Miami-Dade Property Appraiser Proposes 5.23% Budget Jump to Over $70 Million for 2026-2027, Cites Personnel Needs

Miami-Dade County’s Property Appraiser submitted a provisional budget request for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes a substantial increase in funding, particularly for personnel services. The request, filed on August 14, 2026, outlines a total budget of $70,305,757, representing a 5.23% increase over the approved budget for the current fiscal year.

This proposed budget directly impacts local taxpayers, as the Property Appraiser's office plays a crucial role in determining property values, which in turn affects property tax assessments. Residents will see how these increased appropriations translate into the services provided by the office and the overall efficiency of property valuation processes.

The provisional budget details appropriations by category, adhering to the guidelines of DR-484, R. 12/14 and Rule 12D-16.002, F.A.C. A key area of proposed growth is Personnel Services, for which the Property Appraiser requested $58,884,328 for 2026-2027. This figure marks a 3.98% increase, or $2,256,487, compared to the $56,627,841 approved for Personnel Services in the 2025-2026 budget. For context, actual expenditures for Personnel Services in the 2024-2025 fiscal year were $49,183,134. As of March 31, 2026, the office had spent $22,140,364 on Personnel Services for the current 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Beyond personnel, the budget also proposes significant increases in other categories. Operating Expenses are slated for a 12.24% increase, rising to $10,641,550 from $9,481,100. Operating Capital Outlay shows the most dramatic percentage jump, a 148.50% increase, bringing its requested amount to $639,879 from $257,500. Non-Operating expenses, however, show a decrease of 68.76%, dropping to $140,000 from $448,200.

The budget also indicates an increase in the number of positions within the Property Appraiser's office. The request for 2026-2027 includes 432 positions, an increase of 4 positions (0.93%) over the 428 positions from the previous year. This includes funding for 4 new positions with an annual rate of $316,759.

This provisional budget will undergo review and approval processes in the coming months. Miami-Dade residents can anticipate further discussions and public hearings as the county finalizes its budget for the upcoming fiscal year.