MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - In a 4-3 vote, the Miami Beach commission decided to rescind a measure on the ballot that would’ve authorized a 1% food and beverage tax for homeless and domestic violence services. The decision comes as early voting is underway.
At a commission meeting on Wednesday, Miami Beach officials voted to block the measure, meaning any votes that have already been cast will not be counted.
“This tax increase will punish them,” said Commissioner David Suarez.
Mayor Steven Meiner, along with the some commissioners, cited concerns about where the sales tax would be going.
Meiner spoke with 7News about the decision to withdraw the question.
“I don’t like doing it at this later hour. I actually think I used the word I detest it,” said Mayor Steven Meiner. “We’re taxing our small business. Hotels were exempt, so really we are taxing our restaurants that are the core of Miami Beach. So we’re asking our residents and our local business to be taxed and we don’t even keep the money. The money goes to an outside trust.”
The city already has a 9% sales tax making it one of the highest in the state.
The measure was originally approved to go on the ballot by the previous commission in July 2023 and would have generated an estimated $10 million annually for the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and local domestic violence centers.
“I think collectively we all didn’t know we had the option of removing it from the ballot because there was this vote last year,” said Meiner.
“We never knew that it was going on the ballot and frankly I was shocked when I saw it on the ballot, and when I saw the campaign starting to be run,” said Commissioner Kristen Gonzalez. “I felt very helpless.”
The measure was created to tackle a major issue in the city, but it has raised red flags amongst this group of commissioners.
“It’s a stacked deck. Big money up against zero oppositions and the voters are being mislead by powerful interest pushing for a tax hike under the guise of compassion,” said Commissioner Suarez.
During the meeting, a majority of the commission stated that they weren’t fond of the idea that the money was going to an organization they didn’t feel was completely transparent.
“This proposed homeless tax is a masterclass in bad governance,” Suarez said. “Ask yourself, why are developers pumping big money into this? It’s not out of compassion or charity. It’s a money grab. It’s like a reverse Robin Hood taking from good hardworking hospitality businesses that aren’t part of luxury hotels and handing it right into the hands of billionaire developers, lobbyists, and special interests.”
Meiner stated that the city spend millions each year to combat homelessness and provide those experiences homelessness with the necessary resources.
“We spend millions to help the homeless every year with shelter and counseling, numerous measures, trying to get them employment. Obviously, we have enforcements as well to make sure we don’t have crime in our streets but ultimately that’s the best way, in my opinion, to spend our money. ,” said Meiner.
Taxes are almost always controversial, but removing them from the ballot and telling voters that their votes won’t count, that’s another issue.
“I don’t think that it’s right to be taking this away from voters at this point,” said Miami Beach Vice Mayor Alex Fernandez. “I think there are unintended consequences that could happen to our budget otherwise and I also do think that it’s not right for us to be collaborating with the rest of the region on this tax because homelessness is not an issue unique to Miami Beach. It’s a regional issue.”
The question will still appear on ballots but notices will be placed at polling places to inform voters the results won’t count.
In response to the commission’s decision to rescind those measures, several Miami Beach residents filed a lawsuit against the city and Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections, Christina White.
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