Miami Safe & Ready Bond to Nov. 3 Vote: $450M and 0.5935 Mill

Voters will decide on Nov. 3, 2026 whether to authorize up to $450 million for upgrades to Miami’s aging police and fire-rescue facilities. On July 9, 2026, the Miami City Commission approved placing Mayor Eileen Higgins’ Safe and Ready Miami public safety bond on the ballot—but the city cannot issue the borrowing unless voters approve the referendum.

The City of Miami says the repayment plan is intended to stay within the city’s current maximum debt millage rate of 0.5935 mills, with no increase to the current debt millage rate for residents. The City also says the program would be subject to independent annual audits to ensure accountability and transparency.

What the Commission approved

City officials say the bond would authorize up to $450 million in general obligation bonds and, if approved by voters, would support upgrades to fire stations, police and fire-rescue facilities, and the construction of a mission-ready Public Safety Headquarters designed for today’s first responders.

Independent reporting says the Commission approved the measure in a 3-2 vote, after commissioners adopted amendments intended to add safeguards for taxpayers. The changes, as reported, include:

• Using proceeds from the eventual sale of the city’s current downtown police headquarters to pay down bond debt or reduce how much the city borrows.
• Requiring eligible state or federal capital improvement grants for bond-funded projects to be used to reduce borrowing or pay down the debt.
• Directing the city to make its best efforts to use future developer community benefit contributions to help offset the cost of the police and fire projects when feasible.
• Identifying $10 million in the current fiscal year’s budget to begin addressing the most urgent repairs at existing facilities rather than waiting for bond proceeds.

Where the bond money would go

According to the City of Miami, the bond would support projects including:

• Modernizing fire stations and constructing new stations where needed.
• Addressing severe deferred maintenance across public-safety facilities.
• Building a mission-ready Public Safety Headquarters intended to meet the needs of police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders.

In describing why the upgrades are needed, the City points to condition problems at its current police headquarters—opened in 1976 and designed for about 560 officers, but now housing about 1,390 sworn personnel and 400 additional staff members. The City also cites facility issues such as plumbing failures, flooding, inoperable restrooms, roof leaks, and outdated electrical systems. For fire-rescue, the City says there are 17 fire-rescue stations, with eight more than 50 years old and two more than 60 years old, with some unable to accommodate modern emergency vehicles.

How residents would pay back the bond

The City says the bond would be repaid through ad valorem taxes within the city’s current maximum debt millage rate of 0.5935 mills, again emphasizing that there would be no increase to the current debt millage rate for residents. The City says the program would also be subject to independent annual audits.

Coconut Grove Spotlight also reported that city officials estimate the borrowing would cost taxpayers about $795 million—including principal, interest, and issuance costs. As with most bond financing, the total cost can depend on the final issuance terms, so voters should focus on the ballot’s fiscal framework and safeguards.

What residents should do next

Because this is a ballot measure, the most practical step is to read the final ballot language and the City’s posted explanations before Election Day—especially the details on (1) the 0.5935 mills maximum repayment framework and (2) the Commission’s amendments aimed at offsetting borrowing pressures through sale proceeds, grants, and other mechanisms.

Sources

• City of Miami (Official): City Commission approves Safe and Ready Miami bond for Nov. 3, 2026 ballot
• Miami Herald: Commission advances mayor’s $450M bond to November
• Coconut Grove Spotlight: Commission sends $450 million public safety bond to November ballot