Miami Voters to Decide on Infrastructure Bond Measure This November; Local Leaders Outline Jobs and Service Targets

Miami-Dade County voters will decide in November whether to approve an $800 million infrastructure bond measure that county commissioners say would accelerate repairs to roads, water systems and public transit across the city and surrounding municipalities. The referendum, officially titled the Infrastructure Services Bond Initiative, requires 60 percent voter approval to pass and would be funded through property tax increases estimated at $89 per year on a home valued at $300,000, according to the county's fiscal impact statement released last month.

The ballot measure arrives as Miami confronts a documented infrastructure deficit. A 2024 county assessment identified $2.1 billion in deferred maintenance on roads alone, with an additional $900 million needed for water system upgrades to address saltwater intrusion and aging pipes. Downtown Miami's Brickell Avenue has experienced seven major sinkholes since 2022. Residents across the city report chronic flooding during heavy rainfall, particularly in neighborhoods like Wynwood and Little Haiti where stormwater systems date to the 1960s. Local infrastructure advocates note that federal funding sources have become more competitive, forcing municipalities to seek local revenue.

What the Bond Would Fund and Who Gets Jobs

If approved, the county says bond proceeds would be allocated as follows: $320 million for road resurfacing and bridge repairs; $280 million for stormwater and wastewater infrastructure; $150 million for public transit bus rapid transit corridors; and $50 million for parks and recreation facility upgrades. The county's job impact analysis projects 4,500 construction and engineering positions over the seven-year disbursement period, with an average wage of $62,000 annually. Construction unions representing electricians, plumbers and equipment operators have signaled support, citing labor needs for infrastructure work across South Florida.

For individual Miami residents, the proposed spending targets issues that affect daily life directly. The road program would prioritize neighborhoods with the highest accident and congestion rates, including NW 27th Avenue in Allapattah, which experiences 11 percent more vehicle crashes than the county average. The stormwater funding would address chronic flooding in 18 neighborhoods, with Wynwood, Buena Vista and Little Haiti receiving priority status based on flood frequency data from 2020 to 2025. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has stated that improved road conditions would reduce emergency response times by an estimated 90 seconds on average, potentially affecting survival rates in cardiac events and trauma cases.

Revenue Source and Timeline Questions

The bond would be repaid through a property tax increase spread over 30 years. The county estimates the measure would add $89 to annual property taxes on a median-value home, though actual amounts vary by municipality and property class. Homestead exemptions would reduce the tax impact for owner-occupied primary residences. Commercial property owners and rental property holders would face higher assessments. The county treasurer's office projects bond issuance would begin in 2027 if approved, with the first infrastructure projects commencing in early 2028.

The referendum takes place against a backdrop of rising property values and property tax concerns in Miami. Median home prices in Miami-Dade County reached $425,000 in the second quarter of 2026, up 34 percent from 2021. Some property owner associations have raised concerns about cumulative tax impacts, while business groups and labor organizations generally support the measure. Voters will see the precise tax rate language and project list on the November 5 ballot. Early voting begins October 26.