Miami-Dade Mayor Revises Budget to Restore Arts Funding amid Deficit Challenges

In July 2025, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava proposed a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that included a 50% reduction in cultural grant funding, amounting to $12.8 million. This proposal aimed to address a projected $400 million budget deficit but faced significant opposition from the arts community.

The deficit was largely attributed to the establishment of five new independent constitutional offices—Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Clerk of Courts—as mandated by a 2018 state amendment. These new offices accounted for nearly half of the shortfall. Additionally, the expiration of federal COVID-era programs like the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and rising inflation further strained the county's finances.

To mitigate the deficit, the initial budget proposal suggested merging the Department of Cultural Affairs with the Public Library System and eliminating the director's position. The arts and culture community responded with substantial opposition, highlighting that the arts sector contributes approximately $2.1 billion annually to the local economy and supports around 32,000 jobs. They argued that the proposed reductions would severely impact small organizations, local artists, and youth programs. A public petition opposing the cuts quickly garnered over 3,000 signatures.

In August 2025, following public outcry and feedback from community stakeholders, Mayor Levine Cava announced an update to her proposed budget. The revision leveraged nearly $66 million in newly identified and recovered funds, including $33.2 million in unspent funds from Constitutional Offices, $6.6 million in additional departmental adjustments, and $26 million from the Tax Collector’s Office. This allowed for the partial restoration of the proposed cuts, including:

• $11.5 million to nearly fully restore cultural arts programming grants.
• $18.4 million to partially restore community organization funding.
• $5.6 million to restore all programming in community parks and eliminate proposed parking fees.
• $4.4 million for neighborhood road repairs, sidewalk fixes, and beautification.
• $400,000 for senior centers and senior health services.
• $5 million to reduce the proposed gas tax increase by half.
• $500,000 to reduce the proposed Special Transportation Services (STS) fare increase to only $0.25.

The revised proposal also maintained an independent Department of Cultural Affairs, reversing the earlier plan to merge it with the Public Library System.

Mayor Levine Cava emphasized the collaborative effort in revising the budget, stating, "Residents asked us to protect arts and culture, community programs, parks, and essential services for our most vulnerable—and we listened."

The initial proposal and subsequent revisions underscore the delicate balance between fiscal responsibility and community investment. The arts sector's significant economic contribution highlights the potential ripple effects of funding cuts, not only on cultural enrichment but also on employment and local businesses. The community's active engagement and swift mobilization reflect the high value placed on cultural programs and services.

This is not the first time Miami-Dade's arts funding has faced challenges. In the previous fiscal year, Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in state arts funding, resulting in a loss of over $6.5 million for more than 120 local organizations. The recurring nature of these financial challenges raises questions about the sustainability of arts funding and the need for diversified revenue streams.

The Miami-Dade County Commission is scheduled to finalize the budget on September 18, 2025. The outcome will have lasting implications for the county's cultural landscape and fiscal health.