(Miami, Florida) – Mayor Manny Diaz presented his Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Preliminary Budget before a special meeting of the City of Miami Commission Tuesday, September 11, 2007.  The budget achieves a $53.5 million cut in expenses and sets the millage rate at the lowest level in three decades, and eliminates the fire fee, while balancing continued investment in police, first responders, parks, and other priority government services.

“Responsible government acts as stewards of the people’s money, providing a prudent and balanced approach between reducing the tax burden while investing in the services that make our city worth living in,” said Mayor Diaz.  “The people demand and expect these services, we owe them these services and we have delivered.”

The Mayor’s proposed budget features:

·           $53.5 million in reduced expenditures,

·           A 12.5% reduction in the millage rate from last year,

·           A 25% total reduction in the millage rate since the Mayor took office,

·           Elimination of Fire Fee, saving taxpayers $8 million,

·           No increase in service fees,

·           $3 million for maintaining 5 new parks: Grapeland Baseball Park, Grapeland Water Park, Little Haiti Soccer Field, Little Haiti Cultural Park, and the Gym at Jose Marti Park - this is in addition to the doubling of park funding since Mayor Diaz took office and an additional $119 million in parks capital expenditures,

·           $5 million for 25 new police officers and 45 public service aides, 70 new law enforcement personnel, allowing us to place 200 new law enforcement personnel on the streets,

·           $8.5 million to properly compensate our police, first responders and other service providers.

* Attached is the Mayor’s full budget address.