full-service city in the county,” Castro said. “The question is, can we improve a little? I believe we could.”
The commissioner reviewed how much of the overall property tax bill goes to the city, how funds are spent, and what the proposed change would mean for residents. Coral Gables currently collects about $137 million in its general fund, with commercial properties contributing roughly 27 percent, or $25 million annually, according to Assistant Finance Director Paula Rodriguez.
Debate on timing and impact
The proposal quickly drew criticism. One of the sharpest exchanges came with Nicolas Cabrera, who was appointed earlier in the day as chair of the city’s Board of Adjustment and is a vocal ally of Lago. Cabrera argued that the plan was more symbolic than substantive.
“It’s misleading to call this a real reduction,” Cabrera said. “Cutting $300,000 from a $137 million budget is frivolous compared to the waste we’ve seen over the last year. If there was a time to lower taxes, it was last year. Now, after the commission’s actions, the city doesn’t have the flexibility.”
Castro countered that her proposal fulfilled campaign commitments and represented a responsible way to move toward fiscal balance. “Mailers sent out by some candidates specifically said we would work to lower millage and lower taxes,” she said. “This phased approach is the only way to do it responsibly.”
She added that she planned to bring the mailers to this week’s commission meeting.
Pushback from allies
The evening’s second notable exchange came when Debbie Register, Castro’s appointee to the city’s Budget Audit Advisory Board, voiced opposition.
“I wasn’t happy last year when garbage fees were reduced, and I’m not happy now with this,” Register said. “We need to look at what it takes to keep our city running. We have deteriorated roads and sidewalks, and too many long-term needs. If you want to live in Coral Gables, you need to pay for it. I don’t think taxes should go down.”
Other residents echoed concerns about long-term infrastructure and questioned whether a tax cut would undermine services. The discussion also touched on the balance between residential and commercial contributions to the tax base, with staff clarifying that commercial properties cover just over a quarter of city property tax revenues.
Looking ahead
While Monday’s town hall did not produce consensus, it underscored the divisions likely to shape this week’s budget hearings. Castro closed the evening by urging residents to stay engaged.
“This is an opportunity for you to help shape what happens next,” she said. “Your input is vital as we move into the budget process.”
The first budget hearing, where the commission will formally consider the millage rate, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12.
This Post Has 5 Comments
Good for Commissioner Castro! Isn’t a tax reduction what Lago proposed last year? Though now he hates it because an opponent wants one. I thought he cared about the residents or are those just words? Time to Drain the Lake, and take little boy blew with him.
I am very confused. Was it not the Mayor and Commissioner Lara’s campaign promise to lower the millage? Now that Commissioner Castro has done all the work to make it possible—they refuse? Am I understanding that correctly?
I also heard a resident say this could have been done last year, but because of “fiscal irresponsibility” it’s now impossible. That is simply a bluff. One example they used was the $40,000 ramp for the Miracle Theater (our own city property). That was not even part of the millage discussion. It was funded from the Accessibility Fund, which by law is restricted to one-time accessibility improvements like this. It could never have been reallocated to reduce the millage.
The reality is their intention was never to lower the millage. They always knew they didn’t have the votes. It was political spin from the beginning. If they truly wanted to deliver on that promise, they would be doing it now.
Having worked and/or lived here for fifty years, I am opposed to arbitrarily tax cuts without a plan as to how susrainable expense savings can be achieved. Yes, savings are aways possible if the City’s administrative leadership is empowered and incentivised to make intelligent cuts, possibly with the use of outside consultants..That’s the smart way to do it.
Coral Gables has special, mostly upscale residents who are able to afford excellent city services..
Mr. Cabrera (who was a paid campaign consultant for Commissioner Lara) denied that Lara campaigned on “cutting taxes and lowering the millage rate to ease the burden on homeowners” – quoted from his campaign flyer. Lara was “committed to . . . lowering taxes” per Grant Miller’s endorsement on April 17, 2025. Apparently, Cabrera has caught Lara’s inability to be honest. And Mayor Lago and Vice-Mayor Anderson both proposed to reduce our millage rate last year by 2%. Anderson even requested that the City not spend $65,000 on the 10-minute 4th of July drone show per file # 24-7907 to save money. With the LAL voting block, cutting taxes and being fiscally responsible are not important. They are increasing our budget to $308M (up 10.5% from last year). I am not for cutting the millage rate. But I am for candidates who keep their campaign promises and are honest with residents. And Mr. Cabrera – remember that City Code Section 2-307 prohibits you or any affiliated entity from contracting or doing business with the City until April 25, 2027.
Nicholas Cabrera embarrassed himself at Commissioner Castro’s town hall trying to make it seem that the majority of the commission didn’t promise to lower taxes during their campaigns, although every voter there had heard that promise repeated ad nauseam.
Additionally, his insistence that the word “reduction” didn’t mean “to lower something”, added to the egg on his face. His efforts to discredit Commissioner Castro, fell flat. It was very obvious that he was there on “the majority’s” behalf to set the tone for Wednesday’s upcoming fiasco of a commission meeting.
Commissioner Castro did an excellent job of refuting his incorrect statements and speaking the truth.