CITY OF MIAMI
SOLID WASTE AND FIRE ASSESSMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1 Why is the City of Miami billing a fire and solid waste assessment on the Miami-Dade tax roll assessment?
Several reasons:
(a) Consolidation of various assessments is more cost effective than sending out individual bills.
(b) The inclusion of these assessments on your property tax statement will provide most residents with the ability for this amount to be paid annually, through their mortgage escrow and, accordingly, paid monthly throughout the year.
(c) Your prompt and immediate payment will allow certain discounts as per the Miami-Dade schedule. You have an early payment discount allowance, quarterly payment schedule or a yearly payment schedule. The ability to pass on the discount has also been an incentive for us to consolidate theses assessments in the Miami-Dade tax roll for the benefit of our City of Miami residents.
2 What is the purpose of the fire and waste disposal assessment?
These assessments will be used to pay for a portion of the costs of providing fire services and solid waste collection and disposal service to City of Miami residents.
3 Will a portion of my taxes continue to fund fire and waste disposal services?
Yes, some property taxes will continue to fund these services. However, these assessments will reduce the amount of property tax support for these services.
4 What period of time does my tax bill, fire and solid waste assessments cover? And, more importantly, when is each of these due and to whom?
Miami-Dade County’s tax assessment is imposed for an annual arrears assessment, i.e. tax assessed is based on the prior calendar year (Year 2005) information. The City’s fire and waste assessment will be for the current fiscal year assessment, i.e. from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007. Your entire bill is due upon receipt. All payments are due to the Tax Collector’s Office, 140 W Flagler Street, 14th Floor, Miami FL 33130, telephone number (305) 270-4916.
5 When did you begin the fire and solid waste assessments to me?
The City of Miami initially billed the fire assessment to each resident during May 1998 for April 1 thru September 30, 1998’s latter half of the fiscal year. Fire assessment for fiscal year October 1, 1998 thru September 30, 1999 was billed with the Miami-Dade’s property tax assessment during November 1998.
The City of Miami initially billed for waste disposal to each resident during 1980. Each year a semi-annual assessment was made to each single family, duplex and some multi-unit dwellings. Since the fiscal year from October 1999 to September 2000, the solid waste assessment was included on Miami-Dade’s property tax bill.
The current assessments cover the period from October 1, 2007 thru September 30, 2008. This fiscal year assessment will appear on the Miami-Dade’s property tax bill during November 2007.
6 How did the City assess the Fire Assessment?
The City of Miami utilized the Medical Priority Dispatch System to identify the number and type of fire calls within the City for the calendar year 2005. The fire assessment is based on the proportion of a category, to the total number of fire calls within the City. Fire calls were based on calls for fire service only and did not include rescue and medical calls.
|
CATEGORY |
2005 Study |
PERCENTAGE |
|
Residential |
3640 | 37.73% |
|
Multi-family |
2164 | 22.43% |
|
Public Housing |
171 | 1.77% |
|
Commercial |
2399 | 24.87% |
|
Industrial/Warehouse |
194 | 2.01% |
|
Institutional |
1079 | 11.18% |
|
Gross |
9647 |
100.00% |
7 How did you calculate the square footage for my building for the fire assessment and how did you know what type of building I have?
The type of structure and the square footage is direct information from the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser’s Office. The amount of square footage used to determine your non-residential fire assessment is based on the adjusted square feet of your building and not leaseable area.
Please see the following comparison of solid waste fees of the City of Miami in relation to other municipalities within Miami-Dade County:
| Name | Amount |
| Miami Shores | $ 700.52 |
| Coral Gables | $ 550.00 |
| North Miami | $ 483.00 |
| Miami Springs | $ 474.60 |
| Miami Beach | $ 455.04 |
| North Miami Beach | $ 424.40 |
| Biscayne Park | $ 420.00 |
| Aventura | $ 399.00 |
| Miami-Dade County | $ 399.00 |
| Pinecrest | $ 399.00 |
| Sweetwater | $ 399.00 |
| Homestead | $ 383.40 |
| Miami | $ 325.00 |
| Hialeah | $ 324.00 |