Tag: city commission
Coral Gables proposes $308.2 million budget, keeps tax rate flat for 11th year
Coral Gables unveiled a proposed $308.2 million budget for fiscal 2025–2026 that holds the line on property tax rates for the eleventh year, relying on reserves and capital spending to…
Commission to vote on steel windows at City Hall despite specialists’ opposition
The Coral Gables City Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday, July 1, on whether to replace the historic wood-framed windows at City Hall with steel alternatives—despite objections from the city’s…
EDITORIAL: Hiring freeze the smartest path to better pay
As Coral Gables prepares to release its proposed 2025 budget on July 1, labor remains its largest expense—as it is for any organization built on service. From policing and planning…
Commissioner seeks attorney general’s opinion on election timing, requests fire reaccreditation update
Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro has formally requested a legal opinion from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on whether Coral Gables can shift its municipal elections without a voter referendum—a…
EDITORIAL: The problem with development is the system
In Coral Gables, development is as predictable as that the summer will be hot. Proposals arrive, attorneys argue for variances and buildings rise. To some, this is the natural evolution…
What’s with Maria and the mayor?
By Rafael Hernandez City Hall gadfly Maria Cruz and Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago sure can bicker. Since few people attend commission meetings or watch them online, most outside of…
ANALYSIS: Coral Gables City Hall’s structural warnings pile up—so do the questions
The decision to vacate Coral Gables City Hall again—this time to make way for what may finally be a comprehensive renovation—marks the culmination of years of delay. For more than…
EDITORIAL: Strong balance sheet isn’t enough if the roof is caving in
Mayor Vince Lago often touts Coral Gables’ fiscal strength: More than $50 million in reserves, a coveted AAA bond rating, and a pension system that—after years of underfunding—is finally stable….
EDITORIAL: Coral Gables needs smarter parking strategy
When nearly nine out of ten business owners say Coral Gables is an excellent or good place to operate, city leadership has earned a broad vote of confidence. The spring…
Commission workshop sheds light on Coral Gables capital spending priorities
By Rafael Hernandez As the fiscal year budget vote looms, the Coral Gables City Commission spent two hours Wednesday reviewing the city’s capital projects. The Capital Workshop pored over a…
