By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Before opening debate on the city budget, Coral Gables commissioners will decide Friday whether to reimpose a slate of special assessments that fund core services from fire protection and solid waste to private security in some of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods.

The Special Assessment Hearing is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. in Commission Chambers at City Hall (405 Biltmore Way), preceding the first budget hearing later that day.

Fire and solid waste

Commissioners will first consider renewing two citywide assessments. One resolution would continue the annual fire protection assessment that funds fire services, facilities and equipment for the coming fiscal year. Another measure would reauthorize the solid waste assessment, which supports garbage and recycling collection and disposal across the city.

These assessments are collected through the Miami-Dade County property tax roll and appear on annual tax bills sent to Coral Gables property owners. The revenues are dedicated to the specific services identified, providing the city with stable funding streams outside of its general fund. Fire protection and solid waste fees are among the longest-running assessments in Coral Gables and have been approved annually for decades.

Streetscape projects

The commission will also address assessments tied to two commercial corridors at the heart of Coral Gables’ downtown.

The Miracle Mile district assessment supports the long-term streetscape improvement project that reshaped the city’s main shopping boulevard. Property owners contribute annually through the assessment, which helps finance maintenance and related costs.

A similar measure will update the assessment roll for Giralda Avenue, which underwent a parallel streetscape redesign. These assessments allow the city to recoup costs tied to construction and upkeep while ensuring the corridors remain focal points of Coral Gables’ retail and dining economy.

Neighborhood security

A major portion of the hearing will cover renewals for neighborhood security guard services. Coral Gables maintains a network of special taxing districts where homeowners agree to fund private patrols. Each district has its own assessment roll, and revenues are collected directly from properties within the boundaries.

Neighborhoods scheduled for renewal this year include Sunrise Harbour, Snapper Creek Lakes, Pine Bay Estates, Old Cutler Bay, Kings Bay, Hammock Oaks Harbor, Hammock Lake Banyan, Banyan Drive, Hammock Lakes, Cocoplum Phase I and Gables by the Sea.

The districts are authorized under state law and must be renewed annually. For many residents, the services provide an added layer of protection beyond city police coverage. Assessments pay for contracted security guard companies, patrol vehicles, and related expenses. While these arrangements are common in Miami-Dade’s gated communities, Coral Gables has one of the largest concentrations of such districts in the county.

Street lighting

Also on the docket is a resolution to reimpose the special assessment for street lighting in Cocoplum Phase I. The fee covers the installation and maintenance of lighting systems in the neighborhood, ensuring continued service in the year ahead. Like the security guard districts, the assessment is levied only on homeowners within the affected boundaries.

Public participation

The city has outlined several ways for residents to weigh in. In addition to attending in person, the public can join via Zoom at meeting ID 3054466800 or by dialing (305) 461-6769. Written comments may be submitted through the city’s online e-comment function or emailed to the city clerk prior to the start of the meeting. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the city’s YouTube Channel.

Next steps

The Special Assessment Hearing is a legally required step under Florida’s Uniform Assessment Collection Act, which governs how cities impose, confirm, and collect such fees. Once approved, the assessments will be placed on the county tax roll for collection beginning Oct. 1, 2025.

Friday’s decisions will also set the stage for the city’s first formal budget hearing later in the day, as commissioners begin deliberations on the fiscal year 2025–26 spending plan. Together, the two sessions will determine costs are distributed between general tax revenues and targeted assessments paid directly by property owners.