WRE News: Taxes Proposed for Miami Beach, Surfside, & Bal Harbour to Fund Homeless Services

Miami Beach, FL – March 30, 2024 – The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust is pushing for new taxes on restaurants in Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour intended to bolster efforts to address homelessness and support domestic violence centers. Miami-Dade currently imposes a 1% food and beverage tax on restaurants throughout the county, excluding the three municipalities that already have a resort tax. This tax plays a crucial role in funding the Homeless Trust and domestic violence shelters, generating $36.2 million for these initiatives in the last fiscal year. Chairman Ron Book anticipates an additional $10 million for the Trust if the tax exemption is lifted in the aforementioned cities. While Miami Beach and Bal Harbour have taken steps to include the tax on upcoming ballots, Surfside remains undecided. Mayor Charles Burkett of Surfside and Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez of Miami Beach have expressed concerns. Despite these tensions, the Homeless Trust emphasizes its commitment to transparency and progress in combating homelessness in Miami-Dade County.