Miami-Dade County is demanding that Miami Beach pay millions of dollars for countywide homeless services after the city recently rescinded a referendum asking voters if they approved of a restaurant tax to fund those services.
On Wednesday, county commissioners voted to demand up to $10 million in property taxes from a city-controlled taxing district around the Lincoln Road retail area. The redevelopment district is funded with both city and county property taxes.
“We have been forced to play hardball,” Miami-Dade Commissioner Raquel Regalado said.
READ MORE: Miami Beach officials rescind ballot question on homeless tax. Votes on it won’t count
After the vote, Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, who voted against scrapping the referendum, told the Miami Herald he was appalled at the county demanding money before the city could come up with a potential compromise.
“It’s highway robbery,” Fernandez said. “There are ways to solve this. But this is not the way to do it.”
Fernandez joined other city commissioners who crossed Biscayne Bay to attend a County Commission meeting where fury at Miami Beach over the canceled vote was hard to miss.