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Miami Gardens FL Sunshine State Arch 01Photo: Pietro · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Miami Gardens

Miami Gardens spent less per resident in 2022 than 100% of similar cities

Miami Gardens’ city government spent $102.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, about $924 per resident.

Town website
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$102.1M
year to September 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$924
In 2022: $704, less than 100% of 16 similar cities
Long-term debt
$93.0M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
486
full-time · 105 part-time · March payroll $5.0M
Typical tax bill
$2,818
0.74% of home value · FL 0.76%

What stands out about how Miami Gardens is run

Read from the city’s budget and official records.

Compared with similar places

$704 per resident in 2022: less than 100% of them

Miami Gardens’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($704 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $2,326, and the middle half spent $1,595–$2,674. Miami Gardens spent less than 100% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,595–$2,674Median $2,326Miami Gardens

Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
16

Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Miami Gardens itself left out).

Your share of the 2024 budget

About $924 per resident a year, or $2.53 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: police, at 51%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 32%Other taxes & licenses 14%Interest, fines & other 14%Sales taxes 11%From other local governments 9%From the state 8%Fees & charges 7%From the federal government 5%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $19 million; interest on debt $4.7 million. With these, the whole budget was $125.8 million.
Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 33% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Miami Gardens reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$76.8 million
2024$102.1 million

Per resident: 2022: $704 · 2024: $924.

City staff
486

full-time in March 2025, up from 476 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $2,818 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.74% of the home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Miramar$4,396
West Park$3,394
Miami Gardens$2,818
Florida$2,730
North Miami Beach$2,474
Biscayne Gardens$2,468
Opa-locka$2,264
Ives Estates$2,173
$2,818
typical bill a year
0.74%
effective rate
$378,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Miami Gardens’ rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Miami Gardens’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Miami Gardens →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Miami Gardens

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See miamigardens-fl.gov for Miami Gardens’ current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Miami Gardens yet.miamigardens-fl.gov ↗
Agendas

Miami Gardens’ meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on miamigardens-fl.gov ↗.

Who works for Miami Gardens

One full-time city employee for every 227 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (110,497).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Police250 + 41 pt
Parks & libraries52 + 50 pt
Administration & buildings71
Roads & transportation28
Courts, inspections & corrections5
Housing & development2
Other78 + 14 pt
486
full-time
105
part-time
$5.0M
payroll for March 2025
$59.5M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$116,500
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
192
sworn police officers
Compared, 2022.Miami Gardens had 4.4 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 11 of the 16 Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 6.6: Miami Gardens had fewer than 91% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Dade County School District

Miami Gardens’ K–12 school district, shared with Aventura, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Biscayne Park, Coral Gables and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Miami Gardens →
$13,931
per pupil · FL $13,006
335,500
students
$2.9 billion
long-term debt

Of the $13,931 per pupil, $8,844 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 62%State 20%Federal 18%

Florida districts overall: 55% local, 29% state, 15% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

Miami Gardens’ votes are counted by county

Florida reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Miami Gardens alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Miami-Dade County’s results.

President · Miami-Dade County’s results1,097,209 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican55.2%605,590 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat43.8%480,355 votes

Others: 1.0% (11,264 votes).

Most votes in Miami-Dade County: Donald J Trump

Florida: Trump 56.1%, Harris 43.0%

The county’s page

100% of Miami Gardens lies in Miami-Dade County. Every 2024 race in Miami-Dade County is on the county’s page.

Miami-Dade County’s 2024 results →
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Miami Gardens

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Miami Gardens.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
  2. 2
    Florida HouseMiami Gardens is split between 2 districts
  3. 3
    Florida SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Florida

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Miami Gardens compares with the towns next door

Miami Gardens spent $704 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $944 to $2,473. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
West Park$944$3,394
Miramar$1,674$4,396
North Miami Beach$2,473$2,474
Opa-lockaestimate$2,264
Miami Gardens$704$2,818

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Miami Gardens’ government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Miami Gardens’ government

How much does Miami Gardens spend per resident?

About $924 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to September 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $704 was less than 100% of 16 Florida cities of 100,000–249,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Miami Gardens?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $2,818 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.74% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.76% across Florida. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see miamigardens-fl.gov.

Who runs Miami Gardens’ government?

See miamigardens-fl.gov for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Miami Gardens yet.

How did Miami Gardens vote in 2024?

Florida counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Miami Gardens alone. Miami-Dade County, where 100% of Miami Gardens lies, voted Trump 55.2%, Harris 43.8% for president; its page has every race.

How many people work for Miami Gardens?

486 full-time and 105 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $5.0M (about $59.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Miami Gardens in the state legislature?

Miami Gardens is split among 2 State House districts, so your address decides. The Florida Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 34 (Shev Jones). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Miami Gardens’ government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →