Miami-Dade schools’ budget aims to lower property taxes

Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Albert Carvalho presented his vision for a proposed $2.9 billion budget Wednesday that would increase spending — but will reduce the district’s real property tax rate in the coming fiscal year.

Carvalho based his plan to bump up spending on an optimistic projection made by the property appraiser’s office, which estimated the growth of Miami-Dade’s tax base and revenues at more than 9 percent. The projection is 4 percent higher than the state’s estimation, which has some district budget crunchers on edge.

That extra revenue is what makes a cut in property taxes possible.

“It’s not a budget that makes everybody happy,” Carvalho told the Miami Herald. “But what in life is?”

The proposed budget calls for an extra $43 million for schools. [Miami Herald] -Kerry Barger