Mission Statement
To provide expertise and resources to support and facilitate excellent public service delivery.
Budgeting
Property tax reform legislation prompted the Office of Strategic Business Management to balance new millage restrictions with the County’s commitment to providing much-needed programs and services to residents. Despite enormous challenges, the 2007-08 Adopted Budget totaling $6.9 billion was unanimously passed by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. Core public safety, transportation and neighborhood services were preserved. At the same time, the County’s financial stability increased as more money was put away in the event of an emergency, such as a hurricane. By the end of Fiscal Year 2007-2008, more than $67.7 million will be in the Countywide Emergency Contingency Reserve.
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Property Appraiser
A new director, Marcus Saiz, took the helm of the Property Appraiser’s Office and worked with local tax authorities (Library District, Fire District and Unincorporated Municipal Service Area) to provide analytical and fiscal impact information regarding the various tax proposals discussed in the Florida Legislature.
The Property Appraiser also worked to approve an ordinance which increases senior citizens’ Homestead exemption from $25,000 to $50,000. More than 47,000 seniors benefited, saving a combined $14 million dollars in property taxes.
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Tax Reform
A campaign to inform residents of additional tax reforms proposed by the Florida Legislature, and subject to voter approval, was also launched in 2007. The proposed reforms are detailed in literature and on the Property Appraiser’s website, which includes a calculator where residents can estimate tax savings.
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County Grants
More than $58.5 million was secured by community and faith-based organizations in Miami-Dade County, with assistance from the Office of Strategic Business Management (OSBM). More than 100 organizations participated is OSBM’s grant writing and technical assistance workshops.
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Charter Review
The Charter Review Task Force, the 21-member group charged with reviewing and making recommendations for changes to the County Charter, delivered to the Board of County Commissioners a final report, which included 18 recommendations regarding the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter. Section 9.08 of the Home Rule Charter requires that the Board review the Charter at least once every five years to determine whether or not there is a need for revision of the Charter. A list of the recommendations can be found at www.miamidade.gov/charterreview.
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Elections
The Elections Department secured a new voting system utilizing optical scan technology for use in 2008. The system will provide a paper trail for audits and recounts. The department also took additional steps to ensure the integrity of upcoming elections, including unprecedented vetting of poll workers, improved voter registration procedures, clearer absentee ballot instructions, and an increased number of outreach events throughout the community.
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Employee Health Plan
A new employee health insurance program was put into place in 2007 to provide County employees and their dependents more affordable health care options. AvMed was selected to administer a self-funded health care program which offers a point-of-service and high and low option HMO. As a result, $58 million dollars in saving was realized.
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3-1-1
The County’s 3-1-1 Answer Center underwent a major upgrade in 2007 so that it could operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The system seamlessly submits customer service orders directly to departments such as Solid Waste and Animal Services. Common orders include the pick-up of abandoned pets and removal of illegally dumped garbage.
The 3-1-1 Answer Center recorded a record 2.4 million calls in 2007. More than 83% of residents’ questions and concerns were handled on the first call, meaning no transferred calls or call backs.
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New Web Connections
New Portal
A new and improved version of the County’s web portal, www.miamidade.gov was launched in 2007. Following the launch, traffic to the site increase by 19%, and a recent survey shows 95% of people who have used the site plan to use it again. In total, there were more than 15 million visitors to miamidade.gov in 2007. That’s more than double the numbers reported in 2006.
Build-It
The Buildit Portal was also launched at www.Buildit.miamidade.gov. The user-friendly website brings together news, tools and resources used by the building community, including easy access to permit applications, zoning plans, and contractor licensing information and verification.
Housing Central
The Housing Central website also came online in 2007. It includes comprehensive information on the County’s housing programs and services and has more than 3,500 listings for rental and for sale properties. In the short time Housing Central has been in existence,it has been nationally recognized.
Tangible Personal Property Tax
The Finance Department implemented a user-friendly Tangible Personal Property Tax web page. The page allows taxpayers to search by business name, address or folio number. Taxpayers can even pay their taxes via e-check through the web page. The department also made modifications to the 2007 tax bill and notice to improve.
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Miami-Dade TV On-Demand
Miami-Dade TV On-Demand was released in December 2006 and has been successful in expanding the release of its programming. More than 300,000 visitors have watched On-Demand video. The site also earned first prize in the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NOTOA) 22nd Annual Government Programming Awards.
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Inspector General
The Office of the Inspector General continues to detect, investigate and prevent fraud, waste and mismanagement in County government. Investigations in both the transportation (airport) and economic development (housing) sectors allowed the County to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen monies. OIG investigations also led to several arrests.
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Complaint Review
The Independent Review Panel held 11 public hearings, attended by citizens, and representatives from the Miami-Dade Police, Corrections and Rehabilitation and Consumer Services Departments, to review citizen complaints and improve County services. It also conducted 30 half-day workshops on dispute and non-violence resolutions.
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Fair Employment
In 2007, the Office of Fair Employment Practices launched a comprehensive program designed to promote awareness of employee rights and a bias free workplace. The campaign included diversity training workshops, a web-based training program and a training video for new and existing employees.
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Consumer Services
The Consumer Services Department obtained more than $1 million for consumers in 2007 after mediating approximately 47,000 disputes between businesses and clients. It is the largest amount ever recovered in the Department’s history.
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Towing Business Audit
The Consumer Services Department initiated a towing business audit program to verify that towers are not exceeding the maximum rates for non-consensual tows from private property. As a result, 10 audits demonstrated overcharges in the amount of $88,741 and penalties of $85,481, which was reimbursed to consumers.
Car Dealership Investigations
The Department also initiated an industry-wide investigation of car dealership practices. As a result, Consumer Services and the South Florida Automobile Dealers Association entered into a cooperative agreement in support of truth in advertising. Individual automobile dealerships paid penalties of $99,000 in violations.
ADA Compliance
Under the leadership of new director, Heidi Johnson Wright, the Office of ADA Coordination orchestrated the survey of all of Miami-Dade County’s court facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Miami-Dade has more court facilities that any other County in the state. A transition plan is now being drafted to enhance access to the justice system.
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